Day 9

Gordon Arms to Kinross - 74 miles
Last night's hotel turned out to be a real find and the icing on the cake was a full blown cooked breakfast this morning. Quote of the day was provided by Mandy who, at the start of the ride, loudly announced that she could "feel her sausage jiggling". It sums up the mood of the party and the level to which we have deteriorated that this comment was receieved with schoolgirl shrieks and kept us sniggering for the remainder of the day. This morning's ride was off the scale in terms of scenery and cycling enjoyment: seemingly endless valleys through delightful the Scottish borders. After meeting support crew, today with added junior support apprentice Sue Jones, we threaded our way through the suburbs of Edinburgh (one may say the Edinburgh fringe!). The contrast to this morning could not have been more marked as we met our fair share of grumpy drivers, lumpy roads and, as if in sympathy, the sky clouded over and the heavens opened. There followed a stretch along the Union Canal and some miles of a disused railway leading us to the Forth Road Bridge. All rather soggy by this stage, we were relieved to be met by the support crew in Dunfermline as we huddled under a bus shelter. Sue had by this stage gone AWOL, sadly with our sandwiches and pies.The final section of the day took us through very pretty, if rolling, countryside with a swooping downhill into Kinross. Tonight we are visited by George, Mags and Mauragh. They have been promoted to current most favourite visitors by virtue of the whiskey chocolates that they have brought.

A final note tonight for our four legged supporters. Missy is sporting a split pad and Macy is plagued by a jippy tum. Poor them. Archie and Bertie are faring rather better and can't work out what all the fuss is about.