Cairngorm Loops 300
Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:12 pm
Just a few words to round up much of what I'd already posted.
Lots of prep, recce rides, "training" for a Group Start. Amazing weather window approaching the event and then, blam! Constant heavy rain and flood warnings. I got sorted anyway and drove down from Aviemore on Saturday morning. It didn't look too bad leaving home but the various water courses as I headed south looked full. Initially, any falls were white, indicating that the rivers might be high but were at least on their normal river bed. As I carried on, they became more swollen and that muddy brown colour associated with spate conditions.
Parked up in Blair Atholl and was shortly joined by Jon. We headed off to the Tilt Car Park in the rain to find another 6 riders there, plus Steve W. A bit of chat, a group photo and I led the reluctant group away.
20190831_100335 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
The first bit is minor/estate tracks, then an old bit of trunk road. Lots of puddles and the River Garry was particularly angry looking. By this time, Lee, Jenny and Mark had already cleared off into the distance. Heading up into the Gaick, we split up a little more. The boggy push at the end of the landie track was taken pretty much direct. Already soaked, there was little point in avoiding puddles. I took it very easy along the lochside track, much too early to be risking a fall. At the end of the loch we hit the first river crossing. Jon was already there, looking for a decent way across. Iain was close behind. I saw a likely spot directly ahead and went for it. The water was up to my crotch and running fast. At one point it caught my wheels and I struggled to hang on to the bike. I watched as the other two made it across too.
A bit wet out by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
Jon put on another wee spurt while Iain and I spun along, with another minor river to cross. He stopped for a bit of food but I decided to crack on to some woods. I'd forgotten there was another river and when I arrived, Jon had already been in so far then come back again. We struggled looking for a safe option, then Iain arrrived too. There was no sign of Lee, Jenny and Mark so we assumed they'd made it across. As we contemplated heading downstream to where the river widened, we saw the three of them coming back towards us. Upstream it would have to be then. Again, we dithered around, crossing many small, troublesome tributaries and sometimes making it across into the middle of the main river onto a wee island, but all routes across looked dangerous. Eventually, Howard and John joined us and we were back as a group of 8.
DSC_0623 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
DSC_0624 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
DSC_0622 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
MOV_0621 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
I'd pedalled through this river about 4-5 weeks ago without a second though.
As we discussed options, Howard headed away upstream in search of a crossing. I was becoming increasingly cold with all the hanging around, especially as I was basically soaked through. I was also looking at the continuing rain and wondering what effect it was having on the rivers we'd already crossed. By this point, I'd decided to head back to Blair Atholl, only 32km of a 300km ride complete. Iain, John and Mark concurred and we headed back. The others decided to press on after Howard. My fears of the rivers rising were correct and one bridge we'd passed safely on the way out now had water running across it. A strong breeze was whipping to and fro, chilling me despite the effort I'd put in.
On the way back we stopped at some falls on the Garry.
MOV_0626 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
Meh. Disappointed not to make it further, even getting to Glenmore would have seemed more of an achievement and I could have just cycled home from there, but we'd already lost lots of time and I knew I wasn't going to make it up anywhere and, with more river crossings to come and more rain forecast, I wanted neither the risk nor the purgatory of continuing.
On the other hand, a pleasure to meet up with some of the Boners and put faces (and real names) to the nicknames.
Lots of prep, recce rides, "training" for a Group Start. Amazing weather window approaching the event and then, blam! Constant heavy rain and flood warnings. I got sorted anyway and drove down from Aviemore on Saturday morning. It didn't look too bad leaving home but the various water courses as I headed south looked full. Initially, any falls were white, indicating that the rivers might be high but were at least on their normal river bed. As I carried on, they became more swollen and that muddy brown colour associated with spate conditions.
Parked up in Blair Atholl and was shortly joined by Jon. We headed off to the Tilt Car Park in the rain to find another 6 riders there, plus Steve W. A bit of chat, a group photo and I led the reluctant group away.
20190831_100335 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
The first bit is minor/estate tracks, then an old bit of trunk road. Lots of puddles and the River Garry was particularly angry looking. By this time, Lee, Jenny and Mark had already cleared off into the distance. Heading up into the Gaick, we split up a little more. The boggy push at the end of the landie track was taken pretty much direct. Already soaked, there was little point in avoiding puddles. I took it very easy along the lochside track, much too early to be risking a fall. At the end of the loch we hit the first river crossing. Jon was already there, looking for a decent way across. Iain was close behind. I saw a likely spot directly ahead and went for it. The water was up to my crotch and running fast. At one point it caught my wheels and I struggled to hang on to the bike. I watched as the other two made it across too.
A bit wet out by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
Jon put on another wee spurt while Iain and I spun along, with another minor river to cross. He stopped for a bit of food but I decided to crack on to some woods. I'd forgotten there was another river and when I arrived, Jon had already been in so far then come back again. We struggled looking for a safe option, then Iain arrrived too. There was no sign of Lee, Jenny and Mark so we assumed they'd made it across. As we contemplated heading downstream to where the river widened, we saw the three of them coming back towards us. Upstream it would have to be then. Again, we dithered around, crossing many small, troublesome tributaries and sometimes making it across into the middle of the main river onto a wee island, but all routes across looked dangerous. Eventually, Howard and John joined us and we were back as a group of 8.
DSC_0623 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
DSC_0624 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
DSC_0622 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
MOV_0621 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
I'd pedalled through this river about 4-5 weeks ago without a second though.
As we discussed options, Howard headed away upstream in search of a crossing. I was becoming increasingly cold with all the hanging around, especially as I was basically soaked through. I was also looking at the continuing rain and wondering what effect it was having on the rivers we'd already crossed. By this point, I'd decided to head back to Blair Atholl, only 32km of a 300km ride complete. Iain, John and Mark concurred and we headed back. The others decided to press on after Howard. My fears of the rivers rising were correct and one bridge we'd passed safely on the way out now had water running across it. A strong breeze was whipping to and fro, chilling me despite the effort I'd put in.
On the way back we stopped at some falls on the Garry.
MOV_0626 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr
Meh. Disappointed not to make it further, even getting to Glenmore would have seemed more of an achievement and I could have just cycled home from there, but we'd already lost lots of time and I knew I wasn't going to make it up anywhere and, with more river crossings to come and more rain forecast, I wanted neither the risk nor the purgatory of continuing.
On the other hand, a pleasure to meet up with some of the Boners and put faces (and real names) to the nicknames.