Set of just after 9am, our earliest start so far. 38 miles only today, clear skies and no rain, so things were looking good. How wrong can you be....
No sooner did we cross the bridge heading out of Banff and the road turned upwards and we started to climb...and climb...and climb.... 8 miles of almost steady climbing and I was soon regretting having the full English breakfast!
10 miles along and Tom decides he needs the toilet. No problem, we'll just make a small detour into Gordonstown. Only Gordonstown is a fishing village at the bottom of a what seems like a mountain! Heading down 20% slopes which seem to go on forever with fully loaded panniers and me on the bike was a nerve wracking experience. I'm pulling the brake levers so hard my hands are in agony and I still can't slow the bike enough! Helpful thoughts go through my head... "Hope I tightened those new brake cables properly."
We eventually reach the bottom find the toilet and then have to push the bikes up the mountain. Exhausted we reach our route again - nearly an hour later for a 2 mile detour. On we go and the hills keep coming. More 20% slopes and white knuckle braking! Which bright spark planned this route...
18 miles, we've both had enough and start checking the route for short cuts. Fortunately, we can cut across country, miss that scenic coast road that looked so attractive when I planned the route and cut out 7-8 miles. I let Tom make the decision - he must have thought about it for at least a millisecond before he picking the shortcut.
Along the way we approach what appears to be an alien space ship landed in a nearby field. On closer inspection it turns out to be an unmanned radar station.
Still hilly but making progress we decide to stop for a brief lunch. Soon after we reach our destination Old Deer. A really small village it doesn't take us long to find our B&B. Great B&B and a very helpful, friendly owner. Nearest place to eat is a hotel 15 minutes walked along the disused railway line and across the fields. The meal and the service was first class.
Time for bed and let's see what adventures tomorrow has in store.
No comments:
Post a Comment