22 July - Calvine to Loch Insh

After leaving Camp Ticknmidge, we continued north along the A92 still on the Cycle Route 7. I

It was nice to not be on the highway, and moving slowly along gives one the opportunity to really see the scenery. This is looking west from the highway, into the distant mist across the moor.

Although we had technically been in the Highlands for some time, this sign appeared. Kinda have to stop for a picture of that!

By late morning we arrived at ... The Dalwhinnie Distillery! What a great way to start the day!

We had a lovely tour of the distillery - no photos allowed inside - and were impressed enough by the whisky that we bought a bottle. Not wanting to haul the glass, we transferred it to one of our plastic bladders. I know - it seems like sacrilege - but we kinda have to minimize the weight we're carrying. When Melinda brought the bottle back in for them to recycle it, they were quite impressed that we'd emptied it so quickly and were still even standing!

We passed through Newtonmore, which  houses the MacPherson Clan Museum. Inside were displays of the long history of the clan, as well as the supposed MacPherson's broken fiddle. We also found this great pipe march framed on the wall - going to have to learn to play that one!

After passing through Kingussie, we found the Ruthven Barracks. These were English barracks until the Jacobites drove them out. The barracks have been stabilized, and we went inside for a look around. Amazing to think that men were living there a couple hundred years ago...

We rode along the Insh Marshes, and found our way to Loch Insh. Inquiring at a bar, we learned of the public park along the Loch. We rode through the park until we found a beautiful knoll with huge oaks, and declared it home for the night. This camp we called Glen Oak. It was windy that night, but generally clear and not too cold.

Loch Insh was a great find for a camp site. No midges, no ticks, moderate amounts of cattle poop. We toasted the beauty of the place and our good fortune with our Dalwhinnie in the tulip glasses we received from the tour, and settled in for a quiet night.

Total miles for the day was 41.5. A long day, but a really good time.