JOGLE Day 5: Inverness To Fort William

Inverness to Fort William

Today was a fuelling-fail!

Our Airbnb said it included breakfast, but ‘breakfast’ was 1 small piece of flapjack each and 1 small piece of shortbread. It definitely wasn’t suitable for an 80 mile bike ride. I checked the listing and it was relatively clear what breakfast was. Lesson learned – check the small print! Airbnb is brilliant, but it’s not regulated so you do need to make sure you’re getting what you want.

Back to cycling, the first 20 Miles were bliss cycling along Loch Ness – blue skies and a warm breeze. We stopped to take in the views, but we should’ve eaten because for the next 10 Miles there wasn’t a place to stop – there were bugs everywhere and if we stopped they came in swarms! It was also hot with little shade. We finally stopped and binge ate a buncha calories – I had a 20 minutes kip using the trash bag as a pillow and we were off again!

The next 20 Miles were hilly and I did struggle! There was barely any breeze and no shade – just climbing! It was tough! I crawled it, but I got there! Stew had to sit in the baking heat whilst I slowly made my way.

The final 20 miles weren’t too bad – at the end I finally caught glimpse of beautiful Ben Nevis, which lifted our spirits!

All is well that ends well! We’re cosied up in an AirBnB in Fort William, it’s a room in someone elses house. Our host works for the NHS and specialises in mental health. An interesting coincidence since we’re cycling for Shropshire Mind. She tells me that this area has the highest male suicide. It’s her job to help people who are in crisis too – sounds a little bit like the brilliant work at Shropshire Mind!

Post written by: Zoe Ashbridge