Good day to you B Road fans.
Oh how a day can change in the space of an island.
I awoke bright and early 4am to the sound of the gods trying to force water through my tent at high speed. The noise was deafening. The wind was wobbling the sides of the tent with the force of a Highland coo sitting on it. As Bobby later said " our hydro-static head was well and truly tested"
I eventually got back to sleep once the sound of the rain became white noise.
By 7am the rain had stopped and the birds ( those that also had good hydro-static head) were chirping again.
Over night a large yacht, the same as the one the Queen hires, was moored between Iona and Mull. I had managed to get a picture of it the night before.
Beautiful looking yacht.
I packed up while the other two sleeping beauties zizzed on.
I woke them at about 9:30 just as another shower came through.
I woke them at about 9:30 just as another shower came through.
It turns out Alex had only just got to sleep as his hayfever was bad.
We breakfasted on porridge and toast as usual, under Bobbies fishing umbrella, which has been a boon.
At 11 am we set off with good expectations of a quick run with the wind behind us.
This was cruelly crushed when my mildly sore knee from yesterday went in to overdrive, with the red hot 6 inch nail being driven slowly through my kneecap, at least that what it felt like each time I bent my knee.
I am still amazed how well I did using just my right leg for the first 18 miles.
This was cruelly crushed when my mildly sore knee from yesterday went in to overdrive, with the red hot 6 inch nail being driven slowly through my kneecap, at least that what it felt like each time I bent my knee.
I am still amazed how well I did using just my right leg for the first 18 miles.
We reached our rendezvous with Alex at the 18 mile mark, at the Pennyghel post office. We lunched with a very friendly heron who sat on the shed roof and watched us.
The second half of the ride started so well, flat and relatively dry. BUT after about a mile we got the hint and stopped in a bus shelter to put on full waterproofs. This was heavy persistent rain, which is why there are no photos of this part of the trip.
My knee was now starting to hurt even more. Piercing a black toe nail with a hot needed comes to mind.
But now we had bigger hills to climb. Bobby had some paracetamol which I took. After about 30 mins I could peddle again, still with pain but dulled.
But now we had bigger hills to climb. Bobby had some paracetamol which I took. After about 30 mins I could peddle again, still with pain but dulled.
Bobby was great and did not just peddle off and leave me, in old top gear style , but kept encouraging me to take it easy.
Bear in mind it is pi##ing down constantly now.
Well to cut an even longer story down the middle, we made it. The end!
Ok so not quite.
Alex had been keeping check on us to make sure we were ok.
Alex had been keeping check on us to make sure we were ok.
We arrived at Shieldings campsite in Craignure after 37 miles averaging 10.5mph which is a good speed.
Note about the campsite, everything is made of thick pvc, the same stuff lorry sides are made from. All white and made on site. Tents, toilet blocks, shower blocks ( even the soap dish), kitchen, etc.
Has to be seen to be believed. Will get some pictures tomorrow.
Has to be seen to be believed. Will get some pictures tomorrow.
Well after sausage casserole made on our trangia stoves, that's it for today.
With it being so wet and dull I have no pictures for today just those I hope I painted in words for you.
Till tomorrow. Thanks for reading B Road fans.
No comments:
Post a Comment