Rosemarkie to Dalwhinnie Summit

22 July 2012 HILLY AND WINDY AND FINALLY BLOODY AWFUL TEMPEST WET AND DRIVING 25 MPH SW WIND, GUSTING TO 42 MPH ... OMG .... 81 miles


The day began like a scene from Enid Blyton's Famous Five as we left the wonderful Shona and Graeme with a packed lunch!  We waved in passing at Simon and Rena - (Fran's in-laws in Fortrose), passing through Avoch (pronounced Och), Munlochy and then onto the awfully windy Kessock Bridge to Inverness.

We picked up cycle route 7 which happened to pass Aunty Lorna and Arthur's house at Culloden battlefield, so we stopped for a cup of tea, some shortbread and then on our our way again.

Past the battlefield and the Clava Standing stones (like Stonehenge in miniature) and then we began our ascent.  Up and up and UP we went in high winds in the lower parts, which thankfully died down in the cover of the mountains at the Slochd Summit.

Immediately after this, the famous "German Helmet" man in the rock side:

And on to Carrbridge for a coffee and cake and some lovin'

Next was a period of awful headwind to Aviemore and through the Cairngorm national park.  Brief good weather!

By now the weather was closing in, our jackets went on and our heads were down into the wind for the final push over the last 17 miles from 5pm to 7pm to the summit in high head wind and driving rain... "this is an adventure" said Charlie!  Fran said enough to fill the swear jar for the day "I'll try and say this eloquently, who's idea was this shitty bike ride?".  We did the last bit at 5 mph over 8 miles UGH.  However Julie's lollies from Melbourne helped us all over the line as we shovelled the lot down in one go!

We were never more pleased to see our accommodation for the evening with Ann and Phil at Balsporran Cottages the other side of Dalwhinnie, who dried our clothes and fed us a proper dinner (roast pork, and rhubarb crumble with custard) , it felt like Xmas!  A few beers later and we write this blog.   Bed now, good night!

It's been Paul's last day "If you leave us now, you'll take away a little part of me, oo ooohooo no Paul, Please don't go, derr derr..."  "How could we end it all this way?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1ykMNtzMT8

Thanks Paul, you are brilliant.  'Take the shot' for us anytime!

"Give me peace" was Paul's last blogged comment..

And please make more encouraging comments (I think this is fixed now!).

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