The goal for today was to not kill Mohr. So I did my best to find a balance.
I was wiped last night, but couldn’t sleep. It was oddly cold and I think I was so spent I was beyond dozing off. Also, the skin on my ankles is all dry and split and it hurts. Not sure what that’s about.
I slept in until 8:30 today. It was cold but sunny when I climbed out of the tent. Took time packing up and drying out various things. Even had a sit down breakfast at the cafe in the campground. Didn’t leave until 10:30. Leisurely.
I set a modest goal of about 65 km today and did want to try the off road routes again (told ya!). The climb up and over the first mountain was 5km long and close to 2000 ft. It started on a nice track but degraded the further up I got. This is how these things go. At least there were no puddles today.
After 15 km and about 3 hours I made it back down to the highway and had a choice of riding on it or another climb just like the first. I chose the highway. Proud of me, mom?
Had lunch about an hour later and again had the option of the highway or the Badger Divide / Great Glen Way route. Decided on the latter this time. 30 minutes pushing my bike and another 30 riding it to get up to the *high road* at ~1500 feet, only to come halfway back down to take the *low road*. It was a good choice, the low road was compacted smooth gravel riding through a forest. I was up high long enough to get this picture of Loch Ness, though. Felt a little queasy taking it.
Of course, eventually the low road merged with the high one (at the level of the high one) so up up up I kept going. You know it’s steep when an 8% grade feels like a break.
So strange the one side of this hill is so green and lush and the other the kind of dry looking and barren highland scenery I’ve seen so much of.
And that was really it for today. I’m at a highway side campground tonight, probably the crappiest such place I’ve stayed at on this trip. There’s nothing wrong with it, but also nothing right.
I have switched up the rest of my route. I won’t bore you with confusing details, but the short version is tomorrow I’m headed into the Cairngorms. This is a huge national park in Scotland that sounds amazing. I only have time to sort of ride for a day through a corner of it, but I hope that’s enough to get the idea. This wasn’t part of my original plan at all, but I’m close and have the time so am going to go for it.
Goodnight.
I’m proud of you, taking the easier route at least once! You may be dehydrated (split sore skin)…..first the long hike (people have been known to lose their toenails on such treks) and now the bike riding. You’ve got to be sweating a lot even if it’s cold. Hope you brought some sort of salve to help it heal. Green or brown, you’re still seeing beautiful scenery. Hope sleep is better tonight. Love ya, Mom
I’m sure Nessie is proud of you for pushing through…although she doesn’t exist. Look forward to seeing the corner of your journey. Hope it’s amazing.
Hey.. you slay me. Up 2000′ over a mountain (that’s higher than the CN tower) – and you don’t call it a day? – Your conditioning and mental drive is something else. I would have stayed on the low road (beautiful pic) for the whole trip : )
Hope you got some sleep last night – keep your socks pulled up to keep the snipes from biting your ankles. Into the Cairngorms tomorrow! that name has monsters written all over it,
ps you must have done a good job repairing that there belt – well done!
Ankle skin issues – are you wearing dry socks?
Oh, is that it?! Makes sense. That puddle day made dry socks impossible.