DAY TWELVE

After been woken up a couple of times during the night due to the gale force winds and torrential rain, Pinhead did not like my prognosis that we were DOOMED, I TELL THEE DOOMED whilst having breakfast.  I also received a nice text from Mich to say Max is now saying Mumma, not surprsising really when he hasn't seen Dadda for nearly 2 weeks!!

We had a lovely 3 course meal last night, a couple of drinks each, Jacuzzi/Steam Room, full breakfast and accommodation all for £26 each, so a big Thank You to Craig the General Manager for sorting us out and thanks to Sarah on reception who checked travel details for us before we left.

The first 20k took ages, if it wasn't the 20-30mph cross headwind that was slowing us down, it was the 60mph gusts that were literally blowing us all over the road, Pinhead more than me as he is a bit more lightweight than myself.

We did a what felt like loads of climbing, but that was probably because it was just as hardwork cycling down hill into the wind as it was cycling uphill when in a sheltered spot.

We had a lovely long decent to Greenock and cycled through there to Gourock where we were to catch the ferry.  Rest assured the distance cycled does not take into account the distance travelled by the ferry.  Now I am sure you have all still been religously reading the first two words of my blogs in 'Geordie' as instructed, now the next name place has to be said in a thick Scottish accent and the second syllable has to be strecthed out.  We were getting the ferry to DUNOON, or pronounced correctly Dunoooooooooon.

The ferry took 20 minutes, crossing the Firth of Clyde.  On the ferry we got chatting to another couple of cyclists, Liz & her dad Rob.  They were doing a 5 day cycle tour of the Scottish Islands.  Liz is a keen mountain biker and Rob is a keen whiskey drinker, so they combined the two.

We arrived in Dunooooooon.  As we left the port, we were passed by a removal company van.  The name of the company was Brian Adams removal.  I think Pinhead particulary liked my rendition of 'Everything I move, I move it for you'.  We cycled into the Argyll Forest Park along the length of Loch Ech.  To be honest my words couldn't do some of the scenery justice, so I hope some of our pictures paint the thousand words.  A couple of times the clouds threatened, but luckily the most rain we had to encounter was about 2 minutes of a very light shower.

We then picked up the A815 on the east side of Loch Fyne.  Where we were staying was only probably about 5k away, but unforuntaley it was on the other side of the Loch on the west side, which meant in cycling terms it was still 30k away.

The last 10k was probably our most eventful 10k of the entire ride.  We were stopping quite frequently to take pictures anyway, when Pinhead and I both saw some seals on the rocks, so we had to stop and take some piccies, alas, I think our mohawks scared them, and despite there being about half a dozen, by the time I managed to take a shot, only one was left, but I still managed to get a photo.  We were just about to move off when two coaches came past, the first one saw us and gave us a wide birth, the second driver was paying no attention at all and if Pinhead had not yanked his bike out of the way, it would now be a meccano kit.

Next, I said to Pinhead, what the bloody hell is that, lo and behold a warship (frigate I think) sailing up the Loch!

We then saw a couple of lovely old stone bridges, the Inveraray Castle and the welcome to Inveraray sign, that all had to be photographed, with traffic zooming past us.

We are staying in a place called the George Hotel tonight, which is just heaven for me.  Old style traditional pub, Real Ale on hand pump.  Tonight's Ale was Vital Spark @ 4.4% from the Fyne Ales Brewery.  Our en-suite bathroom has one of the biggest showers I have seen, and based on Pinhead's geographical knowledge and sense of direction, I was worried that he might not be able to find his way out.

Roadkill count was heddgehog 1, rabbit 2, pheasant/grouse 1, fox 1 and alas I am very sad to say that we also saw an Otter (RIP) lying by the side of the road as we cycled around Loch Fyne.

Distance covered today 94.7kms (which includes the 6.8km deduction for the ferry crossing) (58.8miles).  Climbing 951m (3156 feet)

Totals to date:  Distance 1273.7kms (792.6 miles).  Elevation 13110m (43011 feet)

Bye for now
Fathead
 


Comments

mum and dad

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:28:55

keep going son......we're very proud of you.... by the way pics for day 12 arn't showing?

 

Fatpants

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:02:03

A challenge for you both, if you both catch a fish in Scotland in the next 36 hours I will donate some more money to both of your charities.... No cheating fathead.....

Fatpants

 



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