Yesterday morning we left Edinburgh perfectly refuelled by Rob's roast potatoes and navigated our way out of the city. The ride took us through the estate of a stately home and along the edge of the Firth of Forth to the Forth road and rail bridges. Sure enough a lot of painting was in progress.
We rode through a very quaint little town at the foot of re bridges across old cobbled streets. You wouldn't even know it was there crossing by car or train.
Like the Severn Crossing there was little wind and the only real movement coming from the vibration of the bridge as large vehicles passed.
The weather though overcast was still dry and perfect for cycling. We stopped at a bike shop on the other side of the bridge to get some air and to buy a folding tyre. We were headed to remote areas and it seems sensible to have everything we need to fix the stuff we can fix. We also carry some chain repair equipment and the usual inner tubes etc.
We were headed to the Spittal of Glenshee ad rode almost north from the bridge up to Perth and then on to Blairgowrie. We stopped for coffee and cake at Loch Leven's cashmere factory shop and Gary bought me a beautiful scarf as a memento of our ride. I think he's just glad to still be alive. They were pretty easy miles to Blairgowrie although the road surface all day was quite broken and rough tarmac which seems to suck the energy from your wheels and makes coasting impossible. From Blairgowrie we started the climb to Glenshee and the roads kicked up relatively gently, winding their way gradually up. Hardwoods gave way to pines and Heather replaced shrubland. Even the Cows hinted at the area we were headed to.
Our stop was 81 miles from Edinburgh in the Cairngorm National Park at Dalhenzean lodge a 300 year old hunting lodge now run as a B&B by Mike and Joyce Purdie.
I should say Wing Commander Purdie, ex air force who gave us a very comprehensive tour of our room and how everything worked.
His uniforms still proudly hang in the hallway. Later he very kindly dropped us 2 miles up the road at the Spittal hotel to eat. It was 18.29hrs but we were allowed to call it 18.30hrs. We made plans for the rendevouz to get back and ate in one of the strangest places so far on the trip. The place was a cross between a hunting lodge and a cowboy saloon. The clientele were the cowboy equivalent of Woolworth's best customers who all sat staring into their deep fried potato wedges except for one Husky dog howling persistently in the corner.
We retired to bed at the earliest opportunity after a bit of homework on today's ride. We are headed over the Cairngorms to Grantown on Spey. The road at the highest is 2100ft and we are now at 1200ft so not too bad. I think we will be distracted by the scenery and will hopefully enjoy the hills today. 60 miles should be easy after recent days, shouldn't it....?
Location:Edinburgh
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