Day 11: Tuesday 1st August ~ Edinburgh to Dunning

Today we found out there was more than one wall on this ride. Having spent half a day in very comfortable conditions, the Edinburgh factor clicked in. It's hard to explain but a combination of factors are involved. A "we've got this ride licked" attitude, the pull of a big city, a night out, the need for a good rest.. etc. Anyway this meant we started out in the afternoon after 3 on a 45 mile jaunt to Hamish's friends, Kate and John. We soon had a rude awakening when the weather turned as we got the other side of the Forth Bridge. With two long steady climbs we got swirling head winds, more showers and rough mountain roads, our progress slowed significantly and our easy day steadily turned into a nasty foretaste of the challenge ahead. Never again will I ridicule Angus, Morag and the other characters from Take the High Road. Living in this country takes quite some guts. ;-). John and Kate's house was situated in an idylic farm setting, and the house and hospitality were of the highest standards. So we set out early next day to conquer a major 2000 feet climb, The Spittle of Glen Shee, for those of us who thought the challenge of this ride was over, it's time to think again...