Friday, 22nd June, 2012

Slochd Manor Lodge to Newtonmore 38 miles.
Apparently you do not take any notice of weather forecasts in this part of Scotland, which is just as well, as according to the BBC it was going to rain all day. Fortunately, it stopped at 10.00am and as well as a welcome tail wind, the sun made a brief appearance.
Jack was really tired after yesterdays gruelling day and it was just as well it was a relatively short day today. Today we said goodbye to three of our team, Jane and Simon, who will head home on Saturday morning from Aviemore. We will miss them because as well as being good friends and company, they have been brilliant in looking after Jack. Tonight, we have lost Rob, who unfortunately has had to rush off to visit his sick mother who is very ill. Thanks Rob for your support.
So we are now down to five. Jack, myself, Denise, Julian and Dave. Iv'e just collected Jack from the pub and found him deep in conversation with a lady who was amazed that  Jack could or would be cycling to Newcastle. So much so, she said she would sponsor Jack 50 pounds if he made it.
It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way there already, and everyday now merges into one. We have now got a good routine when forced onto roads, with Denise at the front and me at the back with the trolley, flying a massive union jack. It's amazing how wide a berth cars give you. Jack is surrouned by the team and is getting more protection than Bradley Wiggens should he wear Yellow in the Tour de France this year.
The trolley I am pulling weighs 20kg, and if I am honest, at times I am struggling to stay close to Jack on the steep hills such is his progress. I would hate to cycle up a mountain with him if he wasn't tired!
Today we warned Jack that it was going to be a 'twitchers' day, and we made straight for the Boat of Garten and hoped I would have better luck with the Osprey than the dolphins at Fortrose yesterday. Jack who had taken the Michael out of my twitching habit developed a keen interest in the Osprey and I think he enjoyed his encounter with our feathered friends.
We also saw deer, red squirrals and stopped at another 'twitchers' paradise and a cafe with a viewing gallery over hundreds of feeding birds that included siskins and woodpeckers.
Tomorrow we face another tough day for Jack and he will need all the courage he can muster as we ride over the highest pass off the trip as we head for Pitlochry for a 50 (Howie miles) day. Lets hope that once again the weather forecasters get it wrong.