Day 9 Dalwhinnie to Tain

94 miles in 7 hours. What a day (again!) Arranged to meet a friend's parents in Inverness for lunch. Knowing that this was just over 60 miles away meant an early start and pushing on hard. So it was head down and pedal like stink - passed Aviemore, over the Slochd summit, Tomatin and then Daviot village. Didn't help that it was persistently raining - with a gusty wind. Into Inverness and over the Foray Forth bridge, before lunch with Mr & Mrs Gorman Sr - Murray your parents are special people. Sandra my "goody" bag was fantastic, thanks. Foolishly I didn't change my wet clothes so 2 hours later was rather stiff, making the 30 miles on to Tain toughish (windy and rainy again). Tim the glide down to the Cromarty Forth bridge was spoilt by roadworks on the bridge itself. Finish in Tain which is a cute little place and home to the Glenmorangie distillary! Body now start to let me down - 50 year old hands and wrists started to get very "tingley" and right knee very swollen and sore. BUT - nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to stop me from finishing this thing sometime tomorrow - even Beridale hill (the steepest one on the tour - deep joy!). Just 82 miles left - gonna need every last bit of support tomorrow. Just one last time now folks, let's finish this off together. Cheers John.