| Distance | 73 miles |
| Total Distance | 288 miles |
| Ascent | 4,514 ft |
| Total Ascent | 16,623 ft |
| Temperature | 8-11 C |
| Wind | SE 2-3 |
| Precipitation | Light rain |
| Visibility | Fair - Good |
A cold damp morning - continuous steady rain for a couple of hours, then light showers on and off.
It was quite chilly with temperatures in single figures for most of the day and we still have a head wind.
Mark got away to a prompt start and finished ahead of the rest of the field.
Eric, Ken, Trevor, Robin and myself rode the first half of the stage together, after coffee the peloton was stretched out.
One mishap, Ken did a spectacular fall into a ditch after his bike went off the raised kerb on the edge of the road - fortunately only his pride was hurt.
I was finding things more difficult with a low saddle, luckily there was only one major climb right at the end of the stage.
Bad news on obtaining another saddle post, Cannondale said there are none in stock in the UK or Europe they have quoted a month for delivery, so we are going to do a farmers job on it (at my risk). The cross section of the seat post is oval with one end being pointed, John (Bike Adventures) has obtained a wooden dowel which is a perfect fit and will pack it with filler, thus making a solid seat post (see photos).
I still have not been able to purchase another camera but it was not a good day for photographs.
All riders completed the stage.
Counties - Inverness-shire - Argyll