Alison and Alison and the art of re-tyrement

Cycling from London to Spain

  • Day 20 Bettyhill to John O’Groats via Dunnet Head

    Distance 60.4 miles

    Ascent 1008 metres

    Seaview Hotel John O’Groats

    Our last day. We started and finished the ride in rain.

    Leaving Bettyhill with a view of the coastline.
    The bus shelters here are not large enough for their customers. Hope there will be room on the bus for all the family.
    A detour to Dunnet Head the most northerly point on the British Isles.
    The view at Dunnet Head. You can see the Orkneys in the distance. How foggy does it have to be for the lighthouse to be switched on?
    Heatwave? What heatwave?
    We made it. The team and our guides Peter and Radu. The end of three wonderful weeks.
    The only way to celebrate our achievement was with a glass of champagne. Over a thousand miles and have climbed Mount Everest at least twice.
    A final evening together to reminisce on our journey together. It has been wonderful to share the adventure with such a fantastic group of people.

    Well it has been quite a year. Have cycled over 2,600 miles in all kinds of weather. Experiences have been shared with friends old and new and there has been a lot of fun and laughter along the way. The support from family and friends has sustained me every day. Thank you all so very much.

    It is not goodbye but au revoir until the next time. There is a lot more cycling to be done.

  • Day 20 Lairg to Betty Hill

    Distance 45.7 miles

    Ascent 542.8 metres

    Our penultimate day. We make our way through the Highlands, along the banks of Loch Naver to the coast.

    Coffee stop at the Crask Inn, the most remote inn on the British Isles.
    Only 90 miles to go.
    The team crossing streaming across the bridge. Who is that at the front of the pack? Jackie in the lead of course.
    Church with a red tin roof. A very quick lunch in the car park opposite. The midges ate better than we did and we had a feast.
    We have made it to the coast.
    We even had time for a walk on the beach in the afternoon.

    A 30 mile cycle. We can polish that off before coffee time now. What hills? We are proper cyclists. Or thought we were until another group of LEGOGers arrived at the hotel. They did 82 miles today. But we enjoyed the cake.

    Our last ride tomorrow. Can’t believe it.

  • Day 19 Inverness to Lairg

    Distance 59.25 miles

    Ascent 786 metres

    It happens to the best of us. We followed our guide out of Inverness and into an industrial estate. Round the estate, out, back in again and out again. The cycle path had been rerouted but Peter found the way out for a spectacular ride along the banks of the Durnich Firth.

    The sun was out as we left Inverness. We stopped at the viewpoint to spot dolphins. They were elsewhere today.
    So many fantastic views.
    We stopped at the Falls of Shin to watch the salmon swimming and jumping upstream. A test of our reaction times to get a salmon in shot.
    JP testing the bridge. He still has the energy to jump after cycling over 50 miles.
    A journey back in time. What is inside the box?

    The midges are out and they are hungry. Jungle juice working well. Trying to reduce the opportunity to be dinner for the midges so we dash inside at every opportunity to escape. Alternatively dancing on the spot is effective but tiring after a long cycle.

    Good night.

  • Day 18 Tomintoul to Inverness

    Distance 56.1 miles

    Ascent 881.8 metres

    A lot to see on our journey today.

    Accommodation ideas for future trips.
    Regretted the delicious eggs florentine for breakfast this morning while climbing out of Tomintoul first thing. But the view was spectacular.
    The rivers are not dry here. Swimmers enjoying the cool waters of the River Findhorn under the Dulsie bridge. Alison would be straight in there. Think I will stick to cycling.

    It was a day of Scottish history and famous landmarks.

    A cycle through the grounds of Cawdor Castle to please the thespians amongst us.
    Then onto a prehistoric burial site at Balnauran of Clava. The cairns are Bronze Age and over 4000 years old.
    A quick dash under the magnificent Culloden viaduct.
    A stop at the site of the battlefield Culloden.
    Blue skies, bright sunshine for our entry into Inverness.

    Onward through the Highlands tomorrow. Not so keen on the word ‘high’. Will endeavour not to hold the whole group up by leaving iPad and toiletries in my room tomorrow. Oh dear.

  • Day 17 Bridge of Cally to Tomintoul

    Distance 60.1 miles

    Ascent 1684 metres

    Our first major climb of the day and we reached the ski resort of Glenshee. The sun was out, walkers were taking the lifts and we celebrated with a coffee.
    The bikes have collapsed with exhaustion.

    Midge report: no bites. The possibilities are that both Smidge and Jungle Juice work, we are cycling too fast for them to catch and bites us, unfavourable weather conditions or they don’t find me attractive. Happy with any of these alternatives. Will continue with the investigation.

    The Queen is at Balmoral and so are we. In the centre of the trees is the flagpole on the building. No invitation to tea so we plough on towards Colnabaichin.
    Who needs a bicycle when you can be teleported to the summit? Beam me up Scottie.
    Relieved to have reached the top of the second big climb of the day.
    End of the day and we reached the ski resort of Lecht in the Cairngorms. The highest point on the national road network at 2090 ft.

    Our bed for the night is in Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands where malt whisky is a speciality. Lots to look forward to.

  • Day 16 Kinross to Bridge of Cally

    Distance 39.4 miles

    Ascent 715 metres

    A relaxed ride in sunny weather through the glorious Scottish countryside.

    On our way out of Kinross

    We are in midge country. Jungle juice v Smidge. Yesterday decided to do a controlled trial. Jungle juice one side of the body and Smidge on the other. Result no bites. The 16mph winds may have been more effective than the insect repellents. The trial continues.

    A visit to the grounds of Scone Palace.
    Scone Palace. Not our accommodation for the night.
    Planted in 1745 this is officially the tallest hedge in the world. It is over 100 feet tall and is cut every 10 years.
    Fields of barley.

    An early night as we prepare to ride up to the Scottish ski resort tomorrow. It is going to be hot and hilly. The cold weather gear for the journey north remains in the suitcase. Oh dear. Perhaps it is unwise to write that.

  • Day 15 Peebles to Kinross via Forth Road Bridge

    Distance 57.33 miles

    Ascent 974.8 metres

    A view of the Pendle hills as we leave Peebles
    Today was all about bridges. JR in his element. Morning coffee stop. No bus shelter available so we stop under the fly over.
    And where better to celebrate a birthday with cake and candles. Under the A768 of course. Happy Birthday Jackie.
    We arrive in Edinburgh but progress blocked by the crowds at the Festival.
    We had a peek at the castle on our way out of the city.
    The Forth Railway Bridge
    The two bridges across the Firth of Forth.
    The team crossing the Forth Road Bridge.
    Another chance to celebrate Jackie’s birthday at the end of the day. A flight of beers in the local brewery.

  • Day 14 Peebles

    A rest day with no cycling.

    Walking 8 miles

    The promise of a laundrette fell through as two machines were broken. First job of the day was to catch up on the washing. I have previous experience of drying facilities but have to admire John’s new airing cupboard technique. Hang wet clothes in wardrobe, put hairdryer in wardrobe, turn it on and close the door.

    Introducing JR and Jackie to the joys of visiting a bike shop when on tour. JR with his purchase of new brake blocks.
    Neidpath Castle on the banks of the Tweed.
    A gentle stroll along the banks of the River Tweed. JR warmed to his role of tour guide and gave us a guided tour of the bridges of Peebles. The Neidpath skew Viaduct designed for railways but now a footpath.
    Not necessarily a rest day. We also had in-depth instruction on the effects of rust on a bridge. I hope there is no test tomorrow.
    A view through the old railway tunnel of the rest of the team. Torches on and we walked the length of it.

    Washing dry, body rested and ready for the challenges ahead tomorrow.

    Good night.

  • Day 13 Talkin to Peebles

    Distance 83 miles

    Ascent 1928 metres

    We were staying at different hotels and JR designated himself as group leader. He handed out the garmin and gave the morning briefing. His knowledge of the locality was extraordinarily. ‘Here is a lake – it contains fish’. He has helped to rewrite the history books. Apparently Hadrian’s Wall was built in 1926. We are in awe at the breadth of his expertise.
    The team meet up at The Turret on Hadrian’s Wall at Banks.
    Always road closures. They have giant moles here as well.
    We are in Scotland! Coffee break on the border of Scotland and Cumbria.
    Fantastic ride through the Scottish Borders.
    Not a photo that has slipped in from another trip. A quick visit to a Buddhist retreat at Eskdalemuir.

    Radu our guide says if it is not on Strava it didn’t happen. No one believes my Strava statistics. My top speed yesterday was recorded as 52 miles/hour. It is on Strava so it did happen. There is a general belief that my Strava is inaccurate. Tosh of course. I am a supercharged Gran.

    Very pleased to arrive in Peebles after such a long ride. Delicious dinner and a day off from cycling to recover. Fab.

  • Day 12 Kirby Longsdale to Talkin

    Distance 62.1 miles

    Ascent 1461.5 metres

    Hills everywhere. Cycling through Sedburgh with a view of Howgill Fells.
    A coffee stop but not in the bus shelter at Orton. It is now the local library.
    So we had coffee on the green behind the bus shelter.
    JR and Jackie managing to smile on the way up another hill.
    Long Meg – 12 ft high with the four corners facing the points of a compass. Thought to be about 1500 BC.
    And her daughters who were all turned to stone for dancing on the sabbath. Part of a Neolithic stone circle,
    Complying with request. Always essential to join in local traditions. Where are the rest of the team?

    Time for bed. We have an 80 mile ride tomorrow.

    Good night