John informs me the average temperature while riding today was 10C. Almost no rain or wind. So easy.

OK, the 400m in 5 k climb, with 2 km of 1:10, out of Fort Augustus wasn’t the greatest start but the road was quiet and the weather good-ish. Worked up quite a sweat on that. A bit disheartening on the second step to crest a rise only to see the road getting steeper again in front of you.

Half a dozen touring cyclists on the road today, oddest was bearded old fellow with BoB trailer loaded up and topped with three medium solar panels. A wide load and almost impossible to see the spread when approaching. Big smile though.

All the touring cyclists we have seen have been smiling. There is a message in that.

Followed the 1730’s military road of General Wade (first roads north of about Perth in Scotland at the time, how undeveloped Scotland was) to suppress the Scots, to Dores 15km out of Inverness. Nice day of short rises and dips in the 20-50 m range and up to 1:10.

Lunch at the Cameron Cafe at Foyer, turns out John F also has Cameron heritage so we’re cousins!

Foyer is site of big waterfalls until UK’S first aluminium smelter was built there and the water diverted to a hydro electric power plant. Maxwel, Lord Kelvin hoped the smelter would give the locals something to do other than guide people to the falls.

And that was it.

Inverness is cold and wet tonight but the hearty pasta we lashed together has made up for the exertions of the day. That and having Inverness Castle on the corner, opposite the pub next to our front door.