clairedavieswriter

Well this was a bit unexpected: It certainly hadn’t been the plan as we enjoyed the view of the Kyle of Tongue from our breakfast table and remembered the stags we’d heard braying as we went to sleep last night: But the forecast for tomorrow, when I planned to ride the last leg from Thurso…

On paper, today’s ride looked like a doddle: barely 60k, and less than 500m of climbing. But I refer you once again to Mike Tyson and Helmuth von Moltke’s views on what happens when plans meet reality. In this case, the adversary that punched our easy day in the nose was a 20-25mph wind blowing…

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me and my chosen charity, Rewilding Britain: so far you have helped me raise £1,785 plus £365.50 gift aid. Amazingly, mine was one of the top 5% most successful JustGiving pages last month. Thank you.

At the risk of repeating myself, it was another beautiful day to be out on a bike. And I picked up an extra shadow: Mark is back – this time for longer than an hour: in fact till John O’Groats. Kessock Bridge marks the boundary between the Beauly and Moray Firths, and offered fantastic views…

Afternoon naps, good food, and lungfuls of sea air – nourishment for body and soul. Having clocked up 1,029 miles yesterday, this has been the perfect break before I embark on the last 155 miles of my journey. Thanks again, Sarah and Alan, and I can’t wait to see your house when it’s finished.

It had to be done. No, not for breakfast – I’m not a monster. This was last night’s supper at the neat and homely Glenan Lodge – luckily veggie haggis was available. Though to be honest, having endured the Slochd Pass squall I’d have settled for hot food of any kind, and I was mighty…

After a cosy evening by the fire, I woke refreshed and looking forward to pedalling on through the Highlands. Hopefully yesterday’s bonk was a one-off (if that sounds like an unduly personal non sequitur, you need to read yesterday’s entry). My self-catering breakfast was a banana and two portions of Oat So Simple, purchased in…

What a difference a day makes. If someone had told me this morning that I’d be singing to myself as I pedalled happily up the Pass of Drumochter this afternoon, I wouldn’t have believed them. Full disclosure: this morning I felt terrible – exhausted, crashing headache, fighting a cold. I didn’t know how I was…

It was a beautiful morning – mist cloaked the lower slopes of Ben Ledi, directly behind my hosts’ house – but another few degrees cooler. Time for the padded gilet and winter gloves. The knees braved the chill again: we’ll see how long that lasts. I started the day riding north with the sun on…

After the rather torrid journey into Glasgow, I wasn’t much looking forward to the journey out. I needn’t have worried: it turns out there are cycle paths after all, provided you don’t want to ride through the city centre. Through the slit masquerading as my bedroom window, I was pleasantly surprised to see blue sky,…