Even Hotter

1.06.09

It was even hotter today. Pat's temperature guage on the bike reached 93 degrees!So he was very tired at the end of the 71 miles he did today. From Oban to Fort William the road wound round the edge of Loch Linnhe and between tree clad hills profuse with purple rhodedendrons in full bloom.The scenery is stunningly beautiful. After Fort William he cycled on a minor road above the Caledonian Canalwith several hard hills. Then passing the memorial to the Commandos which overlooks Ben Nevis, he got back onto the busy A82. I met him at Fort William for our picnic having visited Morrisons supermarket to buy provisions.Then again he had some steep climbs before arriving at Invergarry.

From there we drove to this lovely little cottage where we were to stay. It is on the shores of Loch Garry in a very quiet and remote place with marvellous views and where the only sound is the bleating of sheep. The use of this cottage came as a gift. After I had spoken to a St Andrews womens' group in Oxshott about the GRCT and had mentioned Pat's impending cycle ride, the owner of this cottage approached me. She felt it was a God-instance and not a coincidence that she could offer it to us for 1 June! So good to have a place to oneself to do washing and to generally catch up with things (we were totally incommunicado there so I wrote this in note form and am now typing it in the Lovat Arms in Fort William where the reception- both staff and wireless- have been most welcoming- I have bought a coffee!).

We had a meal in avery quaint and isolated wee hotel, Tomdoun. It was the original Coaching Inn on the road to Skye. Afterwards we walked down to the loch below the cottage, where even at 9.30pm the light and the view was amazing. Pat has 150-200 miles to go depending on which route he takes. The body is holding up well!!