Day 16

This morning brought with it a hugely significant achievement for the boys: The first complete night in the tent with no rain. The good mood continued as we lapped up a traffic-free, silky smooth road through forested glens and stunning moorland, winding between silvery lochs. The morning had a time-trial feel to it as we had a 10 o clock ferry to catch, or face a 4 hour wait for the next one. A punishing pace had got us within reach of the ferry with time to spare until a last minute decision to take a turning caused havoc in the team formation, leading to me ploughing into Dad and Greg toppling over me as he tried to stage a rescue. After we'd surgically removed dad from his bike, we realised we didn't have time to hang around and hammered towards Goruck, stepping onto the ferry just as it was leaving. Phew. As Dad started picking out debris from his grazes, he noted it was a lucky he'd shaved his legs to accompany the mini-kilt look a few days earlier.

After a couple of hours spent zipping along the undulating road that hugs the side of the magnificent Loch Long, we found an ideal spot to take on more local food in the shape of the Village Inn. At the waterside, surrounded by mountains grazing the clouds, we fed on jacket potatoes filled with haggis and 'neeps. The day also brought an unexpected first as we made contact with the support team on the road, and busted one of their secret tea-room stops. And another first: We're in a Youth Hostel tonight, which means food, comfy beds and Tour de France highlights. Ahhh! But the real highlight of the day came when Greg spotted some movement in the roadside ferns, and on closer investigation we found ourselves face to face with three magnificent stags, grazing in a glen. A typically Scottish scene and a really special sight, were all quite moved by the ecperience.