Day 2: Loch Moy to Edinburgh

I was woken by the midges at about 2.00 am. They were so bad (I'd not brought any repellent) that I thought about packing up and leaving early, but I somehow managed to get back to sleep until my alarm at 5.30 am. I packed up as quickly I could (because the midges were back), scoffing down the breakfast that I'd bought from ALDI in Inverness the previous night, and set off as soon as I could, after first quickly recording what turned out to be a series of daily vlogs on Instagram to update anyone who was interested enough to watch.


The target for day 2 was my friend Gavin's house in Edinburgh. At 238 km this represented the furthest I'd ever ridden in a day, second only to the 219 km of the previous day! And with 1,780 m and 1,590 m of climbing respectively, I knew my legs were going to be tired. 

Breakfast no.2 (this turned into a thing) was a vegetarian fry-up in Aviemore, and was just what I needed. I also layered up in overshoes and rain jacket as the rain blew in. 
Things dried up as I went over the Cairngorms, and I stopped at the high point to record another quick update video.
 

My hopes for a relaxed 30 km downhill to Pitlochry were quickly dashed as I realised that the bike track alongside the A9 was both gravelly (in places) and undulating (in all places!) So, when I eventually got to Perth at about 166 km (having stopped for lunch at Blair Atthol) I treated myself to tea and cake in what seemed to be the only place open on a Sunday afternoon. The cake was delicious, the staff were extremely welcoming, and the chairs were *so* comfy!

From there it was a long slog to Edinburgh. Plan B had been to bivvy at Loch Leven at about 200 km, but the warm welcome I knew I'd receive from Gavin was what kept me going another 38 km.

That was day 2 done. 

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