Perth to Penicuik

24 July 2012, 60 miles (day 5)


"Hillier than new alpha male Chris said it would be..."


Sunshine, no rain, light wind early, then overcast, then sunny and steamy.


A lovely looking morning, the sky cleared as we headed due south and initially uphill from Perth.  The road quickly turned into the country toward Forteviot, Rossie Ochil and Pathstruie.  Massive climbs, wow Chris, you said it would be flat!


Tractor time

Tip for those doing rides along B roads, Chris had taken googley map street view pictures of every junction so that we never got lost.

But Chris...... street view doesn't include the gradients  !!!!

Hi Pat and Heather, a sign for you...

Tinkywinky, Dipsy, Lala and Po:

The road dropped down to Glenfarg and Milnathort for the first coffee and cake stop.  Here we met some LEJOGers doing it easy with a tail wind and a support vehicle... not that we're at all bitter about that!  Thanks to Jane, Hanna and Sarah for the lovely food and good luck to LEJOG boys raising funds for prostate cancer.

On we rode through Kinross, past Loch Levin, Kelty and a speedy descent to the Forth Road Bridge via Inverkeithing.  The Firth of Forth being the fourth firth that we have crossed.

At Inverkeithing we caught our first glimpse of today's destination - the Pentland Hills by Penicuik, where Fran and Chris live.

At the bridge, we stopped for a photo and a video as we crossed:

Into Edinburgh for a quick lunch, and cheers to Bert who we met at the petrol station for his donation.

and then we wound our way to the Union Canal for an unscheduled and unexpectedly wonderful ride along the tow path:

Steamy weather by now, getting to need the suncream as Charlie's face turned beetroot :) Thanks to Dean and Stephen for their donation and the laugh as Jan dropped her bike into Stephen's family jewels.....


(sorry)

Racing home via Fran's regular commuting path, saving the final hill at Oxgangs to stuff us completely, we arrived at Penicuik to a great reception!!!
First at the top of Fran's road from Lou, Susie, Jane and all the kids with Tiffin the dog and the Scottish flag waving us in.


Georgie and her gang of fabulous gurrllllls, Ollie and Poppy the dog ran with us the last 50 m where Alan, Rosie, Steph, Richard, Mara, Keith and Judith were waiting to cheer us in.

Welcome home Fran!  Big thanks to Jane, Rosie, Mara, Steph, Bianca and Alan for putting on a fabulous spread.  Party time!