Colinton Reunion + Biking Chaos - Pierre's update, DAY 5 am

It was SO nice to leave Biggar in the beautiful light this morning, and push through to Edinburgh. There by the side of the road, a whole bunch of people came to support us: my wife Jenny, two daughters Zoe (11, who served us cakes), and the wee one Marie (6, who told me "you're not smelling good, papa...), Ian & Glen, local school children and lots of work colleagues: boss Colin (who surely would look good on a bike), cyclist-to be Gill, two bike nuts Craig & Gemma, who joined us for a few miles and did some work at the front a little... Great. We were a little late to join then in Colinton as fellow English TRATters kept stopping to enjoy the views. Perhaps they were just tied. As we cycled crossed the Lanark road, Brian and Pam were there too with a gigantic PIERRE sign. Wow!

This thing really is turning into a complete bike chaos. 3 of my wheels are doing the trip, Mike is using Andy's bike, and Andy, the other Mike's bike (what is that about?). Wheels keep breaking to bits, chains bursting (all these muscular thighs give them a hard time 9 hours per day), rims bukcling etc. Yesterday, I even wore someone's shorts I discovered in the evening (and he wore mine...). We share gels, sweat, bike oil (also works well as sun cream), tubes etc. This really is team work.

We are now in Bridge of Earn, just south of Perth, and about to push on up the road to Aviemore (some 85 miles away I believe - a doddle), when more Athlete Angels are lining up to attend to our muscular bodies. This is the life. Could I ever get tired of it?

Pierre