Where camping is fun for disabled and able-bodied together

As predicted the rain died off around midnight and the campsite remained fairly still, protected by a high wall from the winds that had the nearby forest swaying. Breakfast was a fairly hasty affair (midges and the cold) and we were soon ready for the off, with Matt and Alison planning to stay behind and pack up camp once the tents had dried off.

We rode out along damp roads, up Loch Creran then over the Loch Linnhe. As the temperature soared to a balmy 12 degrees we shed waterproofs and optimistically looked forward to a dry day. Our optimism turned out to be about 60 miles premature as the next front hit us and kept us under a downpour until mid afternoon. Despite the rain and the spray coming from every conceivable direction (up from tyres, sideways from trucks etc) I was actually comfortably warm. The main unpleasantness came from the taste of the dodgy water being sprayed up from the tyres of the person in front. The oil/diesel mix I could handle and I tried not to think about the road kill horse manure cocktail which was also in evidence!

After Fort William was passed through at speed and Ben got to see the bottom of Ben Nevis (has anyone ever seen the top from sea level?!) we soon broke through in to the spectacular Loch Lochy which, as I commented to Tim, probably got its name for being the Lochiest Loch in Lochland. He didn't bother replying but just carried on riding through the rain...thoughts probably on pies

At Fort Augustus on the southern end of Loch Ness, it finally appeared that we were outrunning the rain. However, we had only been stopped for a few minutes when it started again so we raced off north eastwards along the fantastically undulating A82 which runs along the length of the loch to Inverness.

We had been making excellent progress all day and had averaged 17mph on some not too flat roads. Finally the much talked about tail wind was with us making the gentle ascents easy and the long descents a joy in pedaling! The only downside was the traffic which on the whole seemed hell bent on getting somewhere fast. Most of the HGV's ignored the 40mph signs and one even over took a coach right next to us which I'm still amazed didn't end in carnage.

Loch Ness looked more like the sea today with some fair sized waves crashing onto its shores. I had thought it might be nice to canoe around but I don't think that would have been much fun on a day like today. Mind you, when the sun finally broke through the scenery was simply stunning and once again I found myself wishing for more time to explore this part of the country.

Given our progress, speed and lack of apparent tiredness, we decided to push on to Inverness for our overnight stop and Matt and Alison managed to find a static caravan for £50 which would sleep all of us. As the park wasn't on our route, we met the support team on the outskirts of town with the intention of being driven out there. It turned out to be just a few miles out of town so I suggested we ride there. Tim readily agreed and I think Ben only conceded when the thought of two of us doing more mileage than him became too much to bare! He should be glad I suggested it as the journey took us over the 100 mile mark for the day which was a first for both Tim and Ben.

When we rode into the site Alison was busily talking the owner into submission on a discount for this charity ride and he probably agreed just so she left him alone. At £35 the caravan was a steal and has given us all a chance to dry out our kit, have a warm, comfortable evening over dinner and to prepare ourselves for the final couple of days up to John O'Groats.

Tomorrow morning we will follow the A9 up the east coast despite the warnings from some end to enders that its an awful route. Enough riders have gone this way to suggest it can't be all that bad and besides we are used to the roads in the south east which people up here would think are actually car parks!

But for tonight we have comfy beds and a roof over our heads...it had better rain now!

Craig