We're still riding!

29/09/11 - Day 15 (14 riding) - 06:30 wake up, no "good morning shithead" just a strange dialect saying something like "I don't do mornings........pet" ignoring that we shower, shave and sh......ove off by 08:00 back to Blencaver north of Appleby, where we finished off yesterday morning. The journey took forever. Mike drove the last part, "wide berth Mike!" but did a great bit of reversing to let a local take his flock to Market! We arrived at 11:30 had a quick cuppa then hop on the bikes and off. Wrong - another puncture. Mended the puncture then the lock to the outside store broke so mended that then noticed Mike may not do mornings but he does break beds - we'd done enough mending for one morning so decided to mend it later. Eventually got away at 12:30! cycled over the biggest and most beautiful fell in Cumbria, Skirwith Fell, it took us ages to climb up and then cross it. Navigation wasn't always easy and it was just as well the weather was good otherwise we would still be up there now! Anyway the weather was good, so was the ride and at 16:00 we finally left the Moor and found an old rail track on which we rode into Brampton where Mike picked us up at about 18:30 and took us to the campsite he had found for the night. Unfortunately he took us via Newcastle, or so it seemed, as this is the way he knows. We soon learn that every journey is routed via Newcastle! Great shower, if not a bit agricultural! Lovely meal though thanks Mke. 37.52 miles (746) 30/09/11 - Day 16 (15 riding) - 06:30 get up. Make Mike a cup of tea in bed! Bless he really doesn't do mornings does he Debbie! Boot he did make us sarnies before driving us back to our start point, this time not via Newcastle, and then waved us goodbye, quite touching really, as we set off on what was to be a long day in the saddle. It started well with a regulation up and down hill cruise until Langholme when we struck out over Esk. It was v remote but with great scenery, it was hard going but we were doing well until we hit the "something" Forrest, it was like a grown up Tully's Farm Maze made out of pines. After several mis-turns we ended up off our track at a Tibetan Centre, weird and not the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the middle of nowhere, but at least they told us where we were even though they were obviously lost and had missed the turning for Lhassa themselves! Back on our way we made Tushie Law and cut up over Crossie Rig through another wood and down to Tibbie Sheils, our destination for the night. Looking down from the hillside for our trustee support, Mike yes that's you, we could see the motor home in the field behind the pub on the spit of land between the two Lochs, a great sight after a long day. We cycled on down to the car park to be met by a cheery Mike. He looked a bit sheepish but thought this may be due to the fact he had already tried the local ale when he said "oh shite I thought you'd be a while yet. Oh well I'll have to tell you now the vans bogged" do you mean it's stuck in the field Mike? "yes but it's ok I have a 4 x 4 coming to toe it oot like" much messing about and a good deal of Micky taking later the motor home was recovered to the car park, where it stayed all night. We then mended the bed he broke, had a shower in the back of a derelict lorry in the dark and finally went across to the pub for a well earned pint and a meal. The meal was great and passed off without further incident until the Police arrived to evict a troublesome drunk, no not Mike but a fisherman who the landlord refused to serve. Entertainment over and one final beer saw us in to our cots by midnightish - hic! 62 miles (808) 01/10/11 - Day 17 (16 riding) - 06:30 up with a Lark, well John and Peter are. Made Mike his now customary cup of tea in bed, made the sandwiches, made the breakfast, just who's looking after who! Went to the bathroom in the back of the lorry only to find someone had left the light on all night and the door open. I have never ever seen so many midgees in one place at one time, instead of white, well nearly white, the walls and floor looked black and the floor crunched as you walked on the carpet of insects, unbeleivable. Needless to say the ladies was the next port of call. With a half day planned we left camp at 8am, Mike was still in bed cuddling his teddy but we had arranged to meet later. No rain as we cycled the Loch and no wind so the reflections of the mountains on the water and the scenery were truly beautiful even though it was really a grey cloudy morning. We then turned away from the Loch up to Megget Water then north over Four Brigg a steep climb then really boggy on the top but a good ride via The Scar on the way to Brampton then over Kirk Law Hill to Skirling? Anway we met up and had lunch with Mike, now out of his jambo's fully dressed and ready to play. After lunch we continued on for an hour so arriving at Elsrickle at about 14:00. Mike picked us up, we showered stowed the bikes and headed for civilisation, thats if you consider Wishaw, a suburb of Glasgow, civilised! The reason for our diversion; Mike was leaving us today, boo, and as i had bought a car from a garage in said Wishaw Mike voluntered to drive it home for me. We made our way to the garage and it started raining, good timing we thought. 16:30 completed the purchase and then wished Mike a safe journey and waved cheerio to him and my new motor car as they dissapeared off into the rain, misty, windy early Glaswegian evening. Would we ever see either again? I hope so. Thanks Mike for looking after us and making the few days memorable, and of course thank you for taking the car back it was much appreciated. We then escaped the delights of Glasgee and headed east to Edinburgh for the night pending the return of Jane and Marion on the 09:30 EasyJet Flight from Gatters in the morning and an overdue  rest day - yehaa! 27.35 miles (835) 02/10/11 - Day 18 - no riding and no 06:30 up with a Lark!! A lye in until 08:00, luxury. Drove to the airport in plenty of time to meet the flight and just as well we did as it soon became apparent that we could not get the motor home near enough to collect the Mem Sahibs! After a discussion with security patrols and then the Police, who refused to go and collect Jane and Marion for us, most unreasonable we thought considering to us this could be an emergency if we can't get them off the airport! In the end they had to catch a bus to the long term car park, Jane and Marion not the Police, where we eagerly awaited their arrival. Still pouring with rain but with girls now safely on board we headed off to Peebles Hydro the chosen venue for our rest day. Great choice only one hiccup, we couldn't get in the rooms as house keeping were have a few problems. In the end we went to the rooms and "helped" which I must say they really appreciated! Great rest day capped off by ........... No not that ...... Spurs thrashing Arsenal 2 - 1, come on you Spurs. 0 miles (835) 03/10/11 - Day 19 (17 riding) - 8am wake up no rush for two reasons, well three actually. The first it's Terry Watsons birthday; so what? You may ask well it is his 65th so now it is official Dad you are an OAP or is it OAOG? (officially an old git) Happy Birthday Tel, you made it! The second reason we had paid for breakfast and the third reason I do not wish to discuss as my Mother may be reading this. So after a leisurely morning we drove back to our start point. No rain this morning but v windy, so was the was weather! Bikes off ready to go my brakes failed yet again and this time there was not a bike shop in sight or within 3 million miles, or so it seemed. So nowt for it at 12:30 we eventually got on the road and yet again i had to ride without a front brake. Never mind I thought smile things could be worse so I smiled and yep it worked things did get worse it started raining but not just any old rain but rain of monsoon proportions. We carried on undaunted to Cumbernauld arriving at the Towns only bike shop, wet, cold and pretty miserable only to find the bike shop geezer did not have a clue about hydraulic brakes. That just about made our day so we had no choice as there was no other shop but to contact the girls who picked us up north of Cumbernauld in Kilsyth, by which time we were frozen, wet and hungry. Once on board, it was now 17:30, we googled for help and found a bike shop showing in a place called Clachan of Campsie. Ever heard of it? No neither had we but a guy called Al said he wold stay open for us if we made our way there straight away, which we did and found the shop, Wheelcraft, lurking a couple of miles west of Lennoxtown. Al, or big Al as we now called him as he was about 17 feet tall could not have been more helpful. Not only did he stay open until 9:30pm to fix the bike but he let us plug in the electric for the van, fill up the van with waterr for showers, park in the car park over night, make copious pots of coffee and force Twixes on us for emergencies in the coming days. Thanks Big Al and the lads you did a great job. Oh one final thing and just to compound my woes I fell off again and tore off the scab from the last time - things can only get better! 30.19 miles (865) 04/10/11 - Day 20 (18 riding) - woke up to the revving of diesel engines looked out and saw a bus reversing into a turn around point just behind us. This then went on every 1/4 of hour - big Al didn't mention that in his brochure! Having used the outside amenities during the night Jane then noticed the CCTV cameras and Marion wanted to check out U Tube, just in case her backside had made in to the top 10! We then started using the 20p a go loo around the corner which we abandoned last night when Marion got in a potentially embarrassing situation with the door stuck open and Jane having to stand guard. Just when we thought all was well it started raining again! Undaunted we don our wet gear once more and ride off up a long steep hill to nowhere, well Fintry actually but it seemed like no where as it was miserable with no one on route. We were aiming for a forest called Flanders Moss which led to Queen Elizabeths Forest Park on cycle route 7. Great place to ride well signed trails but we still managed to miss a turn. Then while finding our way back on track we rounded a corner on a downhill section and saw a man leaning over his bike. We Stopped and immediately noticed he had come off and split his head open v badly. He was Raymond Dakin. We called 999 and kept Raymond company and within 15 minutes a Mountain Search & Rescue team appeared on the scene swiftly followed by an Ambulance. This was at Cobleland near a place called Gartmore miles from anywhere, do you think the emergency services would be as quick in Haywards Heath? Hope you're ok Ray. We left as soon as the cavalry arrived and made our way to Aberfoyle where we bumped in to Jane & Marion, not literally, who had been shopping and had bought us a surprise - hats not just any hat but tartan furry ear warmer things, well "it's gonna snow" they said. We carried on and had a lovely ride via Lochs' Drunkie (yes that is really it's name - hic) and Achray. Achray was a mistake though as we didn't follow the route to the letter I'm afraid but nonetheless it was v pretty. Then Strathrye Forest to Lochearnhead. Had a cuppa and a piece of cake then the final bit through Glen Ogle to Kilin and the girls at a campsite opposite the pub - bliss. 65.53 miles (931) 05/10/11 - Day 21 (19 riding) - 06:20 cramp. 06:30 alarm. Guess what it's raining once more. Get our self sorted out then after a water fill up and gas change, for the motor home not us, 08:30 we were on our way to rendezvous with Donny Mc Cloud, a mate of John's who he met while boarding. We caught up with Donny in a car park in Crianlarich and yes it was still raining. Donny an experienced off road cyclist/downhiller was to ride with us for a couple of days so at 09:30 all three of set off in search of the West Highland Way in the rain. Donny showed us how to ride a lot of the technical stuff we encountered in the first two or three of miles. After that it was still challenging but a bit less techie and although still pouring down was a great ride to Glencoe and the start of the Highlands. With the rain relentless now, the wind became stronger and gusting making us veer of the trail and when head on brought us to a near stand still. Soaked, tired and now f'f'f'freezing we arrived at the Bridge of Ochy  saw a Hotel and called in for soup and a roll. This was so good we decided to call it a day and while we waited for the girls as luck would have it Donny's Mum & Dad were travelling the area in their motor home so he made the call and was picked up by them and went home as the forecast for tomorrow is as bad as today. Not fun. Found a great site at Corran on the shore of Loch Linnhe a little off our route but with laundry and drying room just the ticket after a day like that. 14.54 miles (945)  06/10/11 - Day 21 (21 riding) - the alarm came soon enough as we all agreed that it was a sleepless night due to the rain and wind buffeting the motor home. However the morning weather looked brighter with marbled sky of rain cloud and sunshine all at the same time. Packed up and drove back to the Devils Staircase on the West Highland Way (WHW) during which time the weather changed completely and in driving wind and pouring rain we set off up the mountain out of the Glen. The higher we got the colder it became and the rain now turned to hail and sleet while snow was settling on the higher peaks. We hiked over the summit, as by now riding was impossible, then on to the Old Military Road, very impressive name for a dirt track which in the most part was a river but which was rideable and great fun even though it was still raining and windy. Then in torrential rain we got a bit lost on the downhill run into Kinlochleven which cost us at least an hour in time but more importantly momentum and body heat. Cold and saturated we met the girls at Kinlochleven and after discussion plus some local advice decided not to risk the next section which would prove potentially dangerous as it was approximately 25 miles over the Black Mts around Ben Nevis in the afternoon pouring with rain, hail or snow and blowing a gale. Drove instead to Fort William to thaw out, dry out our gear ready for the tomorrows ride along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit. 15.5 miles (960)