Day 9, 10 & 11
Day 9 saw us depart Peebles and circumnavigate Edinburgh, up and over the Forth Bridge, the on to Perth ! Not a very exciting day, with the highlight probably being the views of the Forth Bridge !!! Queensferry village on the southern side of the bridge with its cobbles was lovely.
Julie and Eddie had set out early, were so far ahead that they were past the first stop point before the van ! Then the peleton was so in the zone that they missed the second food stop !! Cafes came to the rescue !
It was though a short day, with only a mere 64 miles, and 3,400 ft of climbing. We were in the hotel before 4 !!!!
Day 10 gave us the awesome Cairngorms. The weather was superb, in fact at times too hot, but from Perth we got on the A93, and stayed on there for the next 60 miles, as it wound its way high up and in to the mountains, through Blairgowrie and Balmoral, on to Ballater. Just a mere 67 miles, so arrived in Ballater around 3pm !
Our first true iconic climb, The Spittal of Glenshee saw us climb it in the mid day heat, but what stunning scenery, majestic and awesome. Superb descent with speeds of over 40 mph!
It was a glorious day, it was ‘in the moment’.
Day 11 couldn’t have been more different than Day 10.
Leaving Ballater, we climbed up and over ‘The Lecht’ in cold, wet drizzle and mist. Very difficult to see this ‘iconic’ climb, and so it lost some of its aura, as everyone cold and wet, just wanted to get to the food stops, change clothes and get a hot drink !
The day improved, but only a little, and ended again in wet, cold drizzle, in Conon Bridge. But a warm Inn, and some good food, raised our spirits well !
Funnily, everyone now just takes an 87 mile day in their stride. Its just ‘What we do !’
Comments from the Team …….
Helen – Another spoke bites the dust, and another one, and another one …..
Patrick – Scotland has really lived up to its billing, terrain, hotels
Neil – My bike is like a lightly lubed leapoard….. raring to go.
Phillip has been dubbed the cycling metronome …..
1 Comment
Well done all of you. I hope you have as much fun as we did last year. Andy Newman