Actually yesterdays ride.
To start with, I've been a bit reticent of late to stick a bike on the rack and drive anywhere as I've experienced lots of rotor contamination. It might be off the road, or it might be exhaust related. Either way, I've been looking for a better solution than copious amounts of clingfilm. The answer arrived in the post a couple of weeks ago..
2020-10-03_08-35-57 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
These little beauties attach with velcro and have solved the problem.
Suitably equipped, I set off to do a gravel route I'd been eyeing up for a couple of years. You may not like windfarms but they've added a few riding options in some out-of-the-way places and this ride was to be in to Tom nan Clach, north of Carrbridge.
Don't worry I wasn't taking this bike
DSC_1426 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
The gravel was very fine and sandy and, with recent rain, had developed into a thick soup. With the 650x47 Horizons I was leaving an obvious groove through it, which was obviously adding to pedalling resistance too. On the way to the windfarm, I took the chance too look at one of the "lunch huts" belonging to the estate.
DSC_1600 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
This was unlocked, clean and cosy inside. Might feature in another post at some point.....
As I reached the
wind turbines, it got increasingly windy. Whodathunkit? Good view all around though.
DSC_1603 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
On the return leg, I'd decided I wanted to explore some of the older estate tracks. This is extensively used as grouse moor and is grazed by sheep so there is quite a network. The first track I looked at was way too rocky for the #gradventurer. The next one looked good and seemed to form a loop so off I went.
DSC_1605 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
After this lovely fast downhill (with occasional more rocky bits). I hit a bit of a problem. I came to a ford and it was showing evidence of the past three days rain. The water was brown and fast and deep. I couldn't see the river bed at all.
DSC_1606 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
I didn't fancy the ride back up the long hill, so elected to cross just upstream of the line of boulders. I figured they'd give me something to stabilise myself with. The bike was also used as a bit of a prop. By half way over, the bike wheels were covered. I do mean the top of them. The water was up to my thighs, Anyway, at least it wasn't cold and when I got across I took my boots off, emptied them, wrung out my Woolie Boolies and relaxed in the warm sun for a while.
I did a wee bit more exploring but came to another ford that looked even worse to cross and, in any case, the rack was getting increasingly rocky and, alternately, muddy, Wrong bike/tyre choice to go much further. Found another couple of old buildings that might warrant an exploratory trip.
DSC_1609 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
When I reached the windfarm track again, I noticed the map suggested a wee waterfall along another track so off I set. This track was soon really muddy and I was slipping all over the place. By adopting my ice-riding skills, I was just able to hang on long enough until it got rocky again. I found the waterfall by sound but it's down a very steep gorge with no access path. This was the best shot I could get of it.
DSC_1610 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
The track carried on (downhill) to another farm so off I set.
DSC_1612 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
I soon saw the farm and was getting ready for a shot spin onto the road until I hit another ford. No way I was getting across this one. I hummed and hawed, traversed the bank for ages, then decided the best was out of here was to set off cross-country. That meant crossing a deep mossy bog, one arm holding the bike up and the other hanging onto a fence lest I sink in too far (truth is, I never went more than calf deep).
I was sooo grateful to eventually reach tarmac and all that was left was a spin up the road back to the van. I passed this old Wade/Caulfield bridge on the way.
DSC_1613 by
Colin Cadden, on Flickr
In the intervening 300 years since it was built, the river has relocated eastwards by around 50 metres, leaving it high and dry now.
It seems seldom I'm now on tracks that no one has ridden regularly or that aren't listed on some website or forum. This felt like a proper adventure, despite being not that far from home. I'll certainly be heading back with a MTB and probably bivvy gear. There's the makings of an Inverness-Aviemore off-road route here.