Carry On Up The Pass.

This was the big day, the one I had been waiting for with trepidation as it would be the stage that takes me through the highlands below the Cairngorm Mountains. Big climbs!   The Atholl Arms Hotel were busy preparing breakfast for their two guests as I packed up the bike for a clean getaway.   At just after 08.00, not before, the doors to the baronial dining hall were unlocked and I was able to take my place.  The experience with the Pork the evening before had made me wary and with the potential for retribution I went for the simple option of cereal and toast.   There seems to be no wow factor here. The staff seem tired and rather miserable. It can't be caused from overwork.   Before departing I visited the local store adjacent to the hotel to buy water and supplies.  Once out of the town settlements and places for a stop are few and far between on the A9.   I met a fellow cyclist as I was preparing to depart who asked me how I was going to get on through the Pass of Drumochter.   This just heightened my fears for the day.   Off I went.  Once again the cycle way next to the road was useful and got me off the main drag which was frightening with some of the lorries very close.    I have to say that today,somehow, man and machine were as one.  In total harmony. Both working at peak performance and I flew both up and down the steady inclines and I have to admit I was very pleased with my performance.  Before long the first thirty miles had been covered.  

There  is nothing like  a little problem to burst that smug feeling of how well I was doing.  With so much time on the cinder tracks and the side of the road a double puncture was the end result.

I had bought two new tubes in Edinburgh.  Handy to sort out punctures four and five.  After forty minutes I was back on the road. All was not well.  I had lost the balance of the bike and there were some strange noises coming from the bike and I was unable to track down the cause.  Despite the problems my time to Aviemore was good and lunch was  taken at Coffee Corner.    Spoke with John A who agreed to locate a B&B at Tomalin.   There were not too many options available and eventually a room was booked at Glenan Lodge Guest House.      The destination was  further 17 miles down the road.   Once again the bike balance was out and this made progress both slow and irritating.  Through Carrbridge with its famous ancient bridge and on towards Tomalin. 

Moral was low as I arrived in Tomalin having got the bike over the Slochd Summit and rolled down to the village in search of the Glenan Lodge.  Not an easy task and to make matters worse the front seemed to have another puncture.    After a couple of calls to the the B&B for instructions I arrived.  To say the room was tiny would not be an exaggeration.  I have had bathrooms bigger on this trip. It was a bed for the night.  I went back outside to attempt to sort out the problems with the bike.  After a few adjustments it seemed to have improved.   I took the two punctured tubes to my room for repair.   Next trip, if there is to be one, I think I should have a crew bus totake care of technical problems. Dinner was at 07.30 and was a delightful repast.   I passed on the Pavlova dessert and retired to my room.  The day had been like a soccer match, a game of two halves.  The second part of the day being the most frustrating of the trip to date.       With the average 63 further miles on the clock progress had been good if a tad frustrating.  Inverness and beyond in the morning.   Total mileage now 829 with 130 to go.  Keep the prayers going and all fingers crossed.  I will need all the help I can get now through to the finish line.