Highland Trail 550 - 2018

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Richpips
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Richpips »

Nice one Mart.

The weather makes all the difference on that route imho.
Ron Thomson
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Ron Thomson »

Here's a link to a short visualization of my HT550 ride.
Made some totally rookie mistakes of missed turns (usually because I was too deep into the moment :mrgreen: ) and miss-timed resupply stops. :|
I totally loved the route and was overwhelmed by the beauty and perfect conditions. I couldn't believe we could ride where we were riding. It was like riding in a national park.
I kept thinking, this is it! it's never going to get any better than this. Ever. Then it it did. Heid blown!
Most special thanks to Jenny Graham who reunited me with my riding gear 2 hours before the start. :-bd

https://www.relive.cc/view/1624325509
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JoseMcTavish
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by JoseMcTavish »

Ironically, it takes much longer to write about the HT550 than to actually do it - at least it did for me! All written up here for anyone still interested:

http://highlanddrifter.com/highland-trail-550-2018
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Richard G
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Richard G »

:-bd
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Moder-dye
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Moder-dye »

Good stuff :-bd
I hope to do it, maybe next year, but not as the group start and probably more like 10 days.
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whitestone
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by whitestone »

Nice one Craig, I'd been waiting for your final instalments :grin:
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ScotRoutes
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by ScotRoutes »

JoseMcTavish wrote:Ironically, it takes much longer to write about the HT550 than to actually do it - at least it did for me! All written up here for anyone still interested:

http://highlanddrifter.com/highland-trail-550-2018
Excellent story-telling. It reminds me (again) how lucky you all were with the weather this year too.
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fatbikephil
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by fatbikephil »

Good read, reckon those trail conditions will be once in a lifetime....
Wonder what they are going to do to the trail down to Glen Ling - smooth track all the way to the road mebbes??
Mark E
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Mark E »

Hi Craig, thanks for posting that, I enjoyed reading it and it was good to see how the rest of your jorney panned out after I last saw you at the end of Glen Cassley on the evening of day 2.
Cheers Mark
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JoseMcTavish
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by JoseMcTavish »

Thanks chaps - think I must have forgotten loads of stuff that happened along the way with the time I took, but at least I've got something to remind me now! Mark, think I caught you that night during one of my "up" moments, was sad to hear you'd been scuppered by a mechanical - good excuse to go round again though!
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sean_iow
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by sean_iow »

I really enjoyed reading that, it all makes more sense when you've been there. I chatted to you briefly on the first day on a road section I think? But I soon got dropped on the flat on my singlespeed.

I think Le Shadow is Pascal, he came into the Achness Hotel just after myself, Mike and Bas. He sat down and looked at the menu. The landlady came over to see what he wanted to order and he said his classic 'I am French' to which she replied 'Don't worry about it love, it's not your fault' :lol:

I also saw the pick-up truck tearing up and down the tracks where all the work was going on at Attadale but it didn't stop to bother me, I was suffering a bit at that point and must of looked like I was not in the mood for a chat :lol:
Adventure without risk is Disneyland - Bikemonger
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JoseMcTavish
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by JoseMcTavish »

Aye Sean, that was me - I think you passed me later on and were away into the sunset! Le Shadow is indeed Pascal, we're buddies on Facebook now. Will stick it all in the Epilogue post when I get a chance...
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sean_iow
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by sean_iow »

I look forward to reading the epilogue :smile: I pushed/rode/stumbled around Loch na Stac with Pascal early on the Sunday morning, a lack of language skills between us wasn't an issue in indicating our appreciation of the ground conditions :grin: He's a great guy, but then everyone I met on the HT550 was :smile:
Adventure without risk is Disneyland - Bikemonger
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Dave Barter
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Dave Barter »

That's a brilliant report I really enjoyed all of it.
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Richpips
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Richpips »

Great write up and pics Craig.
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psling
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by psling »

A thoroughly enjoyable read that, thanks. Along with your photos it really brought some reality of the ride to someone like me that studies the maps, follows the dots but has never actually ridden in the region :cool:
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
postierich
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by postierich »

Great write up Craig good times looking forward to a wet one next year :-)
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Richard G
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by Richard G »

postierich wrote: looking forward to a wet one next year :-)
No. :|
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JoseMcTavish
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018

Post by JoseMcTavish »

Epilogue finally added with massive gear nerd-out!

http://highlanddrifter.com/ht550-2018-epilogue
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