A very quick report tonight or I'll get told off for staying up too late.

Arrived in Edinburgh after another very hard day. Low point was trying to ride downhill, having to pedal hard but still only managing 10mph.

Decided soon after starting that the main road through Coldstream might be more sheltered than my planned route via Kelso. Thus was confirmed when I was blown to a stop by a massive gust of wind.

The climb to Dun Law (1200 feet) was a huge struggle but fortunately one lane on the climb was coned off for roadworks creating my own cycle lane.

I'm mighty glad that I put in all the practice I did. I don't think I could have got through these last two days otherwise.

More tomorrow.

Welcome to Scotland Ron! I thought of you when I was driving through utterly torrential rain just before 7pm tonight in Glasgow. I hope you didn't have a similar experience in the east.

At least you are now in the land of spectacular scenery wherever you go

Well done Ron for survivng the north-East! those winds off the north sea, or from the west - it doesn't matter which direction they come from, are something else! Here's hoping for good weather for you today.
Keep on going, we're all behind you in spirit!

Hi Ron, have just managed to read all your diary entries and am staggered at how resilient and strong you are. You are certainly challenging yourself with this bike ride, and it seems that it is a journey in more ways than one. Looking forward to reading the next instalment.

My, you've had a tough 2 days, hope it gets better from here. It must be so promising that you're already in Scotland and are half way through now. It's 'downhill' from here.

Am thoroughly enjoying the instalments, keep them coming. We're all with you in spirit, as Sue says. Can you remind us of the website where we can sponsor you please?

Jaki, here it is ...

http://www.justgiving.com/ronstrutt

HI Ron
Hope you are getting on ok. We have spend holidays near the CHeviot hills a beautiful area and my in laws come from Sunderland and my husband was born in Newcastle.. All the best to you for your next installment.

What perseverence! I hope that things improve weatherwise for you Ron.

We'll be thinking of you tomorrow, wet and windy forecast.

Thanks, everyone for your support and good wishes.

Today's report: What a difference a day makes! (you have to sing that).

I woke this morning to a sunny, wind-less day. After a convoluted journey through the Edinburgh suburbs (bikes are banned from the Ring Road) I reached a place where the cycle route to the Forth Bridge had been diverted and, while trying to work out where to go, another cyclist arrived, and then a group of three girls.

Finally fathoming it out, we eventually reached the bridge and crossed in one big group. On the far side the girls turned off for Dunfermline, while Simon and I carried on in company towards Perth.

There's a substantial climb from the Forth Bridge through Cowdenbeath, Kelty, and Kinross but this 9s followed by a superb, long downhill run through the beautiful Glen Farg. I thought about stopping to take a picture but the sheer delight of steaming down the winding gradient for miles at up to 30mph was too good to let go.

Even when we reached the bottom we still continued at around 20mph most of the way into Perth. As a result we'd covered 45 miles before we stopped for a belated lunch.

After Perth, Simon and I parted company, him to take the road to Braemar and me to do some shopping and take to the A9 towards my overnight stop 30 miles further on at Pitlochry.

Once well outside Perth the A9 was relatively quiet and, apart from the stretch through Bankfoot, where I diverted onto the old road, I ignored the official cycle route and continued on the faster, flatter main road.

It was a great day's cycling with almost effortless progress being made. It was also great to hace company for a change and I;m sure we both helped to spur each other on. For me it also helped to overcome the depressing experience of the previous couple of days and revitalise me for the days ahead. Thanks, Simon, you're a star!

As for tomorrow, the news is not so good - heavy rain and potentially gale force winds - which should make the going interesting to say the least. And, in the midst of this meteorological disaster there's the small matter of Drumochter Pass to surmount - 1550 feet, 1200 feet above where I am now. Wish me luck, I may well need it.

Good guys of the day: Victoria's Restaurant in Pitlochry who, on hearing what I was doing offered me a complementary meal - so I shall add the cost to my sponsorship fund.

Nice one Ron! Glad you had such a good day. Best wishes for later

I'm so glad today was better for you Ron you did go through a lot yesterday. you are amazing for attempting such a ride and not being dishearten when the weather was so bad forcing yourself through gale force winds you deserve a metal.
I think what It boils down to is what is pushing you on which is what this ride is all about Cancer.

I haven't been online for a few days, Ron, and find the distance you have covered in between staggering.

All the best for today's ride!

Fantastic Ron - here's hoping the weather in the southern Highlands has proved better than forecast. In the NW we've yet to see the gales, and the rain has been intermittent and light....

I emailed you at 02 to say I was hoping to be able to be at Braemore Junction on Monday - about 12 miles from Ullapool - to cheer you on. But as there is nothing at Braemore Junction apart from a car park and a phone box, I was hoping you could give me an ETA. Are you receiving your O2 emails? I will send you a mobile number so you can text me.

Fantastic progress Ron! Am glad you enjoyed your day! Thinking of you today as we had have high winds and rain here in Northumberland. Hope you are having better weather in scotland.
All the best
Sue

So glad the weather has been so good to you in Scotland so far - hopefully not as bad is indicated for today !! It's very windy here in London.

Pleased also to hear that the people of Pitlochry have been so hospitable ! A beautifaul part of the country.

Sooooo impressed with what you are doing

Another demanding day. It began not too badly, with light rain but no wind at all, despite the dire forecast. A gentle, if damp, practice climb into the Pass of Killiecrankie, then a fairly level run through Blair Atholl along part of the old A9.

The climb to Drumochter began almost imperceptibly at first. It was only when I saw, far below me, the river with which I'd been on a level a short while before that I realised how much I'd climbed.

The climb was wind-free but as I approached the Pass I could feel it begin to blow over the top. By the time I reached the summit the sun was shining but the wind was keen. So keen, in fact, that what should have been a very fast freewheel descent became a desperate slog. I reckon there was a 30-40mph wind blowing from the north.

Then came the rain again, a drizzle at first, becoming heavier as the afternoon wore on. By 4 o'clock I still had over 30 miles to do and 500 feet to climb to Slocht summit. I finally got to Tomatin at almost 8.

This was the worst weather they'd had in the area for a good while. Not what I needed for a day up in the mountains with two big summits to get myself over. I have to say, I came very close to giving in at one point. I was wet through, desperately cold, and hardly able to make any progress against the wind.

Tomorrow sounds better but I'm still going to have a stiff wind in my face and heavy showers. I'm really having to earn this one.

Sorry the Highlands greeted you with such an unseasonable welcome - hoping the wind isn't so strong as they forecast today especially because forecast to be against you. I'm going to do my best to be near Ullapool to give you a big cheer to send you on the last few miles today.... I know how long it takes me to drive from south coast to the Highlands, so full of admiration for your cycle marathon.

Ron you are truly amazing. I'm on catch up, and I am sending you the biggest virtual hug you can imagine. Keep going.



Your tenacity is just so inspiring...

What weather you are having to endure. We had gales and rain here also.
I thought you riding through all that wind and rain, hope the weather has be kinder to you today.
Take care today all the best look forward to next report.
Rosie x

I met up with Ron today at Loch Glascarnoch on the A835, about 15 miles southeast of Ullapool. He was very easy to pick out with his yellow jacket and yellow pannier bags.


I'd been walking and the only thing I had to offer him was some black coffee - which he accepted most readily.


We chatted for about 10 minutes and then he cycled off towards Ullapool.

What brilliant photos Jackie, as good as the Times photographers!! It must have been wonderful for Ron to meet a 'friendly face' (with a coffee) on this gruelling trip. Look forward to reading tonight's installment Ron.

I'm sorry yesterday was so awful but I'm so in awe that you kept going, fantastic.

My grandfather told me that during the WW2 they did a very long march of about 40 miles and one of his fellow marines had very uncomfortable boots. When they stopped that night and his friend took off his boot he found a piece of paper in his sock - something like "knitted with love to our boys in the forces"!!

I meant to say, click on the photos above to see an enlarged version. I am very glad I made the effort to see Ron today - he was looking so fit as he cycled along a long exposed stretch of road across open moorland. I hope a friendly face was welcome.

And Ron here is a photo taken of the River Blackwater, which ran parallel to your route from Conon Bridge to Loch Glascarnoch, right along by Marybank, Contin, Tarvie, Garve and the loch. Next time, you must try walking through the Highlands so that you don't miss all these beautiful spots

You look in fine form despite the inclement weather, Ron. Amazing that you are almost there is such a short (for us) time.

Day 10 - it hardly seems like it. On the other hand, it does. The real world has vanished to be replaced with a much smaller one centred around my bike and its surroundings. Last night, while having my meal I saw the southbound sleeper train passing over the viaduct across the valley. It came as a shock to realise that I will be on that train on Friday night.

And talking of last night, I must mentiion the guest house in which I stayed. They were absolutely wonderful, ushering me straight into a hot bath and getting me a full three course meal, despite the late hour. So, if you ever need accommodation near Inverness, look up the Glenan Lodge at Tomatin on the internet.

So to today. I'm finally at Ullapool on the north-west coast of Scotland, sitting in a pub looking out over the harbour. It's gone 10pm and the sun is only just showing the first signs of setting. Idyllic!

The day didn't start out looking too good. First of all, I overslept after the tiring events if yesterday. Then, apart from a brisk wind, it began raining shortly before I was ready to leave.

I always knew that today, involving 75 miles through the West Highlands, was going to be 'interesting' but there was no choice given my schedule. The day started with a run along the A9 into Inverness. I abandoned the idea of following the circuitous cycle route via Culloden, but I did go through the city centre.

I was on my way out to the Kessock Bridge when I suddenly noticed that one of my panniers covers had vanished. With more rain forecast I couldn't leave it, so had to retrace my steps. Luckily, after a couple of miles, I found it.

I then resumed my way over the Bridge and, after a coffee stop dropped down into the delightful coastal lane through North Kessock and Milton. Of course, the problem with a coastal route is that there's only one way to go - up!

Eventually I joined the road to Muir of Ord and from there the Ullapool road. Apart from a few very half-hearted attempts at showers, the rain held off all day.

But not so the wind, which was forecasted to be In my face. The lower slopes of my climb to nearly 1000 feet were wooded and fairly sheltered, but it was different over the several miles of higher, more-exposed moorland. There it was a hefty pull. But to reinvigorate me, there, in the middle of this wild, remote expanse, was Jackie, one of the Times Health Club's leading members and quite probably its most northern, who had cime out to greet me. It was truly wonderful to see her, and I am so grateful for the effort she made.

Before long I was heading down off the moor into more sheltered conditions once more, and then reaching the shores of Loch Broom.

It was shortly after this, on a short rise, that I passed a sheep with its head stuck through the fence. I was surprised that it didn't run off as I passed, but then noticed that the patch of verge in front of it was cropped bare. It had clearly been stuck there for some time.

I don't know how it had got into that situation but, despite doing all I could to spread the fence wires, I could see no way to get it back out.

Then it dawned on me that in my toolkit I had just what was needed. Within a few minutes the sheep was free, except that it took advantage of its new-found freedom to try to reach more of the verge. A slap (I was going to say sharp slap, but have you ever tried to give a sheep a sharp slap through its woolly coat?) on its rump had the desired effect and ir ran off for a few feet to indulge in a hefty meal.

So when I'm next asked why I carry so much on my bike, the answer will be simple. It's in case I ever need to free a sheep again.

And so, tomorrow, to Durness, and another 'interesting' day.

Sounds an eventful day Ron - good luck on reaching your goal tomorrow

Thanks Ron for rescuing one of our Highland sheep. In return, we have given you some of our best weather today for your final day of cyling north: sunny, almost cloudless skies, fantastic views and light SE winds which, hopefully, will help push you north. A front is coming in, but rain is not forecast until about 7 pm this evening - by which time you should be in Durness.

The forecast is also improving for Wednesday At moment, it looks like it will be dry in the middle part of the day with a strong wind to propel you west from Durness to Cape Wrath at the NW corner of the UK.

Wonderful reading again Ron. How kind of you to take time to free the sheep and also what a nuisance going back for the pannier cover. Glad you found it.

Thinking of you today. It said in today's paper that bike sales have gone up 10% in Halfords and there are less cars on the road due to these currently high fuel prices. Maybe in time we'll all be cyclists!!

Ron we are all enjoying your posts at The Times and hugely impressed with your perseverance. Best of luck with the rest of the ride
Hilly Janes

Sorry for the delay, had problems posting last night.

I finally arrived in Durness on the north coast of Scotland at 9 this evening, exhausted after riding 72 miles through the mountains. I got warning of this when a fellow cyclist asked if I was really going to do Ullapool to Durness in one day. I now see what he meant.

Ullapool was delightful which was partly why I was late leaving. This is, after all, supposed to be as much a holiday and sightseeing trip as a cycling challenge.

The day began with a cloudless sky and no wind to speak of. By way of practice for what was to come, the ride immediately climbed steeply to over 300 feet, then fell again to sea level. Another little teaser followed, but the third climb was the real thing - up to 1000 feet before dropping a few hundred feet to Elphin where I had a lunch break.

By this time I hadn't even covered 20 miles, and I was struggling with a stiff easterly wind that was blowing through the hills and legs that really felt they had put up with enough punishment. Every hill was agony and there were lots of them, short and sharp as well as long drags. Many of them cut through gaps in the mountains that funnelled the wind very effectively!

And so the day continued. The scenery was magnificent, I just wished I had more time to enjoy it. As it was, I only had brief chances to look at the remains of Ardvreck Castle and the superb, if modernistic Kylesku Bridge (with another climb to over 800 feet in between).

And then down to Scourie, on the coast, by when it was 5.30 and I still had 25 hard miles to go. Then over yet another hill to Laxford Bridge, where the Durness road turns off, through landscape more moorland than mountaiin.

It was up here, on rounding a corner, that I came face to face with a magnificent specimen of a stag standing in the road ahead of me. He started, briefly, then stopped at the edge of the road, only yards away, and eyed me closely while I talked to him and slid my camera out of its bag. Then he strolled nonchalantly back across the road, and made his way off up the hillside to join the rest of his herd. What an experience!

Fortunately, this episode marked the start of a long 10-mile descent to the coast and Durness, and before too long (and not before time) the sandy inlet of the Kyle of Durness came into view.

I have made it - part one: from the south coast of England to the north coast of Scotland. Tomorrow I get the 9.30 ferry across the Kyle to get out to Cape Wrath (incidentally, pronounced Rath, not Roth) to complete my ride from the South Foreland Light to the Cape Wrath Light. Of course, the weather forecast is for a strong easterly wind (I'll get blown to the Cape and have to fight my way back!) and pouring rain.

I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow. (And the bad news this morning is that the ferry may not run because of the bad weather.)