Today was meant to be a rest day, but I was determined to wipe out the deficit from yesterday. My competitive nature just wouldn’t allow me to operate in arrears.
After a more leisurely breakfast than usual we back-tracked to the Co-op at Whitburn, where we left off yesterday. George set off to investigate the Falkirk Wheel, while it only took me 53 minutes to get back to the hotel. Having got the bike out it was rude not to cycle a bit more than 53 minutes so I continued on my way to Bridge of Allan. Another reason to do a few more miles is that the A9 will be my companion for much of the next three days, and it seemed a useful opportunity to get acquainted.
A quick call to George to check on her progress suggested I could have another ½ hour cycling before she caught me up. I made it to Dunblane – which leaves only 50 miles to Pitlochry for tomorrow. A nice distance in the wood should the weather or terrain prove difficult over the next 4 days.
Today’s mileage: 31 miles
Duration: 2 hrs 11 mins
Calories burned: 1836
Maximum speed: 26.65 mph
George’s 2nd rest day blog
Well it should have been a rest day – even though half of it was taken up by cycling for Rich. I was more worried that he could really do with the break, but as the weather was so much better today, the sun shining, the wind reduced, an opportunity not to be missed. He seemed to feel it would help psychologically if he didn’t just catch up but also got ahead, especially now the realisation of the changeable weather had sunk in. He mentioned yesterday that at one time he was only managing 5mph into a head wind, that must have been tough! I noticed a real difference yesterday when I caught him up at one point, he was not as far ahead as I thought he should be based on previous reckoning and suddenly I was upon a yellow jersey with that familiar cycling gait (and bum, dare I say it!!). Yesterday evening he was exhausted, falling asleep with the TV on in the hotel room, selected at a WWII programme he like the look of – which I ended up enjoying on my own.
My morning was great, but as always a little short as I need to do something close to his route as I then end up racing to catch him up in time for lunch. The Falkirk Wheel came recommended by Phil Cross (and a big thank you to him, we’ll be seeing him en route either day 15 or 16!). It’s a mechanical canal boat lift, instead of locks, and very impressive. I would have loved to have a ‘ride’ into the air on a boat in the ‘lift’, but the hour long tourist trip was too long. Consolation was seeing it in motion from the ground and a whippy ice cream – the first of the holiday so remiss on my part!
Once I then met up with Rich I overtook him and managed to pull into a side road – Bogside. We won’t forget that in a hurry!
We drove back into Dunblane for lunch, I admit to being a bit reticent to visit there but it was so close and I’m really glad we did. As well as having a nice lunch, we had a quick look at the cathedral and a walk along the river.
Rich took over the driving from here, he normally likes to drive but hasn’t had a look in due to the long spells in the saddle. I asked him how it felt to be driving for a change, his reply – “comfy”, which made us both chuckle. As long as he doesn’t try to drive between 12 and 35 mph we’ll be fine!
We decided to go on a scenic drive around The Trossachs in Central Scotland – and I said I’d like an afternoon spent with ‘Richard and the Trossachs’ – he felt this sounded like a nasty 60’s pop band!
Rich had broken the front of his cycle helmet so I googled on my blackberry to find a shop en route and came up with Wheels Cycle Centre, Invertrossachs Road, Callander, Perthshire, FK17 8HW. What a gem, smashing chap, he hires, repairs and sells bikes etc and I think he has accommodation there too. I have to admit I was taking more interest in his tiny terrier who kept licking my hand and a friendly big fat black cat! And rather surreal, listening to the orchestra playing in a high ceiling hall he had in his home (which we walked through). Rich got a new helmet and was very happy!
We then took in some lovely scenery including some lochs, Vernachar, Achray, Katrine and finally the lake of Menteith. Then we took a minor road across some more remote countryside from Braco to Comfrie, which was really lovely and I enjoyed being a passenger so I could take in the sights.
I wanted to take this route to get to Deil’s Caldron waterfall, and we took a short walk down to see the falls. But by this time it was 7pm and Rich was hungry. So we quickly drove into Crieff to look for something to eat and struck lucky with a really quaint little Thai restaurant where we had a really gorgeous meal. I could recommend it – Thai e-San, 7 James Square, Crieff.
And after some jasmine tea, now it’s time for bed …
Thanks to Graham at the Cladhan Hotel for adding £5.00 to the sponsorship kitty.
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