The trip started with an overnight coach from London Victoria. I put my bike in a plastic CTC bag and asked the drivers nicely if they'd take it. There was a bit of a fuss but I think it was more that they were trying to assert a bit of authority than anything else and when offered to load it myself, there was no problem. The 12 hour coach trip was as long and boring as you'd expect so I was keen to get off at the other end. For £50 return, it was a pretty easy and cheap was to get a trip in. The nice folk at Nevis Sports looked after the plastic bag for me until I came back.
IMG_0639 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
I did the standard route but opted to finish on the road back to Aviemore rather than the forest as my legs had given up on me. Think the ride could have been made easier if i'd used gears and suspension.
In terms of kit, my POE Peak Elite mat was a bit cold but the temperatures were around freezing overnight. My Enlightened Equipment quilt was spot on though. Lunar Solo tent worked well, especially on the second night in the forest. The carbon pole I took was a bit long so on the first night on the hill, the tent was trying to flatten itself. I had to improvise with a bike lock as a guy line. It wasn't the best spot anyway as I was sliding about on the uneven pitch. Second night in the forest was much more relaxed and an effort to get up in the morning - especially to put wet riding kit back on.
The route and scenery were incredible and humbling. I'm not a great rider so there was a fair amount of hiking involved and a few low points where I had to drag the bike over a snowy bog when the bridge had been washed away and I had to use a footbridge. The river fords were interesting and fortunately not too deep. I made the mistake of misjudging a throw of one of my boots and nearly lost it in the current. Could have been a very costly (and dangerous) mistake as I didn't have any other footwear with me.
I'm glad I took a proper mountain jacket with me as the Scottish weather threw absolutely everything at me in one day!
Was nice to meet Gari in Aviemore when I finished, thanks for making the effort to say hello.
Total distance was around 130 miles in two and a half days so not bad and probably at about the limit of what I can manage. Finished a day ahead of schedule so jumped on an earlier coach home. The kind receptionist at the SYHA let me use their shower so I didn't stink the coach out!
I'll stop waffling anyway, here are some more pictures.....
IMG_0610 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0594 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0595 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0599 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0605 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0617 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0618 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0628 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0635 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
IMG_0637 by DKNWHY, on Flickr
