John O Groats to Tain. 91 miles, 5 hours 40 minutes.
A two hour drive from the hotel in Tain to JOG. We started at about 10am in the rain which continued for about 1.5 hours. Tail wind all the way today though which was fantastic.

We stopped for lunch at about 12 and then again for a cup of tea at about 1.45pm. Really sunny here in the harbour at Helmsdale - great location.

A9 not too bad for traffic and only one tough hill - 13% for about three miles - hit 40mph going down though although we slowed for a couple of hairpin bends!

About 15 miles from Tain we took the little coast road - great views of the estuary and really quiet so we could hear the birds. Stopped in a little village, Dornoch, for an ice cream 6 miles from Tain. And then it rained - did it rain! Stung the face riding into it and we got thoroughly wet all the way to the hotel. Have to wring the shoes out I think before tomorrow.

Jeff, team support manager, wangled a bottle of vintage whisky off Glenmorange so we stopped there for a photo. We will auction this off when we can and also hope to call in at a few more distilleries on route (shame we can't drink any of it).

A great first day - hope the legs work tomorrow!