Well we're just back for our first full recce with all our kit loaded up on the bikes. It didn’t exactly go to plan, shall we say, at first! We were planning on getting the train to Pitlochery up in the Highlands of Scotland, from where we were going to set out for a weekend on the bikes. The forecast was good (important on a first trip – don’t want to be put off this soon) and so we headed down to the station in Edinburgh to find out that there was no space on the packed trains. So extremely un-carbon-neutral we got in the air conditioned car and drove up north.
The route was fabulous, taking in some huge climbs and fantastic scenery. Tracy was particularly relieved to find out she could actually turn the pedals with 20 odd Kg of kit loaded up. We decided to put the full kit list on the bikes to get a better idea of what it would feel like. Being both pannier virgins, we couldn’t believe how good the bikes felt: comfortable and solid as a rock.
We found a midge-free wild camp spot, as the sun was starting to lower in the sky. A stunning spot up Glen Lyon by a small river and a flat, grassy, stone and cow free spot. To our relief we didn’t have to resort to a camp fire to cook our packet pasta, as the stove roared into life. We survived till 9.30 before we were forced into the tent to read as the midges came out to play.
Next day was hot and hilly, but with such stunning views spirits were high. We circuited Lock Tay and up a huge climb to descend the River Braan back to Dunkeld.
The route was fabulous, taking in some huge climbs and fantastic scenery. Tracy was particularly relieved to find out she could actually turn the pedals with 20 odd Kg of kit loaded up. We decided to put the full kit list on the bikes to get a better idea of what it would feel like. Being both pannier virgins, we couldn’t believe how good the bikes felt: comfortable and solid as a rock.
We found a midge-free wild camp spot, as the sun was starting to lower in the sky. A stunning spot up Glen Lyon by a small river and a flat, grassy, stone and cow free spot. To our relief we didn’t have to resort to a camp fire to cook our packet pasta, as the stove roared into life. We survived till 9.30 before we were forced into the tent to read as the midges came out to play.
Next day was hot and hilly, but with such stunning views spirits were high. We circuited Lock Tay and up a huge climb to descend the River Braan back to Dunkeld.
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