Tuesday 22nd September
Today Mileage miles 35 ∑Total to date 849 miles
We left the hospitality of Margaret and Gordon at Thistle Dubh B & B after exchanging pleasantries with a fellow resident, a chap on holiday from North Carolina who was on something called a Haggis Bus Tour. They had journeyed up from Edinburgh and were “doing” Skye today.
The team were soon into the throes of Whitebridge Hill, on the Dores side of Loch Ness, a rather dapper little hill, 9 out of 10 on the Richter scale of hills for severity and length. Joan, the old warhorse, battled on, kept her head down and made all the hills, only stopped to text Dennis to say she hadn’t stopped!!?. Corinne decided, after being overtaken by 2 joggers, to hang with it and got off and pushed the bike! Tina made a comment to two surly workmen about the steepness of the hill and they replied that it wasn’t steep enough! (Tom offered to exchange his bike for their spade!) Joan flew like Spiderwoman on Speed down the hill at Essich when she saw the Kessock Bridge. It was the thought of going home to wash Dennis’ socks that kept the wifie going!
I think we were all a bit overcome with the warm welcomes that we got when we arrived in Inverness. Tina led the way to the Birchwood Recovery Centre in Hilton, where a banner and balloons were waiting our arrival, together with a mixture of folk from Birchwood and Highland Breast Care. A lot of people had gone to a lot of trouble to make soups, sandwiches, quiches, pies, meringues (which John found delicious but hard to eat without a mess!) A very big thank you to everyone who contributed to the event and for all the lovely things that people said to us.
We then cycled into the town where we said a quick hello to the boys at Highland Bicycle Co who have been very generous to us. Simon appeared, not knowing his mum and dad were going to be there, and his reaction was that of a typical teenager – just as if his mum and dad had popped out for afternoon tea rather than cycled from Lands End!
Tina, mega media star, popped into Radio Highland to do another interview which is to be heard on Radio Scotland on Wednesday. She and John finally arrived at the Palace where a reception committee were waiting for them – their friends from previous cycling trips including Evelyn who was celebrating her 70th birthday. They had set up a champagne and chocolate cake reception in the car park of the hotel, so that was another lovely welcome. Everyone felt like royalty.
A very special thank you must be given to Mark, the manager and the staff of the Palace, who provided the hotel’s accommodation, food, drink and facilities absolutely free of charge. Not forgetting the lovely, relaxing massage provided by Rebecca and Wendy. Dennis has been updating the map in the Leisure club to show everyone the route.
Various members of the team’s family and friends came to visit on Tuesday night which was very much appreciated – it was nice to see some faces from home after our long journey. We will be joined on the last leg of the tour by Peter and Stephen from Birchwood, onward and upward....!!
Today Mileage miles 35 ∑Total to date 849 miles
We left the hospitality of Margaret and Gordon at Thistle Dubh B & B after exchanging pleasantries with a fellow resident, a chap on holiday from North Carolina who was on something called a Haggis Bus Tour. They had journeyed up from Edinburgh and were “doing” Skye today.
The team were soon into the throes of Whitebridge Hill, on the Dores side of Loch Ness, a rather dapper little hill, 9 out of 10 on the Richter scale of hills for severity and length. Joan, the old warhorse, battled on, kept her head down and made all the hills, only stopped to text Dennis to say she hadn’t stopped!!?. Corinne decided, after being overtaken by 2 joggers, to hang with it and got off and pushed the bike! Tina made a comment to two surly workmen about the steepness of the hill and they replied that it wasn’t steep enough! (Tom offered to exchange his bike for their spade!) Joan flew like Spiderwoman on Speed down the hill at Essich when she saw the Kessock Bridge. It was the thought of going home to wash Dennis’ socks that kept the wifie going!
I think we were all a bit overcome with the warm welcomes that we got when we arrived in Inverness. Tina led the way to the Birchwood Recovery Centre in Hilton, where a banner and balloons were waiting our arrival, together with a mixture of folk from Birchwood and Highland Breast Care. A lot of people had gone to a lot of trouble to make soups, sandwiches, quiches, pies, meringues (which John found delicious but hard to eat without a mess!) A very big thank you to everyone who contributed to the event and for all the lovely things that people said to us.
We then cycled into the town where we said a quick hello to the boys at Highland Bicycle Co who have been very generous to us. Simon appeared, not knowing his mum and dad were going to be there, and his reaction was that of a typical teenager – just as if his mum and dad had popped out for afternoon tea rather than cycled from Lands End!
Tina, mega media star, popped into Radio Highland to do another interview which is to be heard on Radio Scotland on Wednesday. She and John finally arrived at the Palace where a reception committee were waiting for them – their friends from previous cycling trips including Evelyn who was celebrating her 70th birthday. They had set up a champagne and chocolate cake reception in the car park of the hotel, so that was another lovely welcome. Everyone felt like royalty.
A very special thank you must be given to Mark, the manager and the staff of the Palace, who provided the hotel’s accommodation, food, drink and facilities absolutely free of charge. Not forgetting the lovely, relaxing massage provided by Rebecca and Wendy. Dennis has been updating the map in the Leisure club to show everyone the route.
Various members of the team’s family and friends came to visit on Tuesday night which was very much appreciated – it was nice to see some faces from home after our long journey. We will be joined on the last leg of the tour by Peter and Stephen from Birchwood, onward and upward....!!
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