Tour alternative started off with the planned journey to Stirling to use the non refundable Hotel room... Except by bike instead of train as Hilton junction in Perth is still under water.
Set off an hour later than hoped at 1740ish resulting in a decent shove along the south tay coast road (lumpy) followed by crossing the Ochils for the climb to the yetts o muckhart, investigated a handful of alternatives to the main road and got into the hotel just after 10.
Forgot trying to ride a half loaded touring bike at normal speeds is hard work so woke up a bit sore.
Rather than head down the flatishness of the Forth and Clyde canal to Glasgow and under the Clyde in the cycle tunnel I rode north to bridge of Allan for a lorn and tattie scone breakfast roll from Baynes then took the Glenroad followed by the town route through Dunblane to get to Doune and o to Callander for a first lunch from the only express remaining at Dreadnought jct.
The NCN7 starts off reasonable into the pass of le my before I started dodging the familes weij at some forest cabin place, from there I though I was riding Relentles24 again as I shoved the bike along a track that made LazyK and zig and zag seem distant easy memories, eventually the grading improved and even turned to tar for a bit at Strathyre, given the road was a shambles this was the less evil Option.
The switch from the Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie railway to the Callander and oban line is a harsh climb but better surfaced, the MTBers were enjoying it though, finally up on the line through glen ogle I got to enjoy the ride up and I to Killin on well graded gravel tracks.
Killin felt odd, usually when it's busy there's lots of traffic but the road was quiet, the queues for the shops and cafès on the other hand were not. Decided I wouldn't risk a splurge of traffic at 6 and retraced across the falls of Dochart to take the south loch tay road, a route of evil undulations after evil undulation, it was busy with roadside campers...
Kenmore and some nutters were swimming in the tay as if they were on the med with not the warmth of a wet suit in sight and a chill in the air.
Final flat push to coshieville and the last big dig of the day up to the Schiehallion road junction, stopped a few times, noted that amazingly the caravan park shop at the deer park is finished and open with juice for sale but didn't stop for any.
Plunge to Tummel Bridge as fun as ever even with deliberately heavy loaded rear bags (I could have got more stuff carted up), questionable rear brakes and cables that I should probably change. And a nice quiet spin up to the caravan at allean.
Had a walk in the forest today but no towls bagged so need to get up to the higher roads.
Hoping to check out Glen fincastle tomorrow which will hopefully get me the other side of Meal na h-Iolaire and Into new Tìle territory.
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