The ride from Fort William starts out curvy but flat, following the shoreline of Loch Linnhe. The drivers seem to love the winding road and most seem to know just how to pass a cyclist and never try to pass me with a car coming in the opposite direction. Reassuring. I am wearing my bright orange vest today. It is so blinding, I take it off when I go into a store or restaurant out of respect to those around me.

After about twenty kilometers I reach the village of Glencoe. A very different landscape. Here is the place where they filmed parts of the Harry Potter movies. These are the Scottish Highlands.

Maybe best seen on film.

From Glencoe I begin a climb that may be one of the longest and highest of the trip so far. It requires not only stamina but terrific concentration to hug the white line as there is no shoulder and it is full of hairpin turns and there is a strong headwind.

You can get a sense of the insanity of it all in this video clip.

When I reach the top of the pass, you really do feel like you are in the highlands.

And again, fun to see in motion.

It begins to rain when I start to descend and I get to see a welcome sign when I look back on where I have come.

I continue on to the village of Crianlarich and find a bed & breakfast and a hearty steak and ale pie.

Stats – for Sunday 8 September 2012

Start: Fort William
Finish: Crianlarich
Distance: 83 km
Time on Bike: 4 hours 47 min
Average Speed: 17.4 km/hr
Distance to Date: 8,549 km