"And then there were three"

Day 13

‘And then there were three’

Route: Glencoe to Loch Ness

Distance: 68 miles

Time: 4 hrs 59

It seems that after a rather troubling few days the Gods (or at least the Scottish Gods) seem to be shining on us for once. We awoke to glorious sunshine in Glencoe, well rested after our night in the rather quaint Independent Hostel (our efforts to sneak dad in were thwarted by a the owners regular patrols accompanied by his trusty terrier, thus dad was reduced to second class quarters – the back of the van).  However after regaling the weary cyclists with tales of his gap year adventures around the dinner table the evening before, we all felt the van sounded positively luxurious in comparison. Lucy’s trusty iron steed was safely stowed away in Jerry’s sleeping quarters, her rider abandoning team CF Cycle as her presence is required at a friend’s 21^st. Lucy did inform me last night that she was supposed to be making a speech at said 21^st, but is yet to put pen to paper – still the 5 hour train ride from Fort William to Kirkcaldy should provide ample time to complete the task. Our route yesterday took us alongside the train track, so Lucy shall be speeding back past all the same scenery she very admirably conquered on her first, and perhaps last, 80 mile cycle through the Highlands. She made a fantastic addition to the team, and we were all sad to see her go – especially the boys, as her culinary skills are by far the most impressive in the Eccles family. Bye Bye Lulu – we (well, I particularly) will miss you, and thanks for coming. The morning passed quickly as we sped through Fort William and made speed to Fort Augustus, where Jerry was stationed with rations in hand. The White Van got a little above its station in Fort Augustus, which lies at the head of Loch Ness, and Jerry proudly pulled up in a bus parking space and was subsequently blocked in by a far larger, and by the point angered, Loch Ness Tour Bus. Turns out Jerry has got quite into the White Van Man Persona, and takes any opportunity to test the boundaries of parking/curb crawling/traffic warder dodging in his efforts to fit the WVM bill. Our morning efforts were rewarded, as it turned out to be a mere 18 miles to Drumnadrochit to our Loch Ness Backpackers. Our fitness levels are such by this point that we were at the Backpackers by half three, leaving us plenty of time to relax, unwind and prepare for the last two days of the cycle.