Final week before departure

Hi there! Well we put our bikes (apart from John's) through to Nairn to put into the trailer, so that's us officially starting our rest week. Things are moving forward now and we will not be on our bikes again until Monday 8th September. We've also put a lot of the supplies through. I wish I had a picture of the trailer, its really excellent! Nothing else to report, and I don't suppose you'll hear from me again until the beginning of the ride. Unless of course I get a picture of the trailer!
Tina

Hello there! Here is a group of us who took part in the Great Wilderness Challenge under the banner of the Great Cycle. the walk was on Saturday and we had a terrific day. The sun shone but not too hotly. There was a gentle breeze, strong enough to keep the midges at bay. The company was good and the hospitality provided by the GWC crew was second to none. This picture is curtesy of Joan's new camera so there'll be some pictures of our trip.

John and I went cycling on Tuesday and we had a fair run. Nothing exciting to report. Then on Sunday, the day after the challenge we went cycling and did about 25 miles in the afternoon. It was a tried and tested route that we practise on a lot. Up Essich, over to Dunlichty and back down again. It's a fair old climb going up but the views at the top are spectacular. As usual my camera wasn't handy and John and Donnie were scooting off ahead, going down the hills, so nothing else for it but to follow them, once I'd taken in the views.

Trials and tribulations

Hi there

I'm afraid I haven't been around for a little while. Last week was not the most successful of cycling episodes. On Tuesday John and I went out on our own in the evening. It was a bit of a magical mystery tour. We eventually went up towards Inverarnie, crossed over to Essich, and came back down to the Palace for a little swim and sauna. The bad news was that I ended up with a puncture in my back wheel.

When I took the bike down to Highland Cycles, the following morning before Joan and I set out for a day's cycle, to repair I noticed that my rear mudguard was badly twisted, however that happened I have no idea.

So an hour later than planned we set off from HC having modified our route and decided to go over to the Black Isle instead of Cannich. The day was kind of dampish and we had less time than we initially thought. We reached Fortrose just to discover that I had developed another puncture in my rear wheel!! Simon came to our rescue and Joan took a lift back as well, as the weather appeared to be closing in.

On Thursday Simon took the bike back to the workshop, as Joan and I had decided to make a second attempt at a cycle ride that day. By the time I had reached the workshop the tyre still had not been repaired and the boys were working their socks off, so instead of rushing the job on my bike and not diagnosing the problem the boys allowed me to take a hire bike out, which was the same as mine! Joan and I had a very good run up Essich on the single track road to Inverfarigaig and back with a stop at Dores for the traditional drink!

On Saturday John and I went out for a wee cycle ride and we went up to Brin Herb Gardens andhad our coffee there and returned with a good run down Essich. Simon has booked our bikes in for a service on Friday next week, so that should be it ready before we go.

Finally we had a team meeting (probably the last one before we leave) on Sunday night. So hopefully everything is just about ready before we go off on Saturday 6th, next month!!