Day 3: Lochness to Kinlochleven (120k of bonkersness)

The longest shortest day! In the words of Chumbawamba, ‘We get knocked down but we get up again’….. and again… and again. But we survived another day!

Bullet points as too tired to write :)

Lowlights:

Aches and pains from yesterday – to start!

Started in the rain

The rain continued for 2 hours straight!

Two punctures

Chains off

Cleats stuck (Becky couldn’t take her shoe off her bike for 1hr and a half)

30k of off road

Missed the ferry

Cowering behind a lock mechanism to try to stay warm

Lunch on a pavement outside a shop (for second day running) – hungry!

 

 

 

Highlights:

GH finally admitted Scotland is more impressive than the New Forest

Epic trails through the forest – reminiscent of cylcocross biking. High adrenaline scrambles up Scottish scree alongside miles of Loch Linnhe and the mountains opposite

Harry Potter bridge visited by the support crew

Lightening decent at top neck speeds in blazing rain, freezing wind, water filled shoes, numb fingers

Pork and apple sauce baps from a woman in a café who thought we were WALKING ‘JoGLE’ with all our bike stuff!

Befriended a man and his dog who ferried us across a lock, strapping the bikes to the boat roof.

Most stunning afternoon rode when ‘we got up again’ – sunshine; flat tarmac; Ben Nevis in the distance; wild wees; sea swim and eventual ride home to Kinlockleven.

Lewis, Sam and others came to the rescue and hosed, cleaned and sorted bikes for the slower group after a grueling day: thank you!

Absolutely stunning accommodation spot looking out beyond Glen Coe (tomorrow’s destination)

Hot showers; clean bikes; food-food-food and a bed!

 

Oh and Dan went for a 5k run barefoot and ended up in a stream :)