Monday 25th July 2022, 123.91km, 1,117m

The morning started well with me heading off the front to stretch my legs out. Because of a problem with someone else’s bike the team were trying to sort that out which meant we missed out on a morning brew stop. I was really getting used to a cuppa too.

The road surfaces were rubbish with a lot of potholes and just a crap surface to ride a bike on.

A long climb after lunch strung the group out and then we descended towards the M74. This bit wasn’t much fun, the constant noise from the motorway combined with the poor road surface wasn’t making the day too enjoyable. And then the rain hit.

I could see it coming and when it hit I was instantly soaked. Vicky had gone for it and I had my head down and eventually caught her up; we rode together bemoaning the weather and the road surface. The rain was torrential, the worst we’ve had all trip but we rode really well together, taking turns on the front, just pushing through hoping for some respite.

A bright note was the cycle track as we got closer to Larkhall; it was a much nicer surface than the road. As the track ran out there was a sharp turn and Vicky touched the grass with her back wheel and her bike slid out from under her. Thankfully no real damage done.

We pushed on, were ahead of the van so missed the afternoon brew stop too and just headed for the hotel. Once there I ordered the strangest set of drinks…a latte in the largest cup you have and a Bunnahabhain whisky with a little ice.

A day to just get through rather than enjoy. It would have been pretty crappy without the rain; the soaking just completed the set of shitiness.