An 80£ cab ride from Edinburgh brought me to the cycling tour's starting point - the Auchterarder House Hotel - around noon of "Day 1".

What an auspicious beginning! A lovely hotel with sunlit gardens and rhododendron bushes the likes of which I've never before seen. Only later did I learn that to many in Scotland, rhododendrons are a weed of significant nuisance. No matter, the hotel and its setting are wonderful.

That afternoon we were introduced to our bikes (24 speed Treks - real beauties) and each other during a 15 mile "warm-up" ride through the beautiful rolling Perthshire countryside. Other than the countryside itself, a highlight was a stop at Drummond Castle to admire it's renowned historic formal gardens.

Over dinner we renewed old acquaintances (all were veterans of the Bike Vermont Ireland tour) and made new ones. Saunie, who led the Ireland tour and was now - along with Herb - leading Scotland, already knew everyone. Two better leaders and organizers extraordinaire you'd be hard pressed to find.