Day 11

Pitlochry to Aviemore – 58 miles

Thank goodness we have a native with us. Breakfast this morning was delicious but we needed Christine to explain the delicacies of square sausage, tattie scones and black haggis. Having shoe-horned ourselves into the cars we were ferried back down to Pitlochry for the start of today’s ride. First job was to pick up our bikes from the local bike shop where we had left them for safe keeping. Payment for this service was a packet of Jaffa cakes. Take note if you are heading this way, biscuits are legal tender up this neck of the woods. We were joined today by ‘skeletal’ Martin who managed to prune a healthy 4 miles off the planned route. We followed the A9 for the whole of today, but avoided actually riding on it by virtue of purpose made cycle paths using the old A9 and cinder tracks. A lovely ride through rugged Scottish scenery up and over the Drumochter Pass.  Christine spotted a helicopter at the summit and wondered ruefully if it was the Cake Helicopter. So gentle was the incline that we hardly realised we were going up. In fact we all commented that today’s ride was the easiest so far. Pleasant cycling this afternoon and we glided into Aviemore at 4:30. Tonight Mandy and Anne are in a swanky hotel and everyone else is slumming it in a B&B. Mandy thinks this is hilarious. Extra special visitors tonight as we are joined by Christine’s parents.

Dog update for concerned readers – everyone is fine and enjoying the regular walks and outings provided by the support team. Today’s stream was particularly good fun and the official view is that being a dog on Lejog is almost as tiring as doing the actual cycle ride. Archie and Bertie have been practising how quickly they can snatch a bagel while Missy creates a diversion. They are confident that they can execute this manoeuvre successfully before the end of the trip.