JOGLE day 2

It is amazing what one hundred plus miles can do on a bicycle can do, I slept like a baby last night only to be woken by the more subtle song choice of "one thousand miles" by the proclaimers; let's just hope I won't be walking. When I was trying to drag myself out of my sleeping bag there were far too many similarities to a typical training camp, just with an earlier start. Today I decided I would join the Bath clan and it was worth the effort, even if just for the banter, and when sat on a hard skinny saddle for most of the day it is incredible what difference a good bit of chat can do.

The plan today was to air on the side of caution again as each consecutive day is supposed to increase in mileage and altitude as the week goes on. I didn't quite stick to that but think hiding in the slip stream of some of the Bath rugby players made my life a lot easier, not sure my work at the front had the same effect for them.

Before yesterday's ride the route planner Matt claimed it was the most beautiful route he had ever mapped, last night I believed him, today that belief was shattered. The views were utterly breathtaking, there were even gasps of delight from some of the toughest rugby players as we pedalled the 114 miles from Kyle of Sutherland to tonight's destination Fort William. It was tempting to stop for photos on route but no camera would be able to capture the sheer magnificence as the sun and blue sky were reflecting off the mill pond that was Loch Ness. I have visited Scotland a few times in my life but had no idea that these scenes could be mistaken for the front page of a holiday brochure, we all commented that we could have been anywhere in the world. Scotland has exceeded any expectations on day two, maybe I am on holiday after all.