Cycle: 84.55km//5hr 57min//14km.hr
Thursday September 12
What a day! Definitely our most challenging yet, both physically and mentally. We broke camp early and climb, climb, climbed into the hillside surrounding Loch Ness. Rewards to all this climbing were beautiful vistas of the loch (perfectly mirroring the hills) and surrounding country, and the sense that you could touch the clouds moving overhead. Also, the 6 miles descent into Fort Augustus was pretty sweet.
In Fort Augustus and encountered the Caladonia Canal, a series of locks that effectively raise the water 40 meters, connecting Loch Ness with Loch Linnie. Sitting outside the tourist office eating our lunch the skies closed in, and the rain started up. Sadly, it was not to pass, and we had to continue in it. Rather than combine rain + traffic + cycling (and incompatible triad), we jumped on the Great Glen Way footpath and cycle track (a "single track" path more intended for mountain bikes). The Great Glen fault divides northern Scotland. Loch Linnhe, Loch Locky, Loch Oich, and the Loch Ness all lie in a ruler straight line!
In Fort Augustus and encountered the Caladonia Canal, a series of locks that effectively raise the water 40 meters, connecting Loch Ness with Loch Linnie. Sitting outside the tourist office eating our lunch the skies closed in, and the rain started up. Sadly, it was not to pass, and we had to continue in it. Rather than combine rain + traffic + cycling (and incompatible triad), we jumped on the Great Glen Way footpath and cycle track (a "single track" path more intended for mountain bikes). The Great Glen fault divides northern Scotland. Loch Linnhe, Loch Locky, Loch Oich, and the Loch Ness all lie in a ruler straight line!
Great Glen Way from St.Augustus consisted of fairly well graded footpath, some grass picnic areas, bridges, muddy sections, old rail line sections, and sections better suited to downhill bikes. After a couple of hours, the terrain and rain morphed our lovely experience into a grueling, muddy, slip-fest. The situation did not improve when Jenn's breaks stopped providing any braking power (a combination of mud and wearing down). There was seemingly no end in site, no views, we were completely socked in by clouds.... Then, we saw a sign saying another 12 miles!!! We both quickly agreed it was time to stop (8pm and 8 hours moving time!). We found a little campsite down by the water, and poured our wet selves into bed.
TICKS
Ya, so back to the ticks... First Madalene found a little teeny weeny tick stuck to her inner thigh. She called out for the tweezers and plucked the body off... Oops, no head. F**%&# . This one was small and not too deep so the head was retrieved easily. Now, on high alert we did full body scans -- due diligence and alll. Lo and behold! A not so teeny weeny tick on her back. Trying to be smarter we flamed tweezers and harassed the tick until it voluntarily removed itself. Success! But seriously people, ticks are not fun. How long had it been there?!?!
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| Impromptu campsite near Dores. Tadpoles debut. |
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| En route from Dores to Fort William. Snack break after an hour of climbing. |
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| Welcome to Scotland! |
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| A fairly normal site in Scotland. |
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| When we gave up cycling, this is where we ended up. At a lovely campsite by a pristine Loch. |
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| A room with a view. |
