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A
Brilliant Day!!
I woke up about 7.00 to the sound of the phone ringing. Rosie was ringing
to tell me how the Grand Prix was going. I listened to the TV commentary
over the phone, and then went back to sleep.
I finally woke up proper it was about 9.45. So much for an early
start. Outside it was already sunny but a thick fog covered the ground. It
would appear that I should have used bug spray, because most of my head and
neck is now covered in little bumps that itch like crazy. That will teach
me for staying in the pub when it was dark.
My washing was dry, Steve (see yesterday) had washed and put them on the
radiators, and they had dried over night. I packed which seems to be
getting quicker and was soon ready for the off. (I have learned not to take
things out of bags unless I need them!!)
I paid and we had a quick chat about technology the price of computers,
and the perennial problem about squeezing performance from what you have
got. (Once a geek, always a geek).
I finally left at about 11.20, and headed straight into the village for
breakfast. The Old bakery next to the pub does really good coffee and a
Scottish breakfast for a fiver (£4.90). So much for hard living and hard
cycling…..
By now the mist had cleared (12.00) and the day was turning it something
special. It was clearly a sunglasses and no fleece day. It was also a
Sunday, and the motorcyclists from all around were gathering…. I also liked
the Lotus with the motorbike luggage attached to his picnic hamper rack,
one for you Anthony?
I finally set off for Aviemore, which turned out to be about 7 miles.
The terrain was basically flat, but there were still one or two hills. I
could have made it Aviemore the previous night, but I am glad that I called
it quits when I did. The views were brilliant, with the Mountains and
Lakes. I would have missed all this in the dark.
I cycled through Aviemore but stopped briefly twice, once for money, it
soon goes, and secondly at a bike shop (Mount Sports?) to get my tyres
pumped up.
From then on it was easy cycling. I was off the main road and mostly on
B roads. The terrain was undulating but not too hilly and the views were
exquisite. I cycled through Kingussie where I stopped a couple of years ago
with the walking club and onto Laggan Bridge. This was a further 8 miles
past the village, and was where I was supposed to stop the previous night.
It was clearly madness trying to do 55 miles in one day when the 1st
26 miles were uphill. Even breaking it up into two days was enough.
I arrived at the hostel at about 4.30. (I asked for directions at the
little shop in Laggan village, and they convinced me to stock up with
supplied for tomorrow’s breakfast). It was a hostel, coffee / cake shop,
and pottery shop too. The weather by now was a little overcast, but still
warm, so time for coffee and cake, and a chance to site outside.
It had been an interesting day. There were bikers everywhere, and at
every corner they were whizzing at high speed past or toward me.
Once again I had the place to myself, and what a place. It was
beautifully turned out with 4/5 bedrooms, Sky telly, an Arga, Wood burning
stove, drying room, central heating, e.t.c., e.t.c. Time for the old
favourites, a shower and wash my clothes, which I soon had drying away
nicely.
With a TV I couldn’t help but stay up and watch the Grand Prix
highlights, and so with plans made, I went off to the local pub for a beer
and tea.
The pub was about quarter of a mile away and was a cracker. It has its
own abandoned Church steeple in the car park, which clearly supported
Were-wolfs, pterodactyls or other evil creature; I was scared. Inside the
food was brilliant, for £7.50 I got half a sheep, which they called a chop.
It might have been a lost tourist though?
So back to the hostel to do some postcards and watch the Grand
Prix. ( I have lost my stamps
though)
Speak to you tomorrow Phil
(The pictures are still waiting for the right technology.)
You can email me here. Send me
your comments and tips.
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