2009/06/16 - Day 11 - Motherwell to Inverrary - 81.5 miles in 7:33

Great day in the end.

Started with a typical scottish summer day i.e. grey and cool except it wasn't raining. No rain all day, and ended up in the afternoon with glorious sunshine and clearing skies (why is sunshine always glorious?).

We navigated ourselves out of the park, across a main road and roundabout on a pavement, then the instructions said turn right by metal posts. I started to turn, saw a lump in the ground of a post stump, braked. The brakes worked as advertised, we stopped and gracefully toppled over into a bed of nettles. At least we weren't going any speed, no real injuries except I got an earful from the Stoker who was nettled and not amused.

Cycle Path 75 along the River Clyde and old railway lines through Glasgow. No traffic at all, almost seemed to be in the country. The surface varied from new tarmac, to old potholed root raised, then green broken glass, white glass, and more glass. Recycling in Glasgow seems to consist of throwing bottles where people are going to cycle. Kevlar tyres worked and no punctures.

First stop was soon at 13 miles at the People Palace, a victorian glass hothouse full of huge plants where we had coffees and, yes you guessed it, caramel slices for 2.


Joined the main road to Dunbarton, under Erskine Bridge, as the main routing was tandem unfriendly with gates along the canal towpath. Then by side of River Leven to bottom of Loch Lomond. We meant to stop in Balloch for lunch, but missed seeing anywhere so ended up at the Loch Lommond Visitors Centre by the lake which would have had a much better view. The downside was an aquarium with some sort of "experience" in a large building near the coffee shop that a) blocked our view and b) exuded a mornful bagpipey groan continuously. Paninni, teas, and more solid sugar slices as we knew we had a climb ahead though Glen Fuich.

The road wasn't too steep, and a delightful (i am trying to find words other than lovely) empty valley till a "steep climb" at the end by a heavily guarded MOD "range", then down a steep descent to pass the Trident base Faslane to have tea in Gairlochhead, which as advertised was at the head of the loch. And carmel slices.

A short "very steep" climb over and down to Loch Long, then undulating along the loch side with good tandem swooping up and down the undulates, around head of loch to . . . .

the 4 mile climb up to the Rest and be Thankful pass. Nicely graded and we weren't stressed.

Phone rang near top, and it was Lulu to say she had a 2:1 so very elated we zoomed (max 40.4 mph) down the otherside to Loch Fyne. At head of loch celebrated Lulu's success with campagne and osyters at Loch Fyne Restaurant (the original but just the same as all the others, or rather all the others are the same as the original).


Road along loch was not too undulating for remaining 8 miles so we got up a consistent good speed (into a little headwind) with sunshine to arrive at Inverrary and the George Hotel in the main Street by the Jail.

Very creaky, ancient and rambling, which the american guests were lapping up, we had a large room with old pictures and a separate bathroom with jacuzzi bath that the Stoker recovered in.

Bikes stored in a house next door under renovation. Dinner with usual group. Weather forecast for tomorrow is miserable rain all day. Oh dear. Sing after me: "Its a long way to Inverrary, its a long way to go". A 2 big climb, 3 caramel slice, 2:1 day. A great day made even better by Lulu's news.
And so to bed as Zebedee said. Or was it Pepys?