I was bored one day, so I looking at the fmforums (the male celebrity messageboard) to see what photos I could find. It just about made my day, when I found photos of Jesse Spencer wearing a wetsuit. If you have no idea who he is. He played Billy Kennedy from 1994 to 2000 in Neighbours. Right now he is best known for his current portrayal of Dr. Robert Chase in the medical drama House. Which I must add I have never seen, since it’s on a $ky channel.
That’s me back home in England after having a great time in Scotland. Best time I have had Scotland in a while. Got in lots of cycling, met some old friends and even made a new one :). Oh and of course it was great catching up with my Mum and Dad and my two brothers Craig and Douglas.
No idea why, but the drive back always takes me a lot longer. Set off at around 11:30am and did not get back to Little Bytham till gone 8:00pm. Then lots of that is do with that I get bored of the motorway way driving. So I like to take lots of B roads on the way back. I also stopped off and did some www.geocaching.com on the way. I found another 5 bring my total up to 110 :).
Right that’s all for now. Time to sign off and take myself to bed.
Another day, another cycle blog. Think this will be the last cycle I get to do in Scotland, before going back to home to England on Monday. I am well pleased with myself, I got in four cycles this trip. Done the most miles I have done in Scotland, since August 2009. Been on lots of roads, I have never cycled on before in my life.
So now on with today’s cycle. For the first section of the cycle, I followed much of the same route as the Duke’s Pass cycle, that I did on Sunday 11th October. But instead of following the National Cycle Network (route 7), I turned onto the B829 (Lochard Road).
Then I followed that road, all the way up to Loch Arklet. When I set off I was hoping to make it all the way to Inversnaid, but I had to turn around at Loch Arklet, if I had kept on going. There was no way, I would have made it home before it got dark.
I don’t think I could have picked, a better place to turn around. Check out the view yourself using Google Steetview to see what I mean! Here is the URL for the the view to save yourself for having to find it: g.co/maps/fnt4h.
And before I leave you will the normal stuff. Here are some interesting statistics for you. In just four cycles, my elevation gain stands at 2,196 metres or 1.36 miles. It’s also like cycling one and a half times the height of Ben Nevis.
Photos from the cycle:-
Sorry I only got three photos during the cycle. It was pissing it down most of the time. I did not want to get the camera any wetter than I had to.
I can’t believe how many cycles I have got to do in Scotland this holiday. Think I can safely say, it’s the most number of miles I have done in Scotland on the bike, since doing the End to End cycle, way back in August 2009. Including today’s cycle I have done 65.76 miles. Also in just three cycles my elevation gain stands at 1,633 metres.
So now on with the route I took today. The title may give the route away, I cycled from Killearn to Duck Bay, which is on the western side of Loch Lomond. It was great route, many roads I have not been on since I was around 19. Also covered a good number of roads and cycle paths I have never seen on before.
This time, I am not going to say that much about the route, since the map will do a far better job it! I will just tell you about the highlights.
Believe it or not. I should have done this route when doing the End to End cycle. But I only made it, to the Loch Lomond Youth Hostel (now closed), which happens to be the other side of the A82 from Duck Bay. Then my Dad give me a lift the rest of the way to Killearn. So that is main reason I wanted to do this cycle, to fill in the missing link.
Also now I have done this cycle. Next summer my aim is to cycle even more up the side of the Loch and get lots of photos. Since when doing this section of the End to End cycle, I did not get a single photo. So it will be nice to make up, for it at some point.
Here is the view from the point I turned around and cycled back home.
I am well happy, since when I first come to Scotland last week the weather was a not very good at all. But lucky since then we have had two OK days, weather wise. When I mean OK, it did not rain. So I really wanted to make the most of it. So I made it out on the bike again. This time I cycled from Killearn to Aberfoyle then up and over the Duke’s Pass.
Just to give you an idea of what it’s like here is a video of someone else doing it, but using a motorbike.
While you watch the video. I will tell you a bit more about the route. I set off from Killearn at 12:44pm, following the A875 towards Balfron, turning left just before Boquhan, where the road goes down hill very fast then over the River Endrick. Where I stopped to take the first photos (Old road bridge near Boquhan and New road bridge near Boquhan) during the cycle. Then I stayed on that road till it meets up with the A81 at Balfron Station. Then I tuned left, towards the Ballat Crossroads where I stopped to take more photos.
I stayed on that road, till Cobleland, yes that’s really a place name. Not really much there, just a Caravan & Camping site, some houses and the bit I cared about. The access to the National Cycle Network, route number 7. It was time to stop, yes again and take some more photos. I stayed one this very, nice flat section to Aberfoyle.
This is where the fun really started. Since I had the fun of cycling from around sea level (Well if the Garmin connect website is to be believed. I need to look out a local OS map and double check that one). To 238 metres, which does sound about right. This section of the route was not only hard doing since it meant a lot of cycling, it was also off all road using Forestry Commission tracks, which also doubles up has the National Cycle Network, route number 7.
I following this route till it joined the A821 at the exit of 3 Lochs Forest Drive. Then I turned left and had the great fun of cycling over the Duke’s Pass. You get some great views from that road. And also the 10% down hill section all the way into Aberfoyle to look forward to.
Then I just about followed the same route I took to Aberfoyle, all the way back to Killearn.
Now I will leave you some photos, route map and statistics from the cycle.
One of my friends was trying to be funny. When helping me get in the wetsuit, before I had time to get my arms in the shaves he pulled it up, zipping my arms inside the suit. I was totally helpless, till he let me out.
I have a feeling at the end of the month, these will be the most popular photos 🙂
Happy days, I got out a cycle for the first time, since getting to Scotland last Sunday. Till today, the weather has been to rain and windy most days. Also since the bike I use here is off the road right now. I had to wait for a new GPS holder to turn up, so I could fit my Garmin Edge 705 to my Dad’s bike.
It felt weird using my Dad’s bike. Since it does not have clip-less pedals or toe-clips. Like I am use to. I was hoping I could fit the toe-clips off my bike, onto my Dad’s bike, but they did not fit his bikes pedals. It was weird, it was like learning to ride a bike all over again. I could not work out where to put my feet at all.
So now on with the main event. The cycle it’s self. It was a great cycle. Went on roads I have not been on, since 2000. If not before and also covered roads, I have never cycled on before in my life. Plus lucky the rain stayed off. It was a bit on the cold side at times, then I did climb to 336 metres at one point.
I must say, I did really feel the hills today. In Scotland I can do 50 miles and not even feel it when I got home. I only did 26.34 miles. And my legs really did notice it. Then lots of that could be, riding a bike I am not use to at all.
So now here are some photos from the cycle, then will follow the map. And the cycling statistics, that I know make your day when I post them :).
Route map:-
Not the best map in the world. Makes the route look really boring when it’s anything but. If you have the time, I would look at the route using Google Street View.
Only doing a blog, since I said I would try and do one every day that I am up in Scotland. Has I am sure you can tell it’s been a long boring day. Not really done much at all. Watched some more of series 1 of Torchwood. Uploaded some new photos to this website. Which one for once, I am not wearing cycling gear or a wetsuit :).
Thes rest of time I was just around on the net, watching TV or playing with the dog. So let’s hope the weather is a bit better tomorrow. So I can get out and do things!
I got up around 10:00am, which is very early for me. I had a shower and my Mum sorted out breakfast for me. I love my Mum to bits. Then I sorted out some stuff on my laptop, while I waited for my friend Neil from my Balfron High School days to turn up. It made a nice change unlike most of my friends he turned up on time. I like someone that is good with time keeping.
We both chatted at my place for a while. Before we set off into Glasgow using my car, to go to the Glasgow transport museum. We parked at the old museum. Since the website since it was the best place to park. Since the museum’s car park gets very busy. But when we got to museum, the car park was not very busy at all. But it was a very nice walk, so we did not mind at all. Lucky the rain stayed off, but the same could not be said about the wind.
I now what to say about the new Glasgow transport museum. It’s got both good and bad points. I like it’s location more, something very good about it being on the banks of the River Clyde. Just wish you could walk ago more of the quayside. So now on with the inside of the museum. It’s a lot lighter inside than the old one. But it’s also lost the feeling the old one had. I will need to go to it again, next time I am up. To fully made my mind up about it.
Oh could really say, while we were looking around the Glasgow transport museum. Our friend Jamie, also meet up with us. When then all went a nice walk into Glasgow to get something to eat. We went to The Edward Wylie, which is like my local pub up here. Since it’s the one I go to the most. The food was great has always and also had a very good catch up with Jamie and Neil at the same time.
After work we walked back to the car, which took us about 30 minutes. Also got a bit wet at the same time. Once back at the car, we drove to Ikea. Since I had not been to one in a while. Also found out that Neil had never been to one. So had to stop him being a Ikea virgin. I was a good boy and only got two things. One being a new photo frame and the other being a digital food thermometer for my Mum.
Once done at Ikea, we dropped Jamie off on route back to Killearn. Then I said my good byes to Neil. So at this point would like to say big thanks to them both for making it a great day.
Then I just spend the rest of the evening chatting to my parents about my day. Also my Mum really likes her digital food thermometer.
It was then time to playing around on the net. Mainly on facebook and twitter. I was also a bad boy and did some on-line shopping. I have sent off for the Toy Story blu-ray box set from amazon.co.uk.
So that was my fun filled day. Can’t see me doing much tomorrow at all. Since the weather is not looking to great :(.
Well OK, maybe not the best blog title in the world. Since it may make you think it’s my first every full day in Scotland. Which of course it’s not, since I grow up here. It’s just my first full day here, since driving up on Sunday.
So what have I done today then? Well not really that much, since it’s been wet and windy just about all day. Then it’s Scotland so of course it’s going to be wet. Half washing I had taken a wetsuit up with me!
Over all it’s been a good day. Went into town my Dad and Mum. First time I had been out a good run in there new car. Really like it, still find it weird, when having a 4×4, since they have never had one before. We went to a shop called GO Outdoors. Which I am sure you can tell by the the name sells outdoors stuff. So I get myself some walking boots, which my Mum and Dad, paid for as part of my birthday :).
Once back home to Killearn. I spend most of the evening, just playing around on the net. Yes nothing new there at all. And watching the first series of Torchwood, seen it before. But only when it was on TV. Back then I did not have Freeview HD or Freesat HD. So watching it on blu-ray is so much better. I watched the first 5 episodes. I will no doubt end up watching the rest tomorrow evening.
So that was my first day in Scotland. Tomorrow should be better, since I am meeting up with a friend from my Balfron High School days and going to look around the Glasgow transport museum.
