Friday 10 September

Correction to yesterday's blog: It's Avon 'Skin so Soft' that apparently works wonders with the midges, it's not a repellent at all, which I discovered when I read the bottle. Got our clothes washed yesterday in the West End Hotel and also had a good evening meal there (lady at Myrtle sent us there). Met two Germans walking in town that had stayed at Jim's Toll house 2 days ago. They were staying at Myrtle too! They are touring on motor bikes. Started off at 9.15 from the Myrtle Bank Guest House this morning - large place, but very clean and comfortable with friendly staff. Remembered I'd left my hi-vis tabard there. I'm not going back! Our original route was the A82 but there is the Great Glen Way (and cycle route, which hasn't been maintained since 2006) on the other side of the Loch, so Peter reroutes us that way. Starts off ok inbetween the River Lochy and the Caledonian canal (with many locks). It then goes up through forestry tracks. We stop and have a bite to eat and a brew as the track goes on for ages. I nip into the woods (;-)) and lose my glasses. Peter eventually finds them after I'd given up hope. He then finds his back tyre is flat again (he had to change the tube yesterday at the guest house last night, as the tyre had gone flat after his repair). Keeps pumping it up until we get to the end of the forestry track. Changes the tube and discovers a tiny piece of glass in the tyre. Now blames that for him coming off yesterday - 'must have been soft when I hit the curb'. Yeah, right :-). Thought we had done our off-roading through the forestry, but no - worse was to come. We went along a dismantled railway line that we thought would be good. No. Tree roots, large stones, potholes. And if you got it wrong, into the canal with you! (Nathan if you're following this blog - how are your injuries?) Finally popped out at the end of Loch Oich and went into a tea room by the swing bridge. Several people in there and we all had a good chat over tea and cakes!