A fast run to Comrie on the Thu night. My GPS was recording a 26.5km/h average at that point. The pace then moderated to something more sustainable for myself. I visited my planned bivvy spots for the return on Sat night. These were the unlocked railway waiting rooms at Crainlarich, Tyndrum, and Dalmally. I discovered Crainlarich freshly psinted and that it had an excellent heater within. I decided on an hours sleep after having the heater on for 15 mins. This put me behind the field or certainly on my own for reat of the night.
I decided on the way to Oban on Fri night that I would ride through the second night to another potential bivvy spot I had identified. I knew that if I visited my bag drop at the Van my resolve would crack and i would end up using the YHA booking I had. So I went to the Wetherspoons (open till 1am) had a good nosh and doze, then carried on.
During Friday night I lost both my phone and one of my full finger neoprene gloves. I was glad I had decided to take a £14.99 PAYG phone for emergencies. No tears over the loss of an expensive phone. After numerous hills in the dark. Easier in a way. I found my bivvy spot a covered picnic shelter. One of the first ferry crossings and away. Lovely circuit out west on quiet roads and even saw a train on the Harry Potter line. Had a second sleep in another open shelter I had researched. Only 500m down an unsigned track off the route. Stopped at Acharacle plus NT place for a feed. Spent most of the time taking photos or silly grinning selfies as I rode along. Does sublime cover it? South and then at option decuded to go down north shore and caught ferry back on return. Nice quiet run and excellent option.
Back in Oban, ice cream, 15 mins and away again. Stopped at hotel on left in Loch Awe. Had a good feed and a bitter shandy. Then had 30 min doze on comfy sofa. Stopped at pub on left after Green Welly shop in
Tyndrum. Then carried on another 5 miles to Crainlarich and my railway waiting room bivvy spot.
Left Crainlarich a bit after 3:00am which was a mistake passing through Comrie 45 mins before the first shop opened. An extra hours sleep would have been better. Passed through Crieff and onto Perth. Saw Tescos but thought Sunday opening and went straight past (duh it is Scotland), saw garage on right but wanted cafe food. Another mistake, centre was pretty much dead. Asked at a few hotels if serving breakfast to non resudents (no). In desperation took photo of bike in front of a Perth gardens sign, when leaving up hill, and carried on.
Rear tubeless was losing pressure slowly and needed pumping up about every 100km once the rims impacted on potholes. Eventually got more frequent and put a tube in just before a 11% descent on a spray gravelled road to Dunning. Discovered rim tape was not seated properly in one place hence unexplained pressure loss.
Bought a hot steak pie, all day breakfast, ice cream, and mango juice here. After 100km from Crainlarich on a bag of Frazzles and half a bag of wine gums I was hungry. Had a good stop here and met a few other riders.
Onto Dunblane which came up 30km sooner than I was thinking so a pleasant surprise. Ham and Cheese toastie with pot of green tea. Couple of other riders in here who left before I did. My saddlebag must have been 4 times the size of theirs. Then the final run to Culross (very pretty), met some more riders along here, over the old Forth bridge (brilliant) and on into Edinburgh. Wondered if going right way when cycle track went left saying 8 miles but gps track said straight on. Surprised how much greenery there was between the Forth Bridge and the finish. Once one cycle tracks I knew it was not far. In final run to finish a motorcyclist accekerated right across my path as I cycled down main road about 1km out. He had to brake as did I. What a tool. Onwards to Montys. Free beer and a mixed platter of meats and cheeses and bread, olives. Very moorish and very nice.
Followed tram tracks back to Waverley and on to hotel. Shower, fresh non cycling clothes and flat shoes with no socks. Lovely. Straight back out, in case fell asleep, tram back to Haymarket. Then trying to find a local to relocate bar. Not paying attention when I left earlier. Several more pints and nibbles and drunken conversations later. Then I left to return to my hotel about 9:50pm for a long sleep. 10am train home today.
Bloody excellent long weekend. Great route, scenery, event, vo,unteers and organiser.
Edited to add. I had not been wearing gloves during the day. When I lost a full finger one. I got my fingerless gloves out for the night. I thought I had two right hand gloves with me. So wore one upside down to fit the left hand, padding on top. It was not till Sat when stopped at a feed stop that I realised it was inside out and was indeed a left hand glove. Sometimes when you think your brain is working just fine...