tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372474512024-03-14T09:45:47.956+00:00 ALWAYS ANOTHER ADVENTURE Great adventures sharedSimon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comBlogger1705125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-73617308397105273502024-02-04T19:20:00.001+00:002024-02-04T19:21:21.293+00:00Cracking Eigg<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHFyaXLm-WH1hy5Bcdp-sMqPTSg7QNxGXl13qDetu-5vGcvRLwCh9szEXwf9lKa7HFoZ4tc8iSwxdSJ2Tp7pA3VMxthqXMGnKb99MK55if1Agfmr1V-cDWvfFyhAQa1NYkRUkkBhYwJY02Hvh5W7DVLAb7_EfxQ9u9HlGiLs04JgtmXJOCgeL/s4032/IMG_3548.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHFyaXLm-WH1hy5Bcdp-sMqPTSg7QNxGXl13qDetu-5vGcvRLwCh9szEXwf9lKa7HFoZ4tc8iSwxdSJ2Tp7pA3VMxthqXMGnKb99MK55if1Agfmr1V-cDWvfFyhAQa1NYkRUkkBhYwJY02Hvh5W7DVLAb7_EfxQ9u9HlGiLs04JgtmXJOCgeL/s320/IMG_3548.heic" width="320" /></a></div><p>It is one of Scotland's most recognisable mountains.</p><p>The An Sgurr, better known as the Sgurr of Eigg, rises a modest 393m (1289ft) from the Inner Hebridean island off Scotland's west coast.</p><p></p><p>We regularly glimpse the Small Isles as we ride and drive around Ardnamurchan where we live, and it's always the Sgurr that tempts us. "Why have we never climbed it?", we'd ask ourselves. With settled a period of cold, bright winter days Liz suggested we right that wrong, and the next day we were on the ferry at Mallaig. </p><p>This isn't a narrative account of our three-day, two-night trip. Take a look at the video for that. This is the resources sections, the news-you-can-use if you feel inspired to visit.</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xAcReAmsHUw?si=EGnNTVie-Ajpawyu" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p><p>Caledonian MacBrayne - <a href="https://www.calmac.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CalMac</a> - operates the ferry from Mallaig to Eigg. Summer and Winter timetables are different, and because the boat has to get around all the Small Isles (Muck, Canna, Rum and Eigg) the timings are different day to day.</p><p>Essentially there are two communities on the island. One on the South East corner, and one on the North West, with the island's only tarmac road running between. It's about 3.5 to 4 miles between the two. Islanders will see a more nuanced community structure, but that will do. </p><p>There are camping and/or camping pod options in both communities and B&B / Guest Houses. A hostel lies somewhere between the two, although it is nearer the south end. There's a good cafe where the ferry comes in; it serves cooked meals and doubles as a bar in the evenings. There's also a gift shop and the island's only community store alongside. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YECyar5eMzVwHYrh7MCgWQX0JOK47knbI3YPUSHVo3rHDfpZ3E3uFU1aoYM90JdjJ08MSTZVJutBdiI1l0vbvggohQBWnnI8QnFkQj3_djdo4fZEonMufovUNZ_1VukAVJMsAaLjeoSLnzI8BlWVg87PwowkDVm4nOD3UbftG71oyTLViRYR/s4032/IMG_3717.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YECyar5eMzVwHYrh7MCgWQX0JOK47knbI3YPUSHVo3rHDfpZ3E3uFU1aoYM90JdjJ08MSTZVJutBdiI1l0vbvggohQBWnnI8QnFkQj3_djdo4fZEonMufovUNZ_1VukAVJMsAaLjeoSLnzI8BlWVg87PwowkDVm4nOD3UbftG71oyTLViRYR/w400-h225/IMG_3717.heic" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cafe, shop & community hub<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>This wee hub is where it all happens, so if you're cooking for yourself, and you didn't buy everything you need at the Coop in Mallaig, stock up here with whatever the boat brought in. </p><p>We went for the luxury end of the accommodation. We stayed at <a href="https://lageorna.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lageorna</a>, a restaurant with two double/twin rooms and an enviable view across to Rum. It's run by Sue who has been on Eigg for more than forty years, since before the Community Trust bought the island with the help of the Scottish Government. I'll not go into all the details, but after changing hands a few times between wealthy landowners, both the community and politicians thought enough was enough. You can read about the history here.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoAsZWeb-KCEV2EewAjU-hT_Bc3Tur2uo9qtK302t5vkSRHI1CuCbxfBG3ft-FmhZ88mKzBSvwRLNKjhJ18kCSGSbWzDpDliSk19Vu_go2VEEVKxUbcmsHly60cCRlN-ep-s7CqI4rgb8ZrlYKW1qj2ww9hVl5dW3bYrabJO91VPAwJSHonld/s4032/IMG_3687.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoAsZWeb-KCEV2EewAjU-hT_Bc3Tur2uo9qtK302t5vkSRHI1CuCbxfBG3ft-FmhZ88mKzBSvwRLNKjhJ18kCSGSbWzDpDliSk19Vu_go2VEEVKxUbcmsHly60cCRlN-ep-s7CqI4rgb8ZrlYKW1qj2ww9hVl5dW3bYrabJO91VPAwJSHonld/w400-h225/IMG_3687.heic" title="Lageorna" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lageorna</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><a href="https://lageorna.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lageorna</a>'s rooms are lovely, the meals are excellent, and Sue kindly made an exception to her rule and allowed our dog Maggie to stay in our room. It's in the top left corner of Eigg in the Cleadale community, so if you're bringing luggage, it's best to book Charlie's taxi to carry your bag the 3.5 miles (cost me £10 one way 01687 482404). </p><p>That leaves you free to tackle the Sgurr of Eigg right off the boat.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNRbcJ1xqq7vIMed30tdYEPdV6D1UJ9WSOoYYLYuFdsJ9TpyqdAgZprwbnHP7k6YG-PrkUbaeFF8zNuNK-x5-HVmNzJoWa_9SZ4gr70ux9LaW1pSmY8CBQI8QH9q-yEk_2ODm3QePjkZBb1LTi3sXeGz06Im3hH6fO9Uo26NGtHLUBUk1jYQD/s4032/IMG_3708.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNRbcJ1xqq7vIMed30tdYEPdV6D1UJ9WSOoYYLYuFdsJ9TpyqdAgZprwbnHP7k6YG-PrkUbaeFF8zNuNK-x5-HVmNzJoWa_9SZ4gr70ux9LaW1pSmY8CBQI8QH9q-yEk_2ODm3QePjkZBb1LTi3sXeGz06Im3hH6fO9Uo26NGtHLUBUk1jYQD/w400-h225/IMG_3708.heic" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie's taxi<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p><a href="https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/islands/an-sgurr.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Here's the Walk Highlands description of the Sgurr of Eigg route.</a></p><p>If the Sgurr is the must-do hike, then the circuit of the north end, including the 'Finger of God' is next on the tick list. There's a steep start as you'll see in the video, and we combined this high level circuit with a coastal walk along the Singing Sands to the Bay of Laig. You'll find all our GPS tracks on the Komoot map, including the bit of the first day where we missed a turning and had to go back.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XR0UgWD0Adz8H_eL3u5-Bc8vcqFsLiuhBmN6y1u06q0gCv_4hcs3mj1JlzincxLCfPPbfWoP7E6j2IRUdmCOIlGTC32meDku3AVk4bWnJo806UGRkXpymI1rGGus-_CllgueTcgTMpG3kN_2F0FUjJ-d12E9QdZfG-wpCksT2PewWBq6ZbqA/s4032/IMG_3627.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XR0UgWD0Adz8H_eL3u5-Bc8vcqFsLiuhBmN6y1u06q0gCv_4hcs3mj1JlzincxLCfPPbfWoP7E6j2IRUdmCOIlGTC32meDku3AVk4bWnJo806UGRkXpymI1rGGus-_CllgueTcgTMpG3kN_2F0FUjJ-d12E9QdZfG-wpCksT2PewWBq6ZbqA/w360-h640/IMG_3627.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Finger of God<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/islands/finger-of-god.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a><p></p><p><a href="https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/islands/finger-of-god.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walk Highlands description. </a><br /></p><p>On our third day the ferry departed at 13:55 so we had time to tackle something else, although with the sun not reaching this side of the island until 10am it was not an early start. Liz wanted a swim and it was a good opportunity to shoot some photos for the wetsuit company BlueSeventy. Had we not done this, we would have definitely visited the Cathedral Cave and Massacre Cave, tucked in below the Sgurr. On a long summer day, they could have been included in our first day hike.</p><p><a href="https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/islands/caves-eigg.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walk Highland description</a>. Planned Komoot route, not done.</p><p>Two nights and three days felt like a long break, and we were pleased we were not in peak season. There's sometimes a 'them-and-us' attitude from locals towards tourists, something I can be guilty of too. There's the joke about the crofter on Skye who reportedly said, "why can't they just stay home and post us their money". </p><iframe frameborder="0" height="580" scrolling="no" src="https://www.komoot.com/collection/2522053/embed" width="100%"></iframe><p>It's worth always bearing in mind that you're entering, albeit temporarily, a community where everyone knows everyone else's business. You're not going to be part of it, unless you live there and last a few winters. Still, it's well worth a visit.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-308335504095975182023-12-07T21:36:00.006+00:002023-12-07T21:36:39.686+00:00Zoe Persionalised Nutrition - is it worth it?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_12ZwqCO7fCc96Mc9i30oA9-DgwC5Ma2fI4ghgUv2wul5FGU7Ln3s2uSuOkRdhw2OcDTvE1hyphenhyphenj45sFTIdokuK_aT5Hb6Ld02HNhEvbrtMjbAzP2z5iTduv4sIghl81BeGdBC44tYz0xKAi48g5StKLFvID93C0YcpC15R8D1EROOSFqRn5wbG/s2042/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.33.49.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2042" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_12ZwqCO7fCc96Mc9i30oA9-DgwC5Ma2fI4ghgUv2wul5FGU7Ln3s2uSuOkRdhw2OcDTvE1hyphenhyphenj45sFTIdokuK_aT5Hb6Ld02HNhEvbrtMjbAzP2z5iTduv4sIghl81BeGdBC44tYz0xKAi48g5StKLFvID93C0YcpC15R8D1EROOSFqRn5wbG/w400-h224/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.33.49.png" width="400" /></a>I’ve been asked several times whether I thought the Zoe App and testing were worthwhile. The short answer is “yes”. The long answer is more nuanced.</div><p>Zoe is a system of personalised nutrition. </p><p>Sign up and you get access to a phone App and a box of stuff comes in the mail. </p><p>You use that stuff to capture and carry out a series of tests; on your poop (testing the gut microbiome; on your blood (testing your body’s response to eating fats); and a Continuous Glucose Monitor - a CGM - to testing your body’s response to sugar. </p><p></p><p>The first phase of the Zoe programme involves this testing and you can find the details online. When we did it in January 2023 it involved eating calibrated muffins in which the precise amounts of sugar and fat were known. They’ve now switched to cookies because those muffins were hard to eat in the time allowed.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQr_JMXXIzVoCZCVzqsD79T-MorYA_AshRGj9p2KaPZpwhBGh1_XRAeyMZzubdQWh0ygYINQCObEDQCsfvkVzXWyk6jP7wVwfUBLf-3AkxM_WDxJEKcGcR3JQCQHVaOxPzxSaYghp4HJwQYw9KDQPbry5tEA1cqfaGELNL8lFHguvtJmgZo1K/s2248/Program.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="2248" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQr_JMXXIzVoCZCVzqsD79T-MorYA_AshRGj9p2KaPZpwhBGh1_XRAeyMZzubdQWh0ygYINQCObEDQCsfvkVzXWyk6jP7wVwfUBLf-3AkxM_WDxJEKcGcR3JQCQHVaOxPzxSaYghp4HJwQYw9KDQPbry5tEA1cqfaGELNL8lFHguvtJmgZo1K/w400-h224/Program.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>While your samples are being analysed and your personal report prepared, you do more self-testing with the CGM. The device is made for diabetics to monitor their glucose levels, and there’s some controversy whether they should be used by the ‘worried well’. Using an applicator, the device sticks to the underside of your arm and a filament, thinner than an acupuncture needle, goes into your skin - it didn’t hurt at all. This measures a fluid in your body that’s a close proxy for blood glucose. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsciUjKsMbo7NJTDKI4EQoWdCI7zGwlX_wzg3fhArQ7wYE_2oR0tGKGzwAYVXsVZ52PAolbigxRpLEHtWkdPfrR0EmjnBN4hNtK1l6bMunC3hOPP_4-YNENS_OyIPuIe1rIN0b1n6QUmTEB-s3h2cpSkHBw-MIPIkzrFvKHVv5AR3q1GifD0s0/s2212/Gut%20boosters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2212" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsciUjKsMbo7NJTDKI4EQoWdCI7zGwlX_wzg3fhArQ7wYE_2oR0tGKGzwAYVXsVZ52PAolbigxRpLEHtWkdPfrR0EmjnBN4hNtK1l6bMunC3hOPP_4-YNENS_OyIPuIe1rIN0b1n6QUmTEB-s3h2cpSkHBw-MIPIkzrFvKHVv5AR3q1GifD0s0/w400-h225/Gut%20boosters.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Glucose spikes are bad. Again, there’s loads of stuff you can read about why. It’s natural for levels to rise after eating, but a big sudden rise is frequently followed by a dip. Not only is this seriously unhealthy, you feel hungry in that dip and overeat to compensate and bring the level up again. It’s a glucose roller-coaster.<br /><br />One test I remember are the different breakfasts on four separate days. I had to eat 50g of almonds and/or 50g of oatmeal porridge in different sequences. Only almonds - no glucose rise. Only porridge - glucose rise. Porridge then almonds - glucose rise. Almonds then porridge - no glucose rise. Same food, different sequence. Different results. And different implication for hunger later in the day.<br /><br />When your results come through from Zoe you’re told how you body responds to sugar, to fat, and the quality of your microbiome. This is your personal profile and it feeds back into the App.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYpmLGNdn0DC9v8UMDWVWlMxseaaBMPcBNpoVJjYUNw_VWltjX8pYzFklpwSIdE6KSvmYfDQeVlxNhaOOFYO4k3ta6fxikbhQ0XOJ9Az1PIoyNxOqm5PAZkf0CNKdAsX9U3GZYeU1S0VePVDzvP26b9fmGkpbnlxsW12ZTj0VZn7UjGzAtjHT/s2176/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.27.50.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2176" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYpmLGNdn0DC9v8UMDWVWlMxseaaBMPcBNpoVJjYUNw_VWltjX8pYzFklpwSIdE6KSvmYfDQeVlxNhaOOFYO4k3ta6fxikbhQ0XOJ9Az1PIoyNxOqm5PAZkf0CNKdAsX9U3GZYeU1S0VePVDzvP26b9fmGkpbnlxsW12ZTj0VZn7UjGzAtjHT/w400-h205/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.27.50.png" width="400" /></a></div>You can then record all you eat in the App (which feels a bit like MyFitness Pal except there are no calories or macros scored). The App then gives your individual food choices a score relative to your personal profile. It records these during the course of the day, so you’re allowed some ‘less good’ choices if the other stuff is good. The objective is to end the day with a healthy score. So much so… brilliant!<p><br />A lot depends on your lifestyle. If your breakfast comes from a cereal box (even a good one), your lunch is a sandwich meal-deal, and your dinner is a ready meal, then the App will be amazing. Just scan the barcode on each of the above, and you’ll immediately get its score. I went through the plant-based sandwiches in M&S, scanning each, and, even in this small range, the suitability for my personal profile varied hugely. Likewise the ready meals. If I was still working 12+ hour days, I would find the App a hugely beneficial tool.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mGR23Izdl6sRJxaP484y4i6HfxOyGKCqCPcrddlb1i-b2_Ow_VRsDCNqdKjW5oew4WNZ_quaiGtPHcz3KM-5NnrALeZ0igQ53jL5pP9pryKoJDSr_xxpYOCS8GGxxa6LUBKjPwkrMe1iAcC9A5K-sbkXaSV7taoQIkHnC9hbQRyhLCJfjfHO/s2184/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.28.12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2184" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mGR23Izdl6sRJxaP484y4i6HfxOyGKCqCPcrddlb1i-b2_Ow_VRsDCNqdKjW5oew4WNZ_quaiGtPHcz3KM-5NnrALeZ0igQ53jL5pP9pryKoJDSr_xxpYOCS8GGxxa6LUBKjPwkrMe1iAcC9A5K-sbkXaSV7taoQIkHnC9hbQRyhLCJfjfHO/w400-h199/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.28.12.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Now I spend my days writing and making videos, Liz and I have time to make our own cereal, prepare our own lunches and cook dinners fresh almost every day. Weighing every single ingredient and inputting these to the Zoe App takes ages and is a huge pain. The earlier testing confirmed our diet was already close to ideal and only needed a few tweaks. So in the end, we stopped using the App.<br /><br />I suspect once most people will follow this pattern. They’ll love the testing because it reveals hidden truths about the way their bodies work. They’ll initially enjoy zapping bar codes and finding what is good and what’s bad for their personal profile. Then they’ll stop using the App once they get a handle on what they ought to be eating.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dmx_D1G3oYFsR6OgFJlsBnQHsN4f-uDjBNpCysg0e6YgbckaYM3KZ_9zObk-BMvFEMAJd9SHZqvH7t97qxjCv1Bs27MPNR1BL_14fxxn6qhuKYI_afuh0IoiSg5I0-f8WmA6NVhIKm5CQU1KoXjm56ulQFn5eG29dwSjzXcdv7WPk7v8U9KT/s2198/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.28.01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2198" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dmx_D1G3oYFsR6OgFJlsBnQHsN4f-uDjBNpCysg0e6YgbckaYM3KZ_9zObk-BMvFEMAJd9SHZqvH7t97qxjCv1Bs27MPNR1BL_14fxxn6qhuKYI_afuh0IoiSg5I0-f8WmA6NVhIKm5CQU1KoXjm56ulQFn5eG29dwSjzXcdv7WPk7v8U9KT/w400-h211/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20at%2021.28.01.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>We were so taken with the testing, we’re considering doing it again to see if anything has changed, especially our microbiomes. In the meantime, we’re regular listeners to the Zoe Podcast and learn new things in almost every episode. <br /><br />But, and it’\s a big but which perhaps I shouldn’t have left to the end. Some scientists believe the Zoe App is more marketing than science. They suspect the desire to produce personalised nutrition has run ahead of our ability to truly understand how our bodies process food. I suspect the Zoe team would point to a recent study which they claim proves their approach works. Frankly, I’ll leave this to the scientists to argue the details. It worked for me, and I found it fascinating. It’s worth reading more about it before you head down the Zoe route.</p><p></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-60878908131161261062023-11-05T14:55:00.004+00:002023-11-05T15:02:11.866+00:00Older Athlete Video Series<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFLA9hkn9N23YBqO_6R36buAg4NyXL7dvZMhEDUkO6tcpy9CO5VU7Q5Qi8-rYwmTJQpU-xJHI76TWDvuCKDaY55xmHpglDB4gLK7oTQyJpSiFfZU_puBvHUcdL5IrTs5ofYn67A1JH_LAW5fLvwVd5HLk7RiyOUr91Zg1M2yRTDNqy-ZRKeRM/s2704/Attitude%20Thumb%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2704" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFLA9hkn9N23YBqO_6R36buAg4NyXL7dvZMhEDUkO6tcpy9CO5VU7Q5Qi8-rYwmTJQpU-xJHI76TWDvuCKDaY55xmHpglDB4gLK7oTQyJpSiFfZU_puBvHUcdL5IrTs5ofYn67A1JH_LAW5fLvwVd5HLk7RiyOUr91Zg1M2yRTDNqy-ZRKeRM/s320/Attitude%20Thumb%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>Almost two years ago I made a spur of the moment video questioning my generations' attitude to age.</div><p></p><p>It touched a nerve among YouTube viewers and, when I last looked, had over 100,000 views.</p><p>So I'm launching a new YouTube series looking at how I'm trying to stay fit to cycle, run, swim and more. </p><p>I wanted to make this series ever since I posted the original
video (which is below). I just couldn't find the right way into it. </p><p>I
did a lot of research, attempting to isolate the single best type of
strength training, aerobic training, diet... but it turns out there
isn't one. We're all so different. Our life experiences, especially
for older athletes, have created imbalances, weaknesses, all manner of
idiosyncrasies, so that one size does not fit all. It took me almost
two years to hit on my approach. Me.</p><p>These videos demonstrate
what I do. If that sounds self-centered I'd agree. I'm the only guinea
pig I know who'd be happy to try this. If what I do works for you,
then great. It's intended as a starting point, a nudge, a set of ideas
which you can adapt to suit your lifestyle and your body. Especially if
you're an older cyclist. <br /></p><p>I'll go through what I eat, why I
eat it and when I eat it. I'll explain my strength training programme
and produce two follow-along videos, in case you'd like to work-out with
me. I'll look at the two types of cycle training we really ought to do
every week, especially in the off-season. </p><p>Then I'm going to
track down some experts to learn how I can improve. I need to improve
my form lifting weights. And I definitely need to improve my running
style - I look like I have filled a nappy. sorry, 'adult diaper'. </p><p>Because we're rejecting the old notion that once we hit our 60's we're past it and should put our feet up. </p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><b><i>We're part of a generation that refuses to accept inevitable degeneration.</i></b></h4><p> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QY1YdqQLtXI?si=ygKL0XHvVICIAjoA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></p><p>I
don't mean attempting to live forever (although a few folk seem to be
trying). I mean staying healthy for significantly longer. When my own
Father was in his fifties, once his work was done, he'd slump in his
chair in front of the television and by 9pm he'd be snoring.</p><p>I
quit work early to enjoy my later years. I don't have kids. And when I
go to sleep around 9pm it's so I can do an early morning work-out or
recover from a big day on the hill or bike. <br /></p><p>I hope there's
nothing daft or faddy about what I'm doing. Some people might think so,
but one of the advantages of age is I don't give a f++k about that. </p><p>However,
if I have intrigued you and you'd like to find a little more you'll
find 'further reading / listening' links below each video and at the
bottom of this page. They start the first Sunday in November, going
live at 19:00 UTC (GMT). The channel is <a href="https://youtube.com/@alwaysanotheradventure" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Always Another Adventure</a> <br /></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-25672487973525636912023-10-28T08:38:00.016+01:002023-11-06T18:33:38.480+00:00Older Athlete Reading & Listening List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvBXWO3GN3LHOwPR9z9oupe_5wamvThvlGD_rVQ6b6wnvu3fmqXQpaURCtEFMlv1ECJVZhVr_3ayrXCL2_HYbaqBcckUmmJS1GL_Cwgu6Cqi_oqhBKJjiv4XV-F2kJW3bSAHRbpQM8rA3DH7xdNAYdyrlrqcn46Nl_Apf4x7uYFX5gSBa5WCz/s1080/Square%20Thumbnail%20copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvBXWO3GN3LHOwPR9z9oupe_5wamvThvlGD_rVQ6b6wnvu3fmqXQpaURCtEFMlv1ECJVZhVr_3ayrXCL2_HYbaqBcckUmmJS1GL_Cwgu6Cqi_oqhBKJjiv4XV-F2kJW3bSAHRbpQM8rA3DH7xdNAYdyrlrqcn46Nl_Apf4x7uYFX5gSBa5WCz/s320/Square%20Thumbnail%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Full video series ▶︎ <a href="https://tinyurl.com/OlderAthleteVideos">https://tinyurl.com/OlderAthleteVideos</a> <br /></p><p>Zoe guide to healthy eating: <a href=" https://Zoe.com/freeguide " rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Zoe.com/freeguide </a></p><p>Zoe System: https://zoe.com/</p><p>Zoe podcast: https://zoe.com/learn/category/podcasts </p><p>Most useful podcast I've heard: <a href="https://zoe.com/learn/podcast-longer-and-healthier-life " rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://zoe.com/learn/podcast-longer-and-healthier-life </a></p><p>The guy whose advice I find helpful: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/">https://peterattiamd.com/</a></p><p>Dr Peter Attia's book: <a href="https://amzn.to/460XzSW">https://amzn.to/460XzSW</a> (amazon affiliate link)</p><p>Prof Tim Spector's book: https://amzn.to/3FOXOFO (amazon affiliate link)</p><p>Yoga & pilates: <a href="https://www.ekhartyoga.com/">https://www.ekhartyoga.com/</a> </p><p>Wahoo Systm: <a href="https://uk.wahoofitness.com/systm">https://uk.wahoofitness.com/systm</a> </p><p> <b><u> <br /></u></b></p><p><b><u>Folks I follow on Instagram</u></b></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zoe/">https://www.instagram.com/zoe/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tim.spector/">https://www.instagram.com/tim.spector/</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/glucosegoddess/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/glucosegoddess/?hl=en</a><br /></p><p> </p><p>THIS PAGE: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/OlderAthlete">https://tinyurl.com/OlderAthlete</a> </p><p> </p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-80594603046589015472023-06-15T13:03:00.007+01:002023-08-22T06:49:40.163+01:00The self-flying selfie camera<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-Q5WKxo1TAM6iOcBXosG_ODXncB2m-mOi5jc4VO3CXI-CNn_kzBOvDcTw_SAWnOT4LYrlhqjAsl4wbeCFvU1CA4vukgPFCV-E49gPod_KPZ9I9AyV-yMYDNjIzEq4Jm9HQn3sov-4-IBkvauGIuO-gqlq6FDy9_qWXYH6vTqOLNuuNjJzg/s4032/X1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-Q5WKxo1TAM6iOcBXosG_ODXncB2m-mOi5jc4VO3CXI-CNn_kzBOvDcTw_SAWnOT4LYrlhqjAsl4wbeCFvU1CA4vukgPFCV-E49gPod_KPZ9I9AyV-yMYDNjIzEq4Jm9HQn3sov-4-IBkvauGIuO-gqlq6FDy9_qWXYH6vTqOLNuuNjJzg/w400-h225/X1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Because I run a <a href="https//YouTube.com/c/alwaysanotheradventure" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> with a moderate number of subscribers (currently around 30k) I occasionally get offered items to 'test'. <p></p><p>That word is often code for "we'll send you some free swag if you make a video about it and post it on your channel". </p><p>Trouble is, I take this sort of thing seriously. Usually, I say "No thanks". I wouldn't have room for all the eBikes I've been offered, not to mention glasses, rear lights and all manner of unrelated items. This has hugely impressed me. Just watch this single video and you'll see why.</p><p><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7y_dCu3xSJU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p> To the items that grab my attention, I reply along the lines of, "I will test it and post my honest opinion on my channel. I won't sign any contract, I won't guarantee the length of a video, and I won't guarantee to only say good things". Quite a few disappear that that point. <i>If you'd like to see a list of those that didn't, my full Compliance record of brands that sent me stuff and what I've done with it, is linked from the Resources page of my website<a href="https://www.alwaysanotheradventure.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Always Another Adventure.com</a>.</i></p><p>It was on this basis I was sent the Hover Camera X1 - name subsequently changed to HoverAir X1. At the time you couldn't actually buy a unit, it was only on <a href="https://bit.ly/3ONoix8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Indiegogo as a crowd-funded item</a>, although as I write, people have begun to receive the units they purchased. (Edit - <a href="https://thehover.com/products/hoverair-x1-self-flying-camera-combo?variant=46043847065885" target="_blank">now on the company website</a> <b>check they ship to your country</b>!).</p><p>I'm not into Unboxing videos, but made an exception on this occasion because I wanted to get a feel for how this promising little drone ("please don't call it a drone") performed right out of the box after charging.</p><p> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IgCxUJ19RF0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>Most of that was shot in one day, with a few extra shots done on a quiet road a couple of days later. Within days I realised I had missed two of the Hover Camera X1's big tricks. <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Firstly, the sound. Loads of people commented the X1 WAS VERY LOUD. Any drone flying this close to a microphone will be loud, and the X1 seems specifically designed to fly close to you. So surely, that wasp-in-a-jar is going to be all over your audio track? Oh no. <br /></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hOmJvX5TP6Q" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p>I posted a vertical version of this on YT shorts, Instagram and TikTok where someone insisted I'd faked this. It couldn't be a drone, it had to be a camera on a gimbal, presumably operated by my Border Terrier dog since I was otherwise alone. </p><p>Straight out of the camera the footage was slightly out of sync. The App has a way of fixing this, but I didn't use it, I just slid the voice track in my edit program.</p><p>I said <b>two</b> tricks, and the second one is visible in that clip. When I shot my first video, I wondered out-loud whether there was a way to adjust the distance away the X1 would Orbit, or do its Reveal move. I also hoped there would be a way it could 'follow' in-front of me, looking back. The makers call this latter move a Dolly and yes, it can. That set me wondering whether the X1 was more than the Social Media Gadget I first thought. Could it be a genuine film-making tool for YouTube? </p><p>Maggie (the dog) and I did a short hill run to test the X1's new-found tricks. The audio in this video could be better, but I suspect the microphone processing was battling the wind as well as the sound of the rotors.</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aHfx_QzGuVE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p>I shot all of that on the two supplied batteries. I saw someone tested the flight time in a hover and found it was 9 minutes, but that does not mean you'd get that long in the real world. Any kind of wind or acceleration will increase the rate of power drain.</p><p>You can find out more about the Hover Camera X1 on its <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2824755/x/33417644?secret_perk_token=90fe92c3" target="_blank">IndieGoGo page</a> and there's a Private <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/236959472217944/permalink/265708422676382/" target="_blank">Facebook Group</a>. Some people initially called this enterprise a Scam and related it to another Hover Camera which purportedly took people's money and nothing happened - I have no knowledge of this. </p><p>I have no connection to the company whatsoever and can only speak to the product they sent me to review. I like it. As firmware updates and App updates come through, and the more I use it, the more impressed I am.</p><p>Flying in Custom (ie manual) is not like using a regular controller because the phone App can't have joysticks to 'feather' to control speed, it's an all-or-nothing thing. I managed to do a classic reveal shot to show it will take two simultaneous inputs, but look at the wind buffering at the start.</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sEzr3xWDrjA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>I believe programmed flight is possible but I have yet to try it, and probably won't.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOAzL0KV1SFzGsBVBG3PZDbIDSkVZbJl5T9P_YjpLQHQze2-KzRWXkwN1uMPtz6PiklSH0Vr5eEJc4_mn3_E9nZjH4gjZ9TKI2edWxqiIh-KTvi8oYQxHAcZFAn0SzIT6gzwS6gvFf_coddWPk7wRk051KeclUP6dN8pNj8P5XYwqdVjlDQ/s1170/IMG_0342.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1170" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOAzL0KV1SFzGsBVBG3PZDbIDSkVZbJl5T9P_YjpLQHQze2-KzRWXkwN1uMPtz6PiklSH0Vr5eEJc4_mn3_E9nZjH4gjZ9TKI2edWxqiIh-KTvi8oYQxHAcZFAn0SzIT6gzwS6gvFf_coddWPk7wRk051KeclUP6dN8pNj8P5XYwqdVjlDQ/w200-h195/IMG_0342.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The latest (at time of writing) version of the App warns against flying over water or a surface with a reflective or uneven pattern. <p></p><p> The X1 has no GPS and relies on its ground sensors to work out what's safe. </p><p>On a couple of occasions it has had brief fly-away moments, usually when over rough ground like on that hill-run.<br /></p><p>So is it any good? </p><p>In the early days of GoPro, we couldn't trust those strange little cameras. Those plastic cases steamed up, so I always took another camera for the main shoot and, if the GoPro shot was clear, that was a great bonus. I've used every model since the GP2. Now I shoot almost everything on a GoPro (although if you use them, the cases <i>still</i> steam up). GoPro cameras defined an entire genre of product, created new ways of filming, saw-off competitors from even big players like Sony, and are now a staple in every camera-operator's bag. </p><p>The Hover Camera X1 feels like the GoPro 3 of its kind. In time it will gain better battery life, an SD card slot, more power and 4k processing (it's currently 2,7k at 30fps or 1080 with HRD). Plus who knows what else? <br /></p><p>Who's it for? If you're into Social Media, it's the ultimate selfie stick. It records video and still pictures. You must obey the drone laws, rules and regulations where you fly, even if it is under 125g. In the UK this means it doesn't have to be registered but you do - you should have a <a href="https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/individual/register-as-drone-operator" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Operator ID from the Civil Aviation Authority</a> and display this number on the X1. If you're doing this, get two stickers, one for each battery, but I suspect most people won't bother. </p><p>You also have to be aware of flying in restricted airspace, which could pose a problem in the future if drone laws change to require them to be GEO located. As I said, this one doesn't have GPS, and the makers <a href="https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/registration-requirements-for-drones" target="_blank">can't claim it's a toy because the camera takes it out of the Toy category</a>.</p><p>I took it on a cycle ride yesterday, just to see if I'd use it. I did. I shot two short Dolly moves and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/always_another_adventure/?hl=en" target="_blank">posted them from the ride on Instagram</a>. </p><p>That's where the X1 scores. When a regular drone is just too big to take on the off-chance you'll fly it, the X1 just folds up and tucks into my back pocket. I can't wait for the X10!<br /></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kOHIe_7fRLU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-17168711209392150362023-04-19T12:36:00.026+01:002024-02-28T14:57:31.628+00:00My Cycling Kit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnlblKD6WyvIZBKiGsaZotz63ELKGQrx37VfuNMB6rsycr2ps4CO8ExUbNt1F9nuVTao1-cTayg2CqpE7-FTUXR3J6pscbpQ7O0jfk7Wy5cuerCe33SUbQSBNSiyjbsREOcm0swDBux9X9ABOoHrI_g3nKXRgWKM0KFPSOrdyfYSJwfKe3A/s5472/DSC00119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnlblKD6WyvIZBKiGsaZotz63ELKGQrx37VfuNMB6rsycr2ps4CO8ExUbNt1F9nuVTao1-cTayg2CqpE7-FTUXR3J6pscbpQ7O0jfk7Wy5cuerCe33SUbQSBNSiyjbsREOcm0swDBux9X9ABOoHrI_g3nKXRgWKM0KFPSOrdyfYSJwfKe3A/w400-h225/DSC00119.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The links below are mostly affiliate links which means I receive a small commission if you use them when buying, for which I thank you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My compliance information regarding review equipment is <a href="https://www.alwaysanotheradventure.com/resources ">linked from my website</a></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">GLASSES<br /></h4><p>
Prescription glasses from: <a href="https://www.extreme-eyewear.co.uk/ " target="_blank">https://www.extreme-eyewear.co.uk/ </a></p><p>Earlier prescription glasses with flip-up visor were ‘Austin’ by Sunwise only from opticians </p><p><br /></p><p>RAB CYCLING CLOTHING</p><p>Comes from their Cinder range and was given to me for review https://rab.equipment/uk/?rab_live_uk_products%5Bquery%5D=cinder%20 </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/INK_I2zuYnA?si=p2D5oRd4gXEPvwV7" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></p><p>Big waterproof - Cinder Kinetic </p><p>Blue waterproof cycling pants (excellent!) - Cinder Kinetic<br /></p><p>Olive green cycling jacket - Cinder Ridgeline</p><p>Mustard cycling jersey - Cinder Jersey</p><p>Mustard waterproof - Cinder Phantom Jacket<br /></p><p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">OTHER CLOTHING</h4><p>Helmet - Giro Helios Spherical MIPS: <a href="https://amzn.to/3A9izsW">https://amzn.to/3A9izsW</a> </p><p>Touring shoes - Giro Rumble MTB: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ULFgNv">https://amzn.to/3ULFgNv</a> </p><p>Touring socks - Darn tough: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Lc8QIV">https://amzn.to/3Lc8QIV</a> <br /></p><p>Base layer - Craft: <a href="https://amzn.to/3t2y3vn">https://amzn.to/3t2y3vn</a> </p><p>Skin repair cream: <a href="https://amzn.to/3zIF4W3">https://amzn.to/3zIF4W3</a> </p><p>Sealskinz socks - 3 pairs all with Hydrostop cuff: <a href="https://amzn.to/3H8ZsUo">https://amzn.to/3H8ZsUo</a>
<a href="https://amzn.to/3QI0VEp">https://amzn.to/3QI0VEp</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3IUAXeN">https://amzn.to/3IUAXeN</a> </p><p>Barefoot socks for off bike in town: <a href="https://baresocks.com/?ref=Always" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="white-space: pre-line; word-break: break-all;" target="_blank">https://baresocks.com/?ref=Always</a> CODE: AAA10 FOR 10%</p><p> <br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">EQUIPMENT <br /></h4><p>Personal locator beacon: <a href="https://amzn.to/3uSJGGn">https://amzn.to/3uSJGGn</a> </p><p>Backpack - Rab Aeon LT25: <a href="https://amzn.to/3kxksLT">https://amzn.to/3kxksLT</a></p><p>I also occasionally use an old OMM sack (the black/yellow one) </p><p>Green hydration pack - Osprey Raptor 10: <a href="https://amzn.to/3xcFRxJ">https://amzn.to/3xcFRxJ</a> </p><p>Blue hydration pack - an old Camelbak which seems discontinued.<br /></p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">REVIEW TECHNOLOGY<br /></h4><p>Bryton Gardia: <a href="https://brytonsport.co.uk/gardia-c10">https://brytonsport.co.uk/gardia-c10</a></p><p>Garmin Varia radar/light RTL515: <a href="https://amzn.to/41CGflk">https://amzn.to/41CGflk</a></p><p>Garmin Varia radar light with camera RCT715 : <a href="https://amzn.to/3mMjSv2">https://amzn.to/3mMjSv2</a> </p><p>Cycliq Fly 12: <a href="https://cycliq.com/bike-cameras/fly12-sport/">https://cycliq.com/bike-cameras/fly12-sport/</a><br /></p><p> </p><p>Redshift shockstop stem: <a href="https://amzn.to/41js2db">https://amzn.to/41js2db</a> </p><p>Redshift shockstop Seatpost PRO: <a href="https://amzn.to/41HPmBa">https://amzn.to/41HPmBa</a> </p><p>Redshift shockstop Seatpost: <a href="https://amzn.to/3mJ1N0X">https://amzn.to/3mJ1N0X</a> </p><p>Kitchen sink bars: <a href="https://amzn.to/3MS7gNp">https://amzn.to/3MS7gNp</a> </p><p>Extra long bar tape: <a href="https://amzn.to/3L9Ntqz">https://amzn.to/3L9Ntqz</a> </p><p>Arclight Pedals: <a href="https://amzn.to/43JZ3AY">https://amzn.to/43JZ3AY</a> </p><p> <br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">BIKEPACKING</h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sleeping bag - Rab Neutrino 200: </span> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Adn6uK">https://amzn.to/3Adn6uK</a> </span></div><p>Bivvy - Terra Nova Jupiter Lite: <a href="https://amzn.to/41mFInK">https://amzn.to/41mFInK</a> </p><p>Solo tent - Terra Nova Laser Compact 1: <a href="https://amzn.to/41Iymej">https://amzn.to/41Iymej</a> </p><p>Bags - Apidura Expedition Range: <a href="https://www.apidura.com/shop/expedition-series/">https://www.apidura.com/shop/expedition-series/</a></p><p>Meths stoves: <a href="https://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/product-category/cooking/">https://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/product-category/cooking/</a></p><p>Camp/town shoes - BareSocks (formerly Powersocks): <a href="https://baresocks.com/?ref=Always" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="white-space: pre-line; word-break: break-all;" target="_blank">https://baresocks.com/?ref=Always</a> (affiliate link)<br /></p><p>Multi-charger cable: <a href="https://amzn.to/3C02IhZ">https://amzn.to/3C02IhZ</a> </p><p>Z-lok: <a href="https://amzn.to/3D9zJGT">https://amzn.to/3D9zJGT</a> </p><p>Mini track pump: https://amzn.to/41JVdHl </p><p>Topeak Micro rocket road pump: https://amzn.to/41Ppk0b <br /></p><p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">WINTER ESSENTIALS</h4><p>Balaclava (similar): <a href="https://amzn.to/3Yv6b1F">https://amzn.to/3Yv6b1F</a> </p><p>Hot hands: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Yv6b1F">https://amzn.to/3Yv6b1F</a> </p><p>Lifeventure thermal mug: <a href="https://amzn.to/3j7ArPU">https://amzn.to/3j7ArPU</a> </p><p>Lifeventure flask (similar): <a href="https://amzn.to/3BFFZYg">https://amzn.to/3BFFZYg</a> </p><p>Bothy bag & alternatives: <a href="https://amzn.to/3HAAaz8">https://amzn.to/3HAAaz8</a> </p><p>Foil bivi bags (many options): <a href="https://amzn.to/3BC1Y2o">https://amzn.to/3BC1Y2o</a> </p><p>Cateye lights: <a href="https://amzn.to/3I0uxYQ">https://amzn.to/3I0uxYQ</a> </p><p>Exposure lights: <a href="https://amzn.to/313COdA">https://amzn.to/313COdA</a> </p><p>SKS Bluemeles Mudguards: <a href="https://amzn.to/3cVCjoA">https://amzn.to/3cVCjoA</a> </p><p>SKS Raceblade: <a href="https://amzn.to/3l9cJ3V">https://amzn.to/3l9cJ3V</a> </p><p>Schwalbe Durano DD tyres: <a href="https://amzn.to/3nVPYC7">https://amzn.to/3nVPYC7</a> </p>Gorewear Shakedry jacket: <a href="https://amzn.to/3E2igk0">https://amzn.to/3E2igk0</a> <p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">BIKES</h4><p>Tyres - mostly Panracer Gravel Kings: <a href="https://amzn.to/40i3YpP">https://amzn.to/40i3YpP</a> </p><p>Bottle cages - side entry: <a href="https://amzn.to/3DCKGCp">https://amzn.to/3DCKGCp</a></p><p>Vielo V+1: <a href="https://www.vielo.cc/">https://www.vielo.cc/</a> </p><p>Sonder Camino Ti (3rd Gen) </p><p>Parlee Z5 (2010)</p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-35941553165739838322023-04-19T12:13:00.015+01:002024-01-31T10:08:29.355+00:00My Video Kit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-WXchyfegNJldCWpgcGOwr9ZmAweNk0Fipffc62FX6O6D-Li2nf7Fw4XbSZtTMT_nOdJ54KvJ22_02jgm9T36R8XYQpjZYNkOx7d5euTKLw7mHWvbLzyj1BE1njODFiDLV-4s7UBePr0H2_mkSSc4zJHJIV2-PQ_fjy0sJi7SXet9TdX2Q/s3298/IMG_4361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2120" data-original-width="3298" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-WXchyfegNJldCWpgcGOwr9ZmAweNk0Fipffc62FX6O6D-Li2nf7Fw4XbSZtTMT_nOdJ54KvJ22_02jgm9T36R8XYQpjZYNkOx7d5euTKLw7mHWvbLzyj1BE1njODFiDLV-4s7UBePr0H2_mkSSc4zJHJIV2-PQ_fjy0sJi7SXet9TdX2Q/w400-h258/IMG_4361.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The links below are mostly affiliate links which means I receive a small
commission if you use them when buying, for which I thank you. As an
Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My compliance
information regarding review equipment is <a href="https://www.alwaysanotheradventure.com/resources ">linked from my website</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"> I mainly shoot on a GoPro 10 and 12: <a href="https://amzn.to/3B5hsIV">https://amzn.to/3B5hsIV</a> and https://amzn.to/4aRD7ay<br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">with a Joby Gorillapod 500: <a href="https://amzn.to/3njto4V">https://amzn.to/3njto4V</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">or a GoPro 3 way stick: <a href="https://amzn.to/2ZcyZSf">https://amzn.to/2ZcyZSf</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">I also shoot on an iPhone 13Pro: <a href="https://amzn.to/3opYacW">https://amzn.to/3opYacW</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">and a Insta 360 One X2: <a href="https://amzn.to/3HnAoqa">https://amzn.to/3HnAoqa</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">My current drone is a DJI Mini 3 Pro: <a href="https://amzn.to/3OIftB0">https://amzn.to/3OIftB0</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">The drone that can record audio is a HoverAir X1: https://uk.thehover.com/ <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Audio is recorded on a Sony voice recorder: <a href="https://amzn.to/3pwxoBJ">https://amzn.to/3pwxoBJ</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">using a Rode SmartLav+: <a href="https://amzn.to/3vHinhB">https://amzn.to/3vHinhB</a> & adapter: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Gbv21n">https://amzn.to/3Gbv21n</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">My larger cameras are at Sony A6400: <a href="https://amzn.to/41j6zRD">https://amzn.to/41j6zRD</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">and a Sony ZV1: <a href="https://amzn.to/41kbeTD">https://amzn.to/41kbeTD</a> </p><p>I made a series explaining how I shoot, structure and edit videos including the equipment I use. here's the first.</p><p> <br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLi_RyC9IgDU2UuQaNx2M9k3mn3tH9b_Ek" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-1793298344942577072023-04-11T16:14:00.007+01:002023-04-12T17:24:35.532+01:00Jenny Graham - Coffee First, then the World. Review.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJLbtHIr04EbQn0bePqWWL_5F7gNUJmwZVmcoak2haHi-6JchAnjasbegX2KxHCfKiHV99UvoOciDiqzrliWmWurir2xzrS5Bxe2tzEEtkU9m1GYOGUxITRaJqKYDv3buqscfkDSa8IWBXYsZZCfn_fX8H_vwGbIl9kUS9PtBLLZqAiEt_A/s285/Screenshot%202023-04-11%20at%2015.37.16.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="275" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJLbtHIr04EbQn0bePqWWL_5F7gNUJmwZVmcoak2haHi-6JchAnjasbegX2KxHCfKiHV99UvoOciDiqzrliWmWurir2xzrS5Bxe2tzEEtkU9m1GYOGUxITRaJqKYDv3buqscfkDSa8IWBXYsZZCfn_fX8H_vwGbIl9kUS9PtBLLZqAiEt_A/s1600/Screenshot%202023-04-11%20at%2015.37.16.png" width="275" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">This is a superb book. No wonder Amazon has it as a ‘Best Seller’ already.<br /><br />To assume it’s just a book for cyclists is to miss the point. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Although if you are a cyclist, you need to read it and re-calibrate your understanding of the word ‘tough’. You’ll also learn a lot, even if it’s only “F*ck me I wouldn’t do that!”. <br /><br />But to think only cyclists would be interested in reading Jenny Graham’s account of her record breaking pedal around the world would be like assuming only polar explorers would read Aspley Cherry-Gerrard. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/3Kx0ZUC" target="_blank">‘Coffee First, then the World’</a> is a true adventure story, in the company of someone who is prepared to push themselves much further than most human beings.<br /><br />Jenny has told me her story twice before, once in a short film for BBC Scotland’s <i>Adventure Show</i> and once in a <a href="https://tinyurl.com/JennyGraham" target="_blank">newly updated podcast for <i>Always Another Adventure</i></a>. Yet I still devoured this book in two sittings. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmY8gpuVFZQTdpvLlFNdb6IP14w3-bbnHCinr2Cx1vnI9iUY7RDdIbHyqJuScPV27EpLRq6ZeDlQbMq91D-owg5XDBM7dckkhqrh67j_gQBxyU7dF69StK1-gp4iahY9G2feWomhjEp4DW0e82XOm_zCu4gD1izwUbh1udmp9nkljMDG-vw/s3088/IMG_6192.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1737" data-original-width="3088" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmY8gpuVFZQTdpvLlFNdb6IP14w3-bbnHCinr2Cx1vnI9iUY7RDdIbHyqJuScPV27EpLRq6ZeDlQbMq91D-owg5XDBM7dckkhqrh67j_gQBxyU7dF69StK1-gp4iahY9G2feWomhjEp4DW0e82XOm_zCu4gD1izwUbh1udmp9nkljMDG-vw/w400-h225/IMG_6192.jpg" title="Filming in Torridon for The Adventure Show" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />It was 2018 when Jenny took almost three weeks off the 144 day record, clocking 124 days. The Guinness World Records team draws a distinction between a male and female record, but not between supported and unsupported. So at one extreme you have Mark Beaumont’s fully supported record (78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes) for which he had a support team with motorhomes and bikes waiting for him when he stepped off each aircraft. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">At the other you have Jenny, solo, unsupported and determinedly alone. She only used facilities (bike shops, hotels etc) that were available to any other cyclist. No special treatment was allowed under her ethic. Even to the extent of not permitting her friend Lee, who’d come out to visit, to translate a Spanish menu for her. As a result she ended up with a platter of raw fish. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ww4K6lcrr-d7w7X5L7tNAO7GbM-_TNUQt_4cuwr-r7KCMdgE547dT82zUFTtqOmHGGJlnV3lbEwL29mCGlYFCWsaKu9eXL6Ev2Nz0IlTXArddkfebFvgXftk7xoZMrxL-GyJd8ehNtra-oglOQK_zn1FHhsLo0ht_Nw3ymr0j_zXNqpfmw/s3000/Jenny%20Graham%20V2%20Graphic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ww4K6lcrr-d7w7X5L7tNAO7GbM-_TNUQt_4cuwr-r7KCMdgE547dT82zUFTtqOmHGGJlnV3lbEwL29mCGlYFCWsaKu9eXL6Ev2Nz0IlTXArddkfebFvgXftk7xoZMrxL-GyJd8ehNtra-oglOQK_zn1FHhsLo0ht_Nw3ymr0j_zXNqpfmw/s320/Jenny%20Graham%20V2%20Graphic.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Jenny’s public persona is bubbly and smiley. So when she stands up in public to recount the brutal physical attrition of trying to ride her bike for fifteen hours a day to clock up over two hundred miles, I get the impression she naturally makes light of it. She seems to turn it into a laugh, instinctively minimising her suffering. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">In her book she’s shockingly forthright. She bravely chronicles, not only her forward progress, but her downward physical and mental decline. Of course, this being Jenny, she even manages to turn this into a laugh; passages involving kangaroos and grizzly bears (obviously not at the same time!) are as hilarious as they are scary.<br /><br /><a href="https://tinyurl.com/JennyGraham" target="_blank">If you remain unconvinced, listen to my podcast with her. </a> She has a speaking tour through April and May 2023 with <a href="https://jenny-graham.com/" target="_blank">dates on her website</a>. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Kx0ZUC" target="_blank">Oh, and buy her book</a>. It’s a best seller you know…</span></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-8000346474572914372023-03-15T15:43:00.000+00:002023-03-15T15:43:23.155+00:00Pacific Crest Trail Podcast<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S__3udYaqBTuV69DvZQMf_5BSgkF9dIDXiUDY20cz8fEnlOytA6sc4t3C0VZAtdvKnvNxho0U1Prm2nikcmWsHs66vCSVdHyHKfvVQQRLt80TD5c_e0EClfHdm7GLSRRIfAcI_f9xJK9exhXnTkufJ0gK_aJp_7uH2bhGk-CoQqdQxpbWQ/s5196/digiScan%20Willis017%20(4).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3439" data-original-width="5196" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S__3udYaqBTuV69DvZQMf_5BSgkF9dIDXiUDY20cz8fEnlOytA6sc4t3C0VZAtdvKnvNxho0U1Prm2nikcmWsHs66vCSVdHyHKfvVQQRLt80TD5c_e0EClfHdm7GLSRRIfAcI_f9xJK9exhXnTkufJ0gK_aJp_7uH2bhGk-CoQqdQxpbWQ/w320-h212/digiScan%20Willis017%20(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We are sitting like vagrants under the road bridge at Scissors Crossing. <p></p><p>Three of us are avoiding the blistering heat of a desert day before a long climb into the San Felipe Hills. </p><p>One of our small band of hikers, who rejoices in the trail name <i>Pathfinder</i> and who had already walked the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, makes a prediction; </p><p>“Right now in 2002 and for the next couple of years will be considered, in future decades, to be the classic time on the Pacific Crest Trail”. <br /> <br />It didn’t feel particularly classic, just hot and humid. Sweat oozed from everywhere on my body. It stung my eyes and the multiple blisters I’d patched with duct tape, the moleskin having ran out days ago. Perhaps it was not the best time to fully appreciate his prophecy. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://PCTpodcast.com"><span style="font-size: large;">PCTpodcast.com</span></a><br /></p><p> It was April 2002 and I had traveled from Scotland to thru-hike the PCT with my girlfriend (now wife) Liz. We later learnt that Pathfinder knew a lot more than us about long-distance hiking. His real name is Ron Strickland, and he was well into the process of creating <a href="https://www.pnt.org/" target="_blank">The Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT)</a>. It’s now an established trail and it turns out his planning is as good as his predictions.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx0qLX1US9UfSmYLaWkmleXoMwomcRLolV9yM-giqBuIkgwlwYMSIL5QTZBy21Cc8VPEDX-rRWT5gR2_qn7nlwblNbozBaTAAmNJkAWPlfSnka3Hvn6yz-vxrQ7aq_eJzgZNFup-yggHjdlJP0to0aN_G4dzWfKr75EcWdQqmC5Gv7E1koQ/s3336/digiScan%20Willis025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="3336" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx0qLX1US9UfSmYLaWkmleXoMwomcRLolV9yM-giqBuIkgwlwYMSIL5QTZBy21Cc8VPEDX-rRWT5gR2_qn7nlwblNbozBaTAAmNJkAWPlfSnka3Hvn6yz-vxrQ7aq_eJzgZNFup-yggHjdlJP0to0aN_G4dzWfKr75EcWdQqmC5Gv7E1koQ/w400-h258/digiScan%20Willis025.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start monument with Mexico border fence behind<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />Not that I appreciated it at the time. We still had more than two thousand miles and six months of hiking ahead of us. Fortunately, I was carrying a small audio recorder to capture our experiences and conversations like this with Ron. Unfortunately, once we completed the trail and returned to Scotland, I lost the recordings.<br /> <br />Until last December when, during a big gear clear-out, I unearthed a US Zip-lok bag (UK ones are different) stuffed with 11 mini-discs. Remember them? Possibly not, but once I borrowed an ancient player from my local high school, the voices from that classic PCT year transported me two decades into the past. </p><p>I was prising open an audio time capsule from a year when fewer than three hundred people started the northbound thru-hike and barely half of them completed it. While the completion rate remains similar, overall hiker numbers are now in the thousands. The <a href="https://permit.pcta.org/" target="_blank">PCTA website allocates</a> 50 northbound permits daily between 2nd March and 31 May, that’s 4,600 hikers hitting the trail in 13 weeks.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ru59wCTxLOk" width="535" youtube-src-id="Ru59wCTxLOk"></iframe></div><p><br />As I logged and listened to my recordings I realised their true value. They captured a bygone time on the trail more intimately than video. As a former BBC reporter, I’m familiar with the saying “pictures are better on the radio”, and the pictures I saw were outstanding.<br /> <br />Now I’ve turned those 2002 recordings into a Podcast series called Pacific Crest Trail, Then and Now. I spoke to Flyin’ Brian Robinson, the first man to hike, in one year, the Triple Crown of the PCT, Continental Divide and Appalachian Trail. The recorder was running as the best-known angel on the trail Donna Saufley welcomed us to Hiker Heaven and shared her story. </p><p>I recorded close encounters with a rattlesnake, a bear and, scariest of all, a demented grouse that attacked our ankles. I heard from Rick at the Seiad Valley Pancake challenge; from the owner of the fabled Stehekin Bakery; from a trail crew from the California Conservation Corps maintaining the PCT. We swapped campfire trail stories with other hikers in the High Desert and the Cascades. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JgGTGelgMV-vVe2vYJh7JNyh_pTeNdNlYaia0P5OHXzaVLSWJr25CuRmvSapNZOD7OPywclv3uh5lsFl6jZOnLZ3UQIG2WGIVi_MtlAG-T7BMDn7lOOKXXhjMDqmkwYh9VwRcDZUY96J3A1ied1RNuj3Z5-63agFb_hMt6BOSQ-J0IwpHw/s5342/digiScan%20Willis008%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3214" data-original-width="5342" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JgGTGelgMV-vVe2vYJh7JNyh_pTeNdNlYaia0P5OHXzaVLSWJr25CuRmvSapNZOD7OPywclv3uh5lsFl6jZOnLZ3UQIG2WGIVi_MtlAG-T7BMDn7lOOKXXhjMDqmkwYh9VwRcDZUY96J3A1ied1RNuj3Z5-63agFb_hMt6BOSQ-J0IwpHw/w400-h241/digiScan%20Willis008%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hikers at the 'Kick Off' 2002<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Liz and I spent a whole day at the long-gone ADZPCTKO, one of the many acronyms unique to this trail. It’s the Annual Day Zero PCT Kick-Off, a loud and friendly get-together at Lake Morena County Park. Previous thru-hikers, trail angels and experts in the new-fangled ultra-light hiking, helped the jittery class of 2002 reach the trailhead, answer their questions and calm their nerves. <br /><br />Here we met Henry Shires, a PCTA board member who was in the process of transforming his hobby into a business. He had designed an innovative shelter, part tarp part tent. He allowed us to use one of the first of these odd <a href="https://www.tarptent.com/" target="_blank">TarpTents</a> on our hike. We met him again in Lee Vining and spoke about theoretical threats to the trail from development and from increasing hiker numbers. <br /> <br />It’s so much more than a hike down memory lane. It’s a snapshot of lost time on a great trail. It left me wondering, what’s the PCT like now? Has the huge increase in hiker numbers ruined the experience, or just changed it? Might it have brought benefits, increasing awareness of this special, fragile ribbon of land? </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qLz2gUHcGu887S0pPtD5-GWdbz9bdPayrX9ohY5FKruJj2Hp_lE3sHFlYgv267um7_N30B5iYJnI4stIViPzfdQGYdMxmixPIsZwhmwvRVVJsnapWuUM8eGNzjRWVfpflA6-YcmW74SdqCVZjsHDmw_gBq6dIIuKnV6JKvFzxyHBOGCNSQ/s5144/digiScan%20Willis017%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3451" data-original-width="5144" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qLz2gUHcGu887S0pPtD5-GWdbz9bdPayrX9ohY5FKruJj2Hp_lE3sHFlYgv267um7_N30B5iYJnI4stIViPzfdQGYdMxmixPIsZwhmwvRVVJsnapWuUM8eGNzjRWVfpflA6-YcmW74SdqCVZjsHDmw_gBq6dIIuKnV6JKvFzxyHBOGCNSQ/w400-h269/digiScan%20Willis017%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finish monument on Canadian border<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Although 2002 seems relatively recent to me, in technology terms, it’s the stone age. While hikers now use smartphone apps to navigate and share information about water sources and campsites, we navigated with black-and-white maps alongside a trail description cut from the guidebook. We’d sliced them up in advance and put them in food resupply boxes that our friend Heather mailed to Post Offices along our route. <br /> <br />In towns along the trail, we were considered rare, scruffy oddities whose presence amused the locals and brought in a little extra business. Do the townsfolk now resent the annual invasion that strips small stores of their entire stock of carbohydrates? And what about the really big changes in climate and the consequence of forest fires?<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtDG5HnYOO-LMmdhJft1JZ06i8wmv_jbcHuzdpI9sRgdLkjRs4BXIgnh1qhlEjK9cZMOmYPTKep-_ll6EySXWxI4Nnj9wFOYxsBTZOx24zGOmFRbH0fWJ3OHeEQogLKVvLO9uvVADFE4_w-zacbW1Ebzflt_98FNhz2235EMt0ZrHpNtU5g/s1920/Then%20+%20Now%20V3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtDG5HnYOO-LMmdhJft1JZ06i8wmv_jbcHuzdpI9sRgdLkjRs4BXIgnh1qhlEjK9cZMOmYPTKep-_ll6EySXWxI4Nnj9wFOYxsBTZOx24zGOmFRbH0fWJ3OHeEQogLKVvLO9uvVADFE4_w-zacbW1Ebzflt_98FNhz2235EMt0ZrHpNtU5g/w221-h221/Then%20+%20Now%20V3.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><p><br />After I tell 2002 our story, in later episodes I attempt to answer some of these questions. I speak to a couple who thru-hiked the PCT in 2022, exactly twenty years after us and only just made it to the border as forest fires closed in around them. </p><p>I hear from <a href="https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/" target="_blank">Mac, who compiles the annual PCT Hiker Survey</a> and who helps me build a mental picture of today’s ‘typical’ PCT hiker. And I reconnect with <a href="https://www.tarptent.com/" target="_blank">Henry Shires</a>, to play him those twenty-year-old musings, to discuss what the PCT has become and how the PCTA is helping protect this fragile ribbon of beauty. <br /><br />As for Ron Strickland, he stands by his prediction of twenty years ago. “If you were to re-hike the PCT now, you would probably find a different experience because of the greater number of annual hikers”, he confirmed, “however, it’s still fabulous.”<br /><br />Pacific Crest Trail, Then and Now is now live. Search for it where you get your podcasts or go to <a href="http://PCTpodcast.com">PCTpodcast.com</a></p><p></p><br />Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-35472549687063068352023-03-13T15:53:00.006+00:002023-07-01T17:53:57.198+01:00Torino Nice Rally Part 5 - Preparation & Training<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW_GhuJNNZK8uurVCVDBUFUKtl73e1P1CKb_CL0dMa9JhRXAf8ndoWUQ7YLrWM_6cByizh4N8GEbae9YLl17_RliTxTatgZZ-A7FTyVXOCV9oItAVxtUt977FRNMm-X9JRcWjrxeNT5Bbv1JXAb7KaJ-tmba6J8g-1wtvcOxPlcqqRrMQmA/s4032/IMG_5538~photo.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW_GhuJNNZK8uurVCVDBUFUKtl73e1P1CKb_CL0dMa9JhRXAf8ndoWUQ7YLrWM_6cByizh4N8GEbae9YLl17_RliTxTatgZZ-A7FTyVXOCV9oItAVxtUt977FRNMm-X9JRcWjrxeNT5Bbv1JXAb7KaJ-tmba6J8g-1wtvcOxPlcqqRrMQmA/s320/IMG_5538~photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>I was recently asked "How did you train for the TNR". It's a good question, especially when people in <a href="https://youtu.be/UplQ2HauAdQ" target="_blank">the video</a> say, "you can't train for this!". </span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>My reply emphasised that preparation was as important to me as training, so I'll cover both of those here. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>However, I stress - this is just the way I chose to approach the event. Others might just rock-up-and-go.<br /></span></span></p><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>When I and others said “you can’t train for this”, what I think we really meant was - "no training rides could be like this”. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Clearly you can, and should, train for it. Compare it to someone’s first marathon - one wouldn’t run 26 miles in training, so the ‘event’ is utterly different to the training. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>In the past I have hired a coach for specific events and considered doing that before the TNR. It’s a good option because, if you over-train, (as I tend to do) you can mess up badly. But let’s assume you’re going to do it yourself.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHu2rvTuMiZOKmH-AHXWozLp6ub5uG1tfq6-6QUc7EOtAEbffAEamSZI6_yk9R6RrJJylmFEFv79SkcGWLtzgbPoqYcBeSgVEieAkWUiYZVn8ukGFYzeIRSJHmDqDr-Qvb_vKpC9-RY6hwSsY1_NJeCkG2NMqs8b5Wvu7uT5Zu-kxuLfEa9Q/s4032/IMG_6018~photo.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHu2rvTuMiZOKmH-AHXWozLp6ub5uG1tfq6-6QUc7EOtAEbffAEamSZI6_yk9R6RrJJylmFEFv79SkcGWLtzgbPoqYcBeSgVEieAkWUiYZVn8ukGFYzeIRSJHmDqDr-Qvb_vKpC9-RY6hwSsY1_NJeCkG2NMqs8b5Wvu7uT5Zu-kxuLfEa9Q/s320/IMG_6018~photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Early morning Day 3, Strada Assietta<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Firstly</b><span>, I had a sports doctor look at a recurring knee issue, then had his physiotherapist check me all over, for body imbalances and weaknesses. She gave me exercises to work on that are specific to my 64 years of accumulated wear and tear. I did those exercises regularly.</span></span></p></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Secondly</b><span>, I went to see the UKs top bike fitter Phil Burt (he literally wrote the book) who is also a physiotherapist. Because of my knee issue, Phil advised shorter cranks - dropping from 172.5 to 165.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lg93FECUgaCrZI1tCKx5PWN7NTNxBQ0DmUr6apGUz-LewA0ucoaqPcXxCajEq6NoCWnj4wt6voHtk-QUMYrnuJEQI2Ke77w5cwYQTlsk5P8bETweYFo7v9hY3DsVDcPHcDzep7PMclpahGAJD38HHSOH6bFSetDO1Gm1at59su2h_jq0EQ/s2949/IMG_4500.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="2949" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lg93FECUgaCrZI1tCKx5PWN7NTNxBQ0DmUr6apGUz-LewA0ucoaqPcXxCajEq6NoCWnj4wt6voHtk-QUMYrnuJEQI2Ke77w5cwYQTlsk5P8bETweYFo7v9hY3DsVDcPHcDzep7PMclpahGAJD38HHSOH6bFSetDO1Gm1at59su2h_jq0EQ/s320/IMG_4500.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Simon & Phil Burt in Manchester<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Thirdly</b><span>, while my local bike shop was working on fitting the cranks, I asked them to find and fit the largest cassette that worked with the derailleur, and drop the chain ring (it’s a 1x bike) from 40 to 34. I had read ‘you can’t gear low enough for the TNR because you’re either grinding up hill or freewheeling down’. It’s good advice. All of this takes time.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun85F8KqbO3bMHRCara71YXHDkwJfSy7IBGDbVwdHdfH3BL2PhBSjfDj636bNUiBiezHjXEv7RgNiAsup7ShRWJDFs09TJS5I7XgWEJIKrFOnqLc3cbwlmaAzaytVHwW7oHsodAoMowXebZuolZjK1vcUcOARUGOkkHWwkBmPV7z8BZIZuA/s4032/Bike.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun85F8KqbO3bMHRCara71YXHDkwJfSy7IBGDbVwdHdfH3BL2PhBSjfDj636bNUiBiezHjXEv7RgNiAsup7ShRWJDFs09TJS5I7XgWEJIKrFOnqLc3cbwlmaAzaytVHwW7oHsodAoMowXebZuolZjK1vcUcOARUGOkkHWwkBmPV7z8BZIZuA/s320/Bike.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Finally, I’ll get around to answering the question about training, but remember, it’s just my view. You might learn more listening to the <a href="https://youtu.be/LiLH-mZAosQ">interview I did with the TNR founder James Olsen</a>.</span></span></p></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>For me, distance and elevation are not the challenge with the TNR - it’s saddle time - spending day after day pedalling the bike. You don’t <i>have</i> to ride far or fast - just take longer to complete the route. You don’t <i>have</i> to climb hard - just get lower gears. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span> But you do have to keep going, day after day. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn6kr5_Wsz-M0Z9NTvZEaLQxAstJSIbcMqpSUHuoVSNa6eDF96S8G9wEfVb9dRfDLU5zc0UDy_ocYAYxt2iubEXGkkDs4q0f3uKsN16USEkNUTLxn0kKDygNWYYlfSFDz_tDnrmYfuhE9U-pFy2a5XEDIGSltiI05vY_bYIKcjxfMJTnmyQ/s2167/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2167" data-original-width="2165" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn6kr5_Wsz-M0Z9NTvZEaLQxAstJSIbcMqpSUHuoVSNa6eDF96S8G9wEfVb9dRfDLU5zc0UDy_ocYAYxt2iubEXGkkDs4q0f3uKsN16USEkNUTLxn0kKDygNWYYlfSFDz_tDnrmYfuhE9U-pFy2a5XEDIGSltiI05vY_bYIKcjxfMJTnmyQ/s320/Unknown.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>I designed my training working backwards from what I felt would be my ideal final training week, two weeks before the start (to allow travel and recovery time). That last training week would ideally have six days of riding, two short, two medium and two long rides. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Then I simply worked up towards that duration of cycling, dividing the rides into short (under 2 hours), medium (under 4 hours) and long (over 6 hours). As events transpired, I never did stick to that plan but it acted as a guide.<br /></span></span></p></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>A couple of months before the TNR I started experimenting with the kit I would use, trying to decide between Bivi bag or tent (for example). These two-day rides fulfilled four functions; they allowed me to test the kit; to check I wasn’t carrying too much; to see how the bike handled; gave me more interesting longer training rides. I played with the <a href="https://youtu.be/Njb0VW2U0BM">bivi bag here</a> and made a <a href="https://youtu.be/2eVftnYDazk">video of a two-day ride I’d been wanting to try for ages</a>. That ride also made me think about the kit and make <a href="https://youtu.be/SG6R_y4V8_c">this video</a>.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX9PgThwJHAy3ZfNmy6UI3gf9s-SMwIAtij34j518Fz6KaY_6Caqjjhq7IbByQIWO6p8as8FyjzsoeDOi_gqM92jZgaTKB8WEWXBWcOah0OPnRib2Y72Me7R1npiyH61YNoXmCM484vDp9Kk5GaivoOhJBye2GUcwb-iUBF-xpoGJqPORTg/s4032/IMG_6135~photo.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX9PgThwJHAy3ZfNmy6UI3gf9s-SMwIAtij34j518Fz6KaY_6Caqjjhq7IbByQIWO6p8as8FyjzsoeDOi_gqM92jZgaTKB8WEWXBWcOah0OPnRib2Y72Me7R1npiyH61YNoXmCM484vDp9Kk5GaivoOhJBye2GUcwb-iUBF-xpoGJqPORTg/s320/IMG_6135~photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Drying my tent over a TV in a hotel room<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>I felt a lot happier about the TNR when I felt I understood the route. That came when I copied <a href="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1801324/-my-torino-nice-rally-route" target="_blank">the GPS into Komoot,</a> set my ability level low, and tried to equalise the duration I’d spend on the bike between each day. I realise most people go a long way on Day 1. That could start me on a downward spiral, with shorter days to follow. Instead I opted for a shorter first day with a good hotel and food, hopefully to start an upward spiral where I'd improve as the ride progressed.</span></span></p></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>I hope some of this is helpful. All the very best with your planning and training.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html" target="_blank">Part 1 What You Need To Know</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-2-getting-to-start.html" target="_blank">Part 2 Getting to the Start and from the Finish</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-3-kit-list-what.html" target="_blank">Part 3 Kit List, What Worked and What Didn't </a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/10/security-on-torino-nice-rally.html" target="_blank">Part 4 Security</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2023/03/torino-nice-rally-pt-5-preparation.html" target="_blank">Part 5 Preparation & Training </a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UplQ2HauAdQ" width="604" youtube-src-id="UplQ2HauAdQ"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p></div>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-52261956147555553952022-10-11T21:22:00.005+01:002023-03-13T15:55:47.330+00:00Torino Nice Rally Part 4 - Security <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjlQA-MnMDGEaiHx3nriOYg-JhlProp6Bk8-7FURsS0jHW9z66Cg_UI_2i9hUdhTUaYc3HWVX6oG-949YBab7U9IUq4BWSC70GWGYBkAlTfengWFxBttQr4ada4wxrvBpdue3mZsbhtLINK6JhoaRGL3x1rcnF0LQkiwVKshUtXkYG-nzFA/s1180/f3a18525-d4ba-419a-ab82-b6676001c915.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjlQA-MnMDGEaiHx3nriOYg-JhlProp6Bk8-7FURsS0jHW9z66Cg_UI_2i9hUdhTUaYc3HWVX6oG-949YBab7U9IUq4BWSC70GWGYBkAlTfengWFxBttQr4ada4wxrvBpdue3mZsbhtLINK6JhoaRGL3x1rcnF0LQkiwVKshUtXkYG-nzFA/w380-h640/f3a18525-d4ba-419a-ab82-b6676001c915.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>We like to think we're safe in wild places. <p></p><p>Mostly we are, but every now and again someone has an unpleasant experience like the one alongside, shared on our Torino Nice Rally WhatsApp group. </p><p>This reportedly happened in the town of Tende.</p><p>I experienced nothing approaching this, but it serves as a reminder that this route passes through a number of towns and villages of different sizes. </p><p>So we're bound to be seen by a whole range of people. Those shiny bikes, festooned with bike-packing gear, can look very attractive and easy to sell.</p><p>Plus who knows what's inside. </p><p>When planning the security side of my ride, I did the usual 'what-if' calculations and ranked them on a likelihood scale.</p><p>I considered the larger towns the most like spots for thieves to strike. </p><p>So I aimed to pass through the larger places as fast as possible, not stopping in centres except for unavoidable resupply.</p><p>On the occasions when I had to visit a supermarket I felt the greatest risk was someone stealing from my bags, and there was little I could do to prevent this. </p><p>I chose my Rapha Brevet Lightweight Jersey in part because it has a separate, long zip rear pocket - like a poacher's pocket'. My passport, insurance details and money always stayed zipped in here. No one could unzip it and get a hand in without me feeling the intrusion.</p><p>The second order of risk I felt was someone grabbing and wheeling the bike away. I didn't want to carry a big bike lock for rare occasions so I took two <a href="https://amzn.to/3yyw8Sw" target="_blank">Z-locks by HipLock</a>. I could either put one on each wheel or link them to secure the frame to a fixed object (better) and remove the wheel skewers.</p><p>The 'riskiest' situation for me was in the town of Briancon, heading into a big supermarket. It was built above a car park and had a long covered ramp up to the entrance, with the bike stands at the bottom. Ignoring these, I pushed it up the ramp and secured it just outside the glass doors in the sight of the security guard who I nodded to on the way in - he got the message. </p><p>When staying in towns I always found a room and somewhere to secure the bike (either in the room or a place I felt would be safe) before heading out to eat or resupply.</p><p>I understand that some people find camping in wild places a scary prospect. I've done it for so long that I'm possibly a little too blase about it. In my experience, most people are too scared to approach you - a wild person in a tent - than you are of them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SxX7LRP2vESoenfY04DHEH2vHoTe5zRgPLa1bZVZgmivFVGqZDTpCH2kCW8orppwZtV6zNUP6MQs2P6cmW7whkOkZlncmltI4DC_JQAD6Vm5UhhpxZrpNRKAlVcErVWAybZZ2OCS5PsVPKdDEgYl290pyQCgk-yYPNT-B54z4fcL7sQdKw/s5472/dsc00128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SxX7LRP2vESoenfY04DHEH2vHoTe5zRgPLa1bZVZgmivFVGqZDTpCH2kCW8orppwZtV6zNUP6MQs2P6cmW7whkOkZlncmltI4DC_JQAD6Vm5UhhpxZrpNRKAlVcErVWAybZZ2OCS5PsVPKdDEgYl290pyQCgk-yYPNT-B54z4fcL7sQdKw/w400-h225/dsc00128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>My only hesitation came on my last night. The photos from that bivi spot are lovely, but I was slightly apprehensive. I was at a much lower elevation which usually meant more people. Of particular concern were the four-wheel drive tracks in the rough ground behind my spot, suggesting folk came up here at night and blasted about. I made sure I camped amid a tangle of trees and branches on the ground where such vehicles were unlikely to go. As usual, I slept with most things packed and ready to go... just in case.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html" target="_blank">Part 1 What You Need To Know</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-2-getting-to-start.html" target="_blank">Part 2 Getting to the Start and from the Finish</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-3-kit-list-what.html" target="_blank">Part 3 Kit List, What Worked and What Didn't </a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/10/security-on-torino-nice-rally.html" target="_blank">Part 4 Security</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2023/03/torino-nice-rally-pt-5-preparation.html" target="_blank">Part 5 Preparation & Training </a><br /> <br /></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-26054863770292722692022-09-27T14:52:00.011+01:002023-05-13T08:44:21.878+01:00Torino Nice Rally 3 - Kit List, What Worked, What Didn't<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUYuxQt1U-dGlvsbUhcA8QBC1KSsuu55qEd-fn9274jK6YAgzB_ipjCI27RSvdnrxtDF7n7VgbDcXs5RdhAAX5KojfX6SOW-XpGeWoEgkBFkBYjs-dRBuPVaxkqaGQLavkSz8bDTVnjwHR2C-wt_6uf4DcB6FT1Q9SIBVctUs24Zj9oh9dg/s4032/IMG_5600~photo.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUYuxQt1U-dGlvsbUhcA8QBC1KSsuu55qEd-fn9274jK6YAgzB_ipjCI27RSvdnrxtDF7n7VgbDcXs5RdhAAX5KojfX6SOW-XpGeWoEgkBFkBYjs-dRBuPVaxkqaGQLavkSz8bDTVnjwHR2C-wt_6uf4DcB6FT1Q9SIBVctUs24Zj9oh9dg/s320/IMG_5600~photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p style="color: #c15611; font-weight: bold;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 400;">I cycled the <a href="https://torino-nice.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Torino Nice Rally</a> in September 2022. </span></p><p style="color: #c15611; font-weight: bold;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 400;">I took ten days to complete my ride, which was deliberately slow, as no one ever returned from such an amazing adventure saying "I wish I'd gone faster", it was always the reverse.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">You can see the Short videos I shot and edited during the ride, and the more considered videos produced afterwards<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi_RyC9IgDU3t9f5-v4_l2xcBWVWtBRmr" target="_blank"> in this YouTube Playlist. </a></span></span></div><p><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">This is the third blog post outlining stuff I wish I'd known before heading off to ride this thing; about the route, about travelling to the start and from the finish, and the kit I used along the way. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">If you find the videos helpful, please subscribe and check out the other adventure cycling videos on the channel.</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bike - Sonder Camino Ti V1</b></span></h2><p></p><p></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Ride what you brung’, is the attitude of the TNR. The bike must be comfortable, and ideally, it would have clearances to allow tyres greater than 45mm in width. The new Camino does have such clearances, but the first generation maxed out at 43mm in the front forks. Wider tyres would be more comfortable and faster. But don’t go with heavy tread or they’ll drag on the frequent road sections.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Wheels: <a href="https://www.huntbikewheels.com/products/4season-gravel-wheelset"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc</span></a></span>. Good but I could never get the rear wheel to stay up tubeless.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Tyres:</span> Panracer Gravel King SK TLC Folding 27.5” / 1.75” Black/Black. I find Gravel Kings to be the best all-around tyre I’ve used, rolling well on road and off in everything except the deepest mud. I switched from tan side walls to rubber (black/black) which is heavier but gave better protection against tyre cuts on the flinty rock.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Tubes:</span> Most TNR riders run tubeless, but I didn’t for three reasons. Firstly, I had issues keeping the rear wheel inflated regardless of the tyre. Secondly, I felt flying with latex sealant in the tyres risked splashing that gunk all over the extra kit in my bike box. Thirdly, the blogs and stories I read indicated even tubeless riders suffered punctures which necessitated the use of a tube. </span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started with a butyl tube front and a <a href="https://www.tubolito.com/">Tubolito</a> MTB tube rear - and ended the same way too with no punctures, having inflated both to just under 40psi. Anticipating a host of punctures, I carried 2 spare butyl and 4 spare <a href="https://www.tubolito.com/">Tubolito</a> (given to me for the TNR) which are superb because they’re so much lighter and take up less space. Where I carried the butyl tubes was a mistake because on the one occasion I removed a tube to help another rider, I found the valve had torn from the rubber (see video). In future, I’d take only <a href="https://www.tubolito.com/">Tubolito</a> which are excellent.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Pump:</span> anticipating lots of punctures I wanted a good pump and the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive track pump with gauge was the best, although mounted on the bottle cages it occasionally slipped down and caught the crank. In hindsight, having had no punctures, I didn’t need such a weighty pump and feel a Pocket Rocket would have done the job.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Gearing:</span> My Camino is set up 1by and I dropped from a 42T to 34T chainring, then boosted the cassette from 11-42 to 11-46. I hoped to get 11-50 but the gears didn’t shift smoothly. I had been warned that, on the TNR, you’re either cranking slowly uphill or freewheeling down, so you can’t gear low enough. This is correct, and in hindsight, a 30T chainring would have been better.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Handlebars:</span> Redshift Sports have sent me a lot of their products to review on my channel, but that doesn’t influence my opinion. Their <a href="https://amzn.to/3LB50Yh">Kitchen Sink bars</a> are excellent, especially with the <a href="https://amzn.to/3qZuzZK">cruise control drops</a>. Those drops are not as low as normal bars and I often used them for climbing and descending to give a different hand position. Paired with their <a href="https://amzn.to/3LwKTKW">Shock-stop stem Pro</a>, which does an amazing job at cutting trail buzz (I have something like arthritis in my thumbs), it was the perfect combination for the Torino Nice Rally. Now Redshift has released a small bag (<a href="https://amzn.to/3fb1wQf">Kitchen Sink Handlebar Bag</a>) that sits inside the front loop of the bars (see video) with a computer mount, the ‘cockpit’ is pretty much the ultimate bike packing rig. Storing my snacks in this bag meant I could, in hindsight, have done away with both stem bags. </span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Pedals:</span> Sonder Jekyll by AlpKit. SPD on one side, flat but with some grip points on the other, these are great touring pedals. Flip to the non-SPD side when the trail gets a bit dodgy to avoid a prat-fall.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Lights:</span> Much as I like Exposure Lights at home, I went with Cateye for this because, unlike Exposure, they charge with a simple USB 2 lead that I used for other items. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Sqb4oU">One front light</a>, helmet mounted so I could direct the beam where I needed to see, and two rear lights, <a href="https://amzn.to/3dAmwzq">one rechargeable</a> one using regular AAA batteries as a spare. Rear lights are a legal requirement in tunnels and a safety aid on road climbs where the bright sun and deep shade from trees can make it hard for drivers to see us. Almost every local cyclist in the mountains had a flashing rear taillight.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Mudguards: </span>Many TNR riders didn’t have them but I used <a href="https://amzn.to/2Q7mXTe">these</a>. In my <a href="https://youtu.be/LiLH-mZAosQ">video/podcast with TNR creator James Olsen</a> he stressed their importance when riding in cold, Alpine rain. We were very lucky with the weather, which is a point to which I’ll keep returning.</span></p>
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<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Bottle cages: <a href="https://amzn.to/3fctZoR"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Zefal Pulse Z2 side entry cages</span></a></span> allowed me to carry two 750ml bottles tucked under the Apidura frame bag. These were great finds.</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(193, 86, 17); color: #c15611;">Saddle: </span></span>Specialized Riva. Just before the ride my existing saddle failed so I swapped this one from my road bike. Somewhere on the TNR, something nibbled it, so once home I tried to replace it. I range Specialized who told me "It's such old technology, there's nothing like it in our range". So I've replaced it with an SDG Bel-Air RL Cro-mo Rail Saddle in Black.</p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/THkEHtTTpHA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<p style="color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rear pack - Apidura Expedition 17L</span></b></h2>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably the most popular rear pack on the TNR, I reinforced mine with gaffe tape and plastic (from a milk bottle) to stop the saddle blots from wearing a hole. Here’s what was inside:</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Foil emergency bivi bag:</span> I took this in case temperatures were lower than expected. After my two nights camped I planned to ditch it, but gave it to Laurens (he’s in the video) who forgot his sleeping mat, on the basis he could ly on the foil and it might reflect body heat away from the ground.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Sleeping mat: </span>AlpKit Cloudbase. Few inflatable sleeping pads are comfortable unless you can sleep flat on your back, spreading the weight. Side-sleepers like me will find their hips dig into the ground. The Cloudbase was a good compromise of weight, size and price although the R rating is poor.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Tent:</span> <a href="https://www.terra-nova.co.uk/products/laser-compact-1/">Terra-Nova Laser Compact 1</a>. A superb mountain tent for one person, the ‘compact’ element reflects the shorter pole length which makes it perfect for backpacking. I’ve used Terra Nova kit for decades and know I can trust their tents. I was highly impressed with the vents on either end which allowed airflow and cut internal condensation to almost zero. It takes a few tries to pitch tightly, but it’s a fantastic modern tent. I was a little sad when I had to send it back. In hindsight, I could have managed with a simple bivi bag. AlpKit Hunka bags were popular, as were OR Helium hooped bivi. I had a Terra Nova Jupiter Light Bivi. But as I’ve said, we were exceptionally lucky with the weather. Had we experienced any torrential afternoon storms, camping high would have been a cold, soggy experience.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Sleeping Bag:</span> <a href="https://rab.equipment/uk/">Rab Neutrino 200</a>. Loaned to me for the TNR, I initially asked for the 400 because I expected valley temperatures to be freezing, so much colder at altitude. Watching the forecasts in advance, it was clear we’d have much warmer nights, so I switched to the Rab 200 and it was ideal. I slept out with no tent at 1000m, while at 2500m I just added my down jacket and hat. The bag compressed much more than its stuff-sack suggests.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Warm Clothes: </span>My dry bag of warm clothes contained the following items; warm running tights, a Torm merino long sleeve cycling jersey, a hat and some sealskin socks.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Waterproof jacket:</span> The OMM Aether won a host of awards and was then discontinued. Not specifically for cycling, but with a long enough tail, the hood, cut and weight of this jacket felt tough enough for bad Alpine weather. I added an extra reflective patch on the back.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Spare bibs:</span> I made the mistake of taking only one pair of cycling bibs which I planned to wash and dry each night I wasn’t camped. This proved too difficult in (or outside) refuges so I bought a second pair en route.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Reflector:</span> A few riders had ‘safety pizzas’ - high viz triangles that looked (a bit) like pizzas, dangling from their rear packs. I couldn’t find one so I made a rear, flappy reflector from some fabric, tape and elastic.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Frame pack - Apidura Expedition 5.3L</span></b></h2>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A good compromise which gave plenty of space and still allowed me to carry two large water bottles in the side-entry cages.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">The left side</span> had the tent poles and pegs plus electrolyte tabs, extra straps in case stuff snapped, and a <a href="https://amzn.to/3BAE2vo">Personal Locator Beacon</a> for emergencies.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">The right side</span> had all I’d need while riding, including; GoLite waterproof trousers; Decathlon shell over-mitts; a tiny packable rucksack (not really needed); a Monkeysee high-vis harness; windproof Gillet; snood; knee and arm warmers plus thin gloves and track-mitts for descending. I tucked in anti-bacterial wipes (for cleaning myself) hand sanitiser, a face mask (still required in some places), <a href="https://amzn.to/3O4Skfy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slipstream chamois cream</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/42w1shP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cicalafate skin-repair cream</a> I bought en route.</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stem bags - Alpkit</span></b></h2>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn’t use them well and they probably weren’t needed. The left one contained a 500ml bottle (my third bottle) into which I decanted Coke or Orangina for a cold sugar hit on long climbs. Curled around the bottom were two <a href="https://amzn.to/3fB4dL9" target="_blank">Hip-lok Z loks</a>. The right stem back was packed with energy bars, many of which I brought back home having carried through the Alps! There’s almost always somewhere to buy food. The Redshift Kitchen Sink Handlebar Bag was a much better snack solution, albeit smaller.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Front bag - Alpkit</span></b></h2>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t remember the name of this bag but it’s discontinued, replaced (I think) by the Deluge. It’s flatter than many front bags and, once lightly stuffed and covered with a jersey, makes a decent pillow.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Warm jacket: </span>PHD Vertex down. PHD made a limited run of these a few years ago and I treated myself. The size of an orange and less than the weight of a plum, it lofts amazingly and keeps me very warm. I know down isn’t useful when wet, but that’s why I have a larger rain jacket to fit over the top. This boosts a sleeping bag by at least 5 degrees.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Hotel clothes bag:</span> a dHb merino t-shirt and incredibly light tracksuit bottoms, plus a pair of socks. Toiletries and dietary supplements (iron complex, glucosamine/chondroitin, marine collagen).</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">First aid bag: </span>plasters, dressings, Compeed, electrical tape, painkillers. I carried toilet paper and toothbrush/paste in here because it was handy.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Electronics bag:</span> batteries and micro SD cards, charging cables, USB wall plug.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Top tube bag: </span>AlpKit, again discontinued. Powerbanks, phone and Garmin cables, second USB wall plug, all in a plastic bag. Chamois cream.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #c15611;">Rear top-tube bag:</span> Apidura expedition top tube pack 1L. Multi-tool, <a href="https://amzn.to/3SEUulk" target="_blank">small Leatherman</a>, tyre boots, tyre patches, Tubolito inner tubes (1 MTB, 3x CX), brake pads (I changed one set), spare SPD cleats, tiny lube bottle </span></p>
<p style="color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Worn/carried on the person most days</span></b></h2>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rapha lightweight Brevet jersey - chosen because it's lightweight merino with plenty of pockets including a big zipped one separate from the rear 3. </span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3fAFS8c" target="_blank">Craft lightweight base layer</a> - easy to wash and quick to dry, soaked up all my sweat</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Passport and wallet in big rear zipped pocket (which is why I like this jersey)</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3RtA3Xo" target="_blank">Sony Z1 camera</a> plus mini tripod - for stills and backup video camera</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">iPhone 13 Pro plus compact for filming - brilliant phone for filming</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Headphones (not used)</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3dYphut" target="_blank">GoPro Hero 10 Black</a> with <a href="https://amzn.to/3rleKwH" target="_blank">Windslayer</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3e0UH3s" target="_blank">Joby tripod</a> - was struggling towards the end of the ride and has been sent back to GoPro for replacement</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pactimo cap - overpriced</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3E9lQfb" target="_blank">Giro Helios Spherical helmet</a> - with MIPS. Giro helmets fit me and, while expensive, they're worth it.</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3QZPshR" target="_blank">Darn Tough lightweight merino socks</a> - I was given </span>some of these and they were fantastic. Hard-wearing, fast drying, a thin pair for during the day and a warm pair to sleep in were a great combo. Given to me for this ride.</p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3dv5tyy" target="_blank">Giro Rumble MTB Touring shoes</a> - it took me a while to find the right shoes. I wanted SPDs but with good Vibram soles for hiking. We had to take shoes off to go upstairs in the Gardetta Refuge and I noticed several pairs of these. I approached Giro's importers and they sent me a pair for the TNR. Worked well with the </span>Jekyll pedals.</p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html" target="_blank">Part 1 What You Need To Know</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-2-getting-to-start.html" target="_blank">Part 2 Getting to the Start and from the Finish</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-3-kit-list-what.html" target="_blank">Part 3 Kit List, What Worked and What Didn't </a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/10/security-on-torino-nice-rally.html" target="_blank">Part 4 Security</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2023/03/torino-nice-rally-pt-5-preparation.html" target="_blank">Part 5 Preparation & Training </a><br /> <br /></span></div></div>
<p style="color: #343434; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For background on the Torino Nice Rally, watch my interview below with the organiser James Olsen or <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/954676/10759750" target="_blank">download the Podcast version</a>. I've also recorded <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/954676/11413405" target="_blank">a podcast about my ride</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p style="color: #343434; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LiLH-mZAosQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-11086794093199275142022-09-26T13:44:00.006+01:002023-03-13T15:55:20.188+00:00Torino Nice Rally 2 - Getting to the Start and from the Finish<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXHvufgIPQJQwC-dPGgN6BNXxLkA2nSA8mzb3gLs1RarBkEdUInUASEH5sRxYA61fXJ4c3_EFuXaJBfHybAKPmjsoKYjguwKv2snAH30R9F3F6SP9cPRGukYVSyHkT0F5VQ0sQe7XtQgEYQHroCHud5O8gRT1ay7UAg7F1Pl0zntB-qQ5ng/s5472/DSC00128.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXHvufgIPQJQwC-dPGgN6BNXxLkA2nSA8mzb3gLs1RarBkEdUInUASEH5sRxYA61fXJ4c3_EFuXaJBfHybAKPmjsoKYjguwKv2snAH30R9F3F6SP9cPRGukYVSyHkT0F5VQ0sQe7XtQgEYQHroCHud5O8gRT1ay7UAg7F1Pl0zntB-qQ5ng/w400-h225/DSC00128.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Organisers of cycling events, an environmentally aware bunch, increasingly insist their competitors reach the start without using aircraft.<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;">The <a href="https://torino-nice.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Torino Nice Rally</a> might go this way, although the organiser James Olsen tells me he wants to keep it rideable in 5-days (just!) so people can tackle it with only a week off work. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During my ride, I met people from around Europe and the UK who had travelled to the start by train and bike bus. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The challenge of travelling that way from Scotland proved too great for me. Some groups of friends drive. At least one cyclist rode all the way there from the UK, and presumably, home again. </span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hardy souls do this ride. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can see Short videos I shot and edited during the ride, and the more considered videos produced afterwards</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi_RyC9IgDU3t9f5-v4_l2xcBWVWtBRmr" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"> in this YouTube Playlist. </a></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Assuming you are going to fly with your bike you immediately face the question of ‘open-jaw’ (ie into Turin, out of Nice) or in and out of just one of those airports. If you’re flying from a London airport you have the luxury of choice. Elsewhere it’s limited, with flights to Turin from Scotland and the North of England requiring a plane change in Gatwick with the associated potential for bikes to go astray, not to mention additional CO2 emissions with the extra take-offs and landings of four flights in total rather than two. </span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fortunately, there are direct Edinburgh-Nice flights, so the choice was made for me.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then the question is hard-shell bike box or cardboard? You have no choice if you’re flying into Turin and out from Nice, it has to be cardboard (unless you're brave enough to ship your empty box between the two cities). Be warned, bike shops experience high demand for their cardboard boxes in mid-September when the TNR riders hit town. Nice airport sells cardboard bike boxes but, by all accounts, these are very flimsy and need reinforcing with tape to survive the journey. Quite what protection they offer your bike is unclear, but small bags have reportedly dropped out of holes torn in the cardboard.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you take a laid-back approach to all this and you’re happy to arrive with no real plan, then you’re much cooler than me. I like things nailed down in advance; bookings made, hotels sorted, and transport agreed upon. </span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having made a few mistakes, I’m fairly sure I now know the best way I'd want to travel to and from the TNR.</span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My recommended plan</span></h4>
<ul>
<li style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fly into and out of Nice airport and transport your bike in a hard-shell bike box. If you’d like <a href="https://youtu.be/T4eGAeyo-6A">tips on flying with a bike check out this video</a>. </span></li></ul>
<ul>
<li style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">E-mail airport hotels and ask whether they will store your bike box in exchange for you booking two nights, one outward and one return. <a href="https://ibisniceaeroportpromenadedesanglais.com-hotel.com/">Ibis Budget Nice Airport Hotel</a> was happy to do this free of charge. The photo shows my box behind reception waiting to go into their luggage storage. I also did this when I flew to Bordeaux in March.</span></li>
</ul>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIlzWBjbSY-GvoBrsnp3vM5_-_SuQ-l-EzJkmsoxThAh_C7DCUOh_2IOJRAkFxTtJHpI32d9KE2IxtsTUpB6XvDlCdvfB2pCTW9Lfm4lvDHsGUprTeRFgJb1HtrwNUanFsnuc7L6VqQKkSzIjckt0B_eDN_3x4ArFussmt_Mh8IGja1x1tA/s4032/IMG_5530~photo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIlzWBjbSY-GvoBrsnp3vM5_-_SuQ-l-EzJkmsoxThAh_C7DCUOh_2IOJRAkFxTtJHpI32d9KE2IxtsTUpB6XvDlCdvfB2pCTW9Lfm4lvDHsGUprTeRFgJb1HtrwNUanFsnuc7L6VqQKkSzIjckt0B_eDN_3x4ArFussmt_Mh8IGja1x1tA/w320-h240/IMG_5530~photo.jpeg" title="Bikebox behind reception to put into their luggage room" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nice Airport T2 International is at one end of a <a href="https://www.frenchrivieratraveller.com/Nice/Transport/Tramway.html">tram line</a> that runs through the city. This is a good way to transport a bike box provided you’re not travelling at rush hour. The first two stops (T1 and Grand Arenas) are free, and the tram drivers are used to people with hefty luggage, but get into the back carriage just to be sure. </span></li></ul><br style="color: #1a1a1a;" /><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8_m7WRaip5UjSjtc_wWwggennia7BamqDTrxJ9ccoOi55ydUXpJyrPoGlsP8l4zn0StmEg1nI2TjDAOdQX7iz3CjueCQ4omz-qBCMgMKqjvRDjikHkCjVDL7M3AQbelx9rjROON1oGT1RGt9n47go80G5WSe9t9gejS1mIXeMS0abP2XTw/s4032/IMG_6611~photo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8_m7WRaip5UjSjtc_wWwggennia7BamqDTrxJ9ccoOi55ydUXpJyrPoGlsP8l4zn0StmEg1nI2TjDAOdQX7iz3CjueCQ4omz-qBCMgMKqjvRDjikHkCjVDL7M3AQbelx9rjROON1oGT1RGt9n47go80G5WSe9t9gejS1mIXeMS0abP2XTw/s320/IMG_6611~photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;">I only discovered this on the return, having trundled the box for +30mins to the hotel on my way out. The most significant distance is between the two airport terminals, T2-T1, whereas T1 to the Ibis Budget Hotel is a relatively short hop.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;"> </span><div><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkKCFHYCHlKqkcYT3hwj_ENywipu5i1slBxodhNdh8MWgUMldYc_yiPczC2L5Zmow3dH48BXp-Nhw498Z9YgVp1ff5_D5lLHwYePUC3KWzq_hy9CJg_1UHja37YIwVVyfqXrd-3VJ2QiWXAIhwZmHgzEiKrRtJjS-nvS_M8FGgegJFW_FQQ/s4032/IMG_6613~photo%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkKCFHYCHlKqkcYT3hwj_ENywipu5i1slBxodhNdh8MWgUMldYc_yiPczC2L5Zmow3dH48BXp-Nhw498Z9YgVp1ff5_D5lLHwYePUC3KWzq_hy9CJg_1UHja37YIwVVyfqXrd-3VJ2QiWXAIhwZmHgzEiKrRtJjS-nvS_M8FGgegJFW_FQQ/s320/IMG_6613~photo%202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span><div><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span></div><ul>
<li style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of the airport hotels are in Arenas, but the closest stop for the Ibis Budget is Airport Terminal 1 from where it’s an easy 10min trundle, assuming your bike box has wheels. </span></li></ul><br style="color: #1a1a1a;" /><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH1GBjQBgZlicdLeVUla6vc6R0WBztwqzpAMmauiJwWFJCuU9W6XQNwDyETTH0Wgc-aFlQ-Gu5TlAAg75UMi6iS22XzAwTElKiS1qcBlKeleTAvXsplyuFAiaLdf1gaN3DwdWpWsCdjbcHS86Wg2eiG-Wvl6m3ztvmc25UIguNUE7qF0JGQ/s4032/view.jpeg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH1GBjQBgZlicdLeVUla6vc6R0WBztwqzpAMmauiJwWFJCuU9W6XQNwDyETTH0Wgc-aFlQ-Gu5TlAAg75UMi6iS22XzAwTElKiS1qcBlKeleTAvXsplyuFAiaLdf1gaN3DwdWpWsCdjbcHS86Wg2eiG-Wvl6m3ztvmc25UIguNUE7qF0JGQ/s320/view.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span>
<ul>
<li style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The easiest way I found to transport a bike and rider to Turin is <a href="https://www.flixbus.co.uk/">FlixBus</a>. Bikes either hang on the back or go inside the luggage compartment, and you book the bike place when you book your ticket, although you don’t know how it’ll be carried. You’ll need all the bags off the bike if it’s going to hang off the back, so a big, disposable carrier bag is practical into which you stuff that luggage. </span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEige0rp9OdlPIxC5UXYiTHTVySXN5Hp8BUGaqOcNC-4pcwBreP-RgCENLXl67PY4btIXaJfbeoKfpuBc6DvSsuR1P-8ydNxKVtWZwDLbTBLJ9I-POiQtqNXlqp09gGfSkn_6mNghJxYyzUrwfK2L3jHZzt3qJbU56FEwWbZf2aCmrLMn4NKyg/s4032/IMG_5623~photo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEige0rp9OdlPIxC5UXYiTHTVySXN5Hp8BUGaqOcNC-4pcwBreP-RgCENLXl67PY4btIXaJfbeoKfpuBc6DvSsuR1P-8ydNxKVtWZwDLbTBLJ9I-POiQtqNXlqp09gGfSkn_6mNghJxYyzUrwfK2L3jHZzt3qJbU56FEwWbZf2aCmrLMn4NKyg/s320/IMG_5623~photo.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were no bike spaces from Nice when I booked, so I took the train from Nice to Ventimiglia, stayed one night, and then took the early bus from there to Turin. Direct would obviously be preferable because the Nice-Ventimiglia train gets very busy with tourists heading to Monaco. There was no chance to use the bike hangers with people sitting directly underneath and I couldn't even get onto the train I had booked with SNCF, despite having than bike pace. </span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PZxovr0cLURh5OyHUcuchRIci5haBWj9af2lB_1Wr8GqvOmHxtuQA61Vd9kon5F_a6CeprwWQGYBtS7TWQe1WHLAy5LRvZrsufALglfeI3Ini2uQWZKMAjZh1adlts0OzgJZBa6DOZ3t0E_rO1SCWmmeAWY1Qsk99FeSep_mE2PQfom-2w/s4032/IMG_5572~photo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PZxovr0cLURh5OyHUcuchRIci5haBWj9af2lB_1Wr8GqvOmHxtuQA61Vd9kon5F_a6CeprwWQGYBtS7TWQe1WHLAy5LRvZrsufALglfeI3Ini2uQWZKMAjZh1adlts0OzgJZBa6DOZ3t0E_rO1SCWmmeAWY1Qsk99FeSep_mE2PQfom-2w/s320/IMG_5572~photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;"> People tell me trains are an easy option but I found otherwise. I was told Italian National trains take bikes as they are, while regional trains require them to be disassembled - or was that the other way around? Either way, I found the websites impenetrable. By contrast, the FlixBus website and App were a paragon of simplicity and clarity. </span></div><br style="color: #1a1a1a;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wzD5CY_eb3CdtmxmUhXyEv0M6SA9mZPmW_sYIU77G1o-MYG967uLwecKmc9qdEClaJyIMx-dV8CcNwnz4xAfE_0h_nmYscdGRWWozqLMDSrid1FDAy9JY9Vg_fM5WiZmDMMWoYaJAXpiPer5dItLgi4OHjlsd2cli-coG8Y_V-na8BSEeg/s4032/IMG_5566~photo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wzD5CY_eb3CdtmxmUhXyEv0M6SA9mZPmW_sYIU77G1o-MYG967uLwecKmc9qdEClaJyIMx-dV8CcNwnz4xAfE_0h_nmYscdGRWWozqLMDSrid1FDAy9JY9Vg_fM5WiZmDMMWoYaJAXpiPer5dItLgi4OHjlsd2cli-coG8Y_V-na8BSEeg/s320/IMG_5566~photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><ul>
</ul>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s it. The rest is down to you. My analysis of the kit I used, what worked and what didn't, is next.</span></p><p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html" target="_blank">Part 1 What You Need To Know</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-2-getting-to-start.html" target="_blank">Part 2 Getting to the Start and from the Finish</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-3-kit-list-what.html" target="_blank">Part 3 Kit List, What Worked and What Didn't </a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/10/security-on-torino-nice-rally.html" target="_blank">Part 4 Security</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2023/03/torino-nice-rally-pt-5-preparation.html" target="_blank">Part 5 Preparation & Training </a><br /> <br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For background on the Torino Nice Rally, watch my interview below with the organiser James Olsen or <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/954676/10759750" target="_blank">download the Podcast version</a>. I've also recorded <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/954676/11413405" target="_blank">a podcast about my ride</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LiLH-mZAosQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div></div>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-89620040471587564602022-09-25T15:25:00.014+01:002023-07-01T17:55:08.003+01:00Torino Nice Rally 1 - What You Need To Know<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2XyzKlMjKcMTGZv1Lnks_b28RFndZ4RbspwJNXjBv2eEm93Omq8N6Z6U7ev4c7il3Hi0Xx2IyRAcNZysjPICJUwds-xjx3bmfrTCux7ovgGd3ktBDV80XJQrpJ-mVyDg_ikoL3V2gtSvYPpIWazM_gZHDv3Cz-9VRrzGNyv2u64J5CSuow/s5472/DSC00071.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2XyzKlMjKcMTGZv1Lnks_b28RFndZ4RbspwJNXjBv2eEm93Omq8N6Z6U7ev4c7il3Hi0Xx2IyRAcNZysjPICJUwds-xjx3bmfrTCux7ovgGd3ktBDV80XJQrpJ-mVyDg_ikoL3V2gtSvYPpIWazM_gZHDv3Cz-9VRrzGNyv2u64J5CSuow/w400-h225/DSC00071.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">At home in Scotland, </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found it hard to get my head around the nature of the <a href="https://torino-nice.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Torino Nice Rally</a>.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Now I think of it as four, high-level Italian military gravel roads (Strada Assietta, Strada Cannoni, Altiplano della Gardetta and Via del Sale) linked together by a series of road cols, most of which either have an off-road element or alternative.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">There… I squeezed it into one sentence.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">I could </span><i style="color: #1a1a1a;">not</i><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> have done that a month ago. You can see Short videos I shot and edited during the ride, and the more considered videos produced afterwards<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi_RyC9IgDU3t9f5-v4_l2xcBWVWtBRmr" target="_blank"> in this YouTube Playlist. </a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously, the maps help, and you’ll find both <a href="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1801324/-my-torino-nice-rally-route">my route</a> and the 2022 <a href="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1676712/-tnr-2022-official-route">Official Route</a> on Komoot, but they don’t tell anywhere near the full story. Of course, that’s the point. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="580" scrolling="no" src="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1801324/embed" width="100%"></iframe><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You should write your own story, ride your own ride, and live your own adventure. Of course, you could always watch my videos too.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br />But since a little help doesn’t go amiss, I thought I’d set out some thoughts regarding transport and equipment, the things you might stress about during the planning stage. Once you get there, it’ll be down to you.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />If you’d like to see how I coped, check out my preparation videos and the videos of my ride including the after-thoughts about equipment choice. The first is below and you'll find everything else here.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the coming posts, I'll publish my thoughts on the best way to travel to and from the TNR plus I'll give a detailed kit list and analyse what worked well, and what didn't.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html" target="_blank">Part 1 What You Need To Know</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-2-getting-to-start.html" target="_blank">Part 2 Getting to the Start and from the Finish</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-3-kit-list-what.html" target="_blank">Part 3 Kit List, What Worked and What Didn't </a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/10/security-on-torino-nice-rally.html" target="_blank">Part 4 Security</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2023/03/torino-nice-rally-pt-5-preparation.html" target="_blank">Part 5 Preparation & Training </a><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For background on the Torino Nice Rally, watch my interview below with the organiser James Olsen or <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/954676/10759750" target="_blank">download the Podcast version</a>. I've also recorded <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/954676/11413405" target="_blank">a podcast about my ride</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LiLH-mZAosQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-65496590684700985032022-09-12T15:23:00.002+01:002023-09-12T15:25:17.020+01:00Privacy Policy - Sunart Media & Always Another Adventure<p> <span class="s1" style="font-family: Calibri; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px;">Always Another Adventure / Sunart Media: Privacy Policy</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Calibri; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 13px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>Our contact details<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Name: Simon Willis<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Address: 4 Upper Scotstown, Strontian, PH36 4JB<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UK</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Phone Number: 44 7595 250213</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>E-mail: alwaysanotheradventure@outlook.com</p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>The type of personal information we collect<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">We currently collect and process the following information:</p><ul class="ul1"><li class="li4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: Symbol; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Google AdSense / Analytics might place advertising related cookies</li><li class="li4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: Symbol; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>When you buy a download, I am sent your email address</li><li class="li4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: Symbol; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>When you buy a DVD I collect your email address and postal address</li></ul><p class="p6" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><b>How we get the personal information and why we have it</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:</p><ul class="ul1"><li class="li8" style="color: #fb0007; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s4" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Sales delivery</li></ul><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">We use the information that you have given us in order to <span class="s5" style="color: #fb0007;">Sales delivery</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">We never share this information with anyone.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information are:</p><p class="p9" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>(a) Your consent. You are able to remove your consent at any time. You can do this by contacting a</b><span class="s5" style="color: #fb0007;"><b>lwaysanotheradventure@outlook.com</b></span></p><p class="p10" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><b> </b></p><p class="p10" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><b>How we store your personal information<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Your information is securely stored.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p8" style="color: #fb0007; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s6" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span class="s7" style="color: black;">We keep </span>your mailing address and email address <span class="s7" style="color: black;">for </span>two years. <span class="s7" style="color: black;">We will then dispose your information by </span>deletion<span class="s7" style="color: black;">.</span></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span class="s8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><b>Your data protection rights</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Under data protection law, you have rights including:</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>Your right of access</b> - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>Your right to rectification</b> - You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>Your right to erasure</b> - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>Your right to restriction of processing</b> - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>Your right to object to processing</b> - You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><b>Your right to data portability</b> - You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you.</p><p class="p11" style="color: #fb0007; font-family: Calibri; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s9" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Please contact us at</span><span class="s7" style="color: black;"> </span>alwaysanotheradventure@outlookcom<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>44 7595250213<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Simon Willis, 4 Upper Scotstown, Strontian PH36 4JB <span class="s9" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">if you wish to make a request.</span></p><p class="p12" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p13" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p13" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p13" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: Georgia; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><b>How to complain</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to us at <span class="s10" style="color: #fb0007; font-family: Calibri; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">alwaysanotheradventure@outlookcom<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>+44 7595250213<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Simon Willis, 4 Upper Scotstown, Strontian PH36 4JB</span>.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">The ICO’s address: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p14" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Information Commissioner’s Office</p><p class="p14" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wycliffe House</p><p class="p14" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Water Lane</p><p class="p14" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wilmslow</p><p class="p14" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cheshire</p><p class="p14" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">SK9 5AF</p><p class="p15" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Helpline number: 0303 123 1113</p><p class="p16" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="s7" style="color: black;">ICO website: <a href="https://www.ico.org.uk"><span class="s11" style="color: blue;">https://www.ico.org.uk</span></a></span></p><p class="p12" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Calibri; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-82628503553327423792022-02-03T21:37:00.001+00:002022-02-03T21:37:35.878+00:00Loch Ness 360 Bikepacking <p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<p></p><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLZ-kiTaUUAIeRFBW77HVTmuF28fpPdUdKybFHZKb0fsoxhhvpscPE1Qlbp-roJdINY9AtFVBwjaX-j69mu3wR6pE4XTT65h1FIvU4LtnB0SUaRmOSd6UXW7PV8ggCEy6IYa9MMV73JnKU9y-vUMseYK83p-JUgyl4XRMrm5319-SekW1uQw=s952" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="952" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLZ-kiTaUUAIeRFBW77HVTmuF28fpPdUdKybFHZKb0fsoxhhvpscPE1Qlbp-roJdINY9AtFVBwjaX-j69mu3wR6pE4XTT65h1FIvU4LtnB0SUaRmOSd6UXW7PV8ggCEy6IYa9MMV73JnKU9y-vUMseYK83p-JUgyl4XRMrm5319-SekW1uQw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It has become one of Scotland’s great o</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">ff</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">-road cycling trails. Yet planning a ride can be tricky, partly due to
the fickle weather, but mainly due to the mix of surfaces, from tarmac to mud, made trail to loose stones. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Most cyclists wonder, ‘what bike should I use’? We tried to answer this question in our videos, so I’d
recommend watching all three. Based on the terrain you see, choose the bike to suit your ability and
whether you’re carrying luggage.</span></span></div></div></span></span></div><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">
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</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Most of the trail was made for walkers, something you’ll quickly appreciate while trying to climb out of any
of the towns and villages along the north coast of the loch where the route follows the Great Glen Way, one
of Scotland’s long distance routes running from Fort William to Inverness. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Incidentally, the trail is best done
clockwise if you plan to use a luggage-moving service, as most hikers travel in this direction.
</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Until a few years ago there was no way to connect the Great Glen Way to the South Loch Ness Trail,
another walker’s route, which started at Loch Tar</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">ff </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">and ran to Inverness. The so called ‘missing link’ to Fort
Augustus was partly funded by SSE’s Stronelairg wind farm (which o</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">ff</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">ers some excellent gravel biking if you
have energy to spare). Joining-up the two trails created this new one which circumnavigates one of
Scotland’s most iconic landmarks. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QhVpf2vm0so" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Loch Ness Challenge is a series of competitive events on the trail; hikes, cycling and running. Check
the website for details. </span><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://lochness360.com/lochnesschallenge/" target="_blank">Lochness360.com</a>
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The races all go anti-clockwise and that’s how we rode the trail - we think that’s best. However, Ticket To
Ride Highlands’ self-guided route goes clockwise because it gives an easier start (and links with baggage
moving services). </span><a href="https://www.tickettoridehighlands.co.uk/ " target="_blank"><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;">Tickettoridehighlands.co.uk/</span></a></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If you’d like a guide on your journey, we rode with Kev from 42 Cycling (he’s in the second video). The
former soldier knows everyone around here and regularly eases the visits of cyclists from Europe and
beyond. </span><a href="https://42cycling.com/ " target="_blank"><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;">42cycling.com</span></a></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Some cyclists set themselves the challenge of blasting around the trail in under 24 hours. A relaxed trip
would take four days with overnight stops in Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus and Whitebridge. We rode it in
three days in short days of mid-January, breaking the trip in Invermoriston and Whitebridge. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="580" scrolling="no" src="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1409267/embed" width="80%"></iframe></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 700;">Where to stay
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">When looking for accommodation, </span><span style="color: #e4af0a; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.visitinvernesslochness.com/">VisitInvernessLochNess.com/</a> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">is the best starting point. This
local tourist association help to run the Loch Ness 360 trail and hosted our accommodation and meals
while we cycled. They found us three excellent places to stay.
</span></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700;">Inverness: </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Glen Mhor Hotel is central, comfortable, and allowed us to take bikes into our rooms.
</span><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.glen-mhor.com/" target="_blank">www.glen-mhor.com/</a>
</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700;">Fort Augustus: </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sam and Glenn run the the cycle friendly Beaufort House Cafe and B&B. </span><span style="color: #e4af0a; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https:// www.beauforthouselochness.com/" target="_blank">www.beauforthouselochness.com/</a> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">They have a bike shed for secure storage.
</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700;">Whitebridge Hotel: </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">An historic building, all wood panels and creaking stairs, the rooms have been
refurbished by Bella and Lesley and the meals are superb. </span><a href="https://whitebridgehotel.co.uk/ " target="_blank"><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;">whitebridgehotel.co.uk</span></a></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700;">Events
</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A series of competitive running, ultra-running and cycling events is organised around the Loch Ness 360
route. Check for latest details: </span><a href="https://lochness360.com/lochnesschallenge/ " target="_blank"><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;">Lochness360.com</span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 700;">Website
</span></span></span>
</span></span></p><p><a href="https://lochness360.com " target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lochness360.com</span></span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 700;">Our mapping
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Komoot Route: </span><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;">https://www.komoot.com/tour/649613784
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ride with GPS: </span><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;">https://ridewithgps.com/trips/82313895
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Direct download: </span><span style="color: #feae00; font-size: 10pt;">https://www.dropbox.com/s/52z003dvx8im2hl/LochNess360.gpx?dl=1
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700;">Thanks to Visit Inverness Loch Ness and Loch Ness 360 for their support
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
</p></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-80577780019270472062022-01-24T15:31:00.005+00:002024-01-24T15:54:38.232+00:00Resources<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfxDBI5qmnfCPbSWr_E9RURZ7NleZh2kJCfp491bLMunzbj7M9XPfZ6n2YZ9LxXbfvJNRfg3YIEw94muLP0TJeqLfmkYu8dhh8NJ9Q-iLRuZJQmHtyXo7thk8ob2sJ0l6G6g2eN3PFnMPQC9j_CbCQJVgl_ZISFltTskrh1AXT9rknReJ9gjB/s3840/On%20Bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfxDBI5qmnfCPbSWr_E9RURZ7NleZh2kJCfp491bLMunzbj7M9XPfZ6n2YZ9LxXbfvJNRfg3YIEw94muLP0TJeqLfmkYu8dhh8NJ9Q-iLRuZJQmHtyXo7thk8ob2sJ0l6G6g2eN3PFnMPQC9j_CbCQJVgl_ZISFltTskrh1AXT9rknReJ9gjB/w640-h360/On%20Bike.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: center;">This is where you'll find links to resources that will help you plan and complete some of the adventures in my videos. You'll hopefully recognise them by the video thumbnail.</h4><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html" target="_blank"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="2522" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFoL_jwYY-0g7WV29M8qyr1Ay4BbMGjFDiMAh3dGiZRJG1Il-k4AElTMsIrNunvRqJ2SvJYHld9d4ZAXwZbrwB6Cms00OMuFgitFYSate_yG1wa5CYPctJZvepCCGe86vSGT_L8G27H_jprDXQLzH1Qc05pDyJchaLjG7Xo6NqxLCOJ3j_R9Y/w400-h224/TNR.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html" target="_blank">TORINO NICE RALLY<br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-caledonia-way.html" target="_blank"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2530" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqofRHiIO7inM8_3yzZGwFQFcHOGxWij9AOoErZ9WEakx7cBnRwmdLMYMQIuhkCU6iEtAn9iwCABwIBRrQYXu1OvvR-OI2VJgqu6_s8o5cxqnilhmKpcSwKps-d8Pf12RowFsue_nSjrWORv28KmaExa4qHUCdjMjzPIbP0m0DowA_aiNJL2Vd/w400-h224/Caledonia%20Way.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-caledonia-way.html" target="_blank">THE CALEDONIA WAY<br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/02/loch-ness-360-bikepacking.html" target="_blank"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="2524" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMqbLXpI3Ix_TyoSbDtATEAg7fl6QrN-R-hJaYaQRbCH3ubTmkDJeXLpGQJY5RnZlCbLERk9-X5JKVKeimol6QPogYx8KprNnfe_BFQ9sXiZSzXljcIw0W7KLSXtREXGipXHkRY2YHvWqf1FytVCHAd-FnnLrBasr2d1tnx5o63Gva1H3KClD/w400-h225/LochNess.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/02/loch-ness-360-bikepacking.html" target="_blank">LOCH NESS 360</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/02/loch-ness-360-bikepacking.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-moray-gravel-triangle-information.html" target="_blank"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="2524" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXf-DsAHIzfYQQ-dfrc8ZnAtcTIGVa5ioYuLZ8F50UlUJd_YJaMYS7Vg41jU6bxLGitiBnsKVgztSUezYpeu1SLrU9TT-Vq3EhYc4oDsMGSM__8qgAzE1OBHnnEeStH4VqTrc1h9Jsrfueyr5CupeuQidueINNg_pC38Fax3kTDyRWeyl_CDNO/w400-h225/Moray.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-moray-gravel-triangle-information.html" target="_blank">THE MORAY GRAVEL WAY<br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXf-DsAHIzfYQQ-dfrc8ZnAtcTIGVa5ioYuLZ8F50UlUJd_YJaMYS7Vg41jU6bxLGitiBnsKVgztSUezYpeu1SLrU9TT-Vq3EhYc4oDsMGSM__8qgAzE1OBHnnEeStH4VqTrc1h9Jsrfueyr5CupeuQidueINNg_pC38Fax3kTDyRWeyl_CDNO/s2524/Moray.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2021/06/kintyre-gravel-bike-way.html" target="_blank"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="2530" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4E_LHqOoDUCmZUzGcdlgxxI5LnwUXwPzy6jDTt3aCxDZFr5Xq8pr-Zd0r1wcXPHZobeqZkKjVAwbgmN-MC0HUpuqzhXRmdoKYAvP3Yi648oChghubvY1TxUpt3Hw1g0JqRcvSV85BmWsd9bMoHXS_mnGnv16n1wf_3V6i-8_Tt10P2RVQMQlD/w400-h225/Kintyre.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://simon-willis.blogspot.com/2021/06/kintyre-gravel-bike-way.html" target="_blank">THE KINTYRE GRAVEL WAY<br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-29502360452039281752021-12-07T15:35:00.001+00:002021-12-07T15:35:19.880+00:00Giveaway - Kitchen Sink Handlebars<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psYUH8qiHPA/Yah7BaSwUzI/AAAAAAAAEHo/Uf_60J3PQvoX-RBCaRCD6L5h5Adc6xyrwCNcBGAsYHQ/s466/Giveaway%2BSquare%2BPromo%2Bcopy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="466" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psYUH8qiHPA/Yah7BaSwUzI/AAAAAAAAEHo/Uf_60J3PQvoX-RBCaRCD6L5h5Adc6xyrwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Giveaway%2BSquare%2BPromo%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>These are the Rules for the giveaway running on the Always Another Adventure YouTube channel from 12th December 2021.<p></p><p>The prize is a used set of Kitchen Sink bikepacking handlebars with front loop by Redsfity sports. </p><p> They are 44mm and you can find full specifications on the <a href="https://redshiftsports.com/products/kitchen-sink-handlebar" target="_blank">Redshift Sports website</a>.<br /></p><p><b>Entry is only open to people with a UK postal address. I'm very sorry about this, but since Brexit, sending stuff overseas is a nightmare. Here's what to do if you'd like to enter.<br /></b></p><p><b>* On Instagram: follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/redshiftsports/" target="_blank">@redshiftsports</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/always_another_adventure/">@always_another_adventure</a></b></p><p><b>* Find and like the giveaway post on @always_another_adventure</b></p><p><b>* Comment on that post, and tag a friend in that comment</b><br /></p><p>The giveaway starts Monday 13th December and ends on Christmas Day 25th December 2021 with the winner drawn randomly and announced on the <a href="https://YouTube.com/alwaysanotheradventure" target="_blank">Always Another Adventure YouTube channel</a> on 31st December, New Year's Eve.</p><p>The giveaway is run in accordance with YouTube and <a href="https://help.instagram.com/179379842258600" target="_blank">Instagram rules.</a> This promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with YouTube, Facebook or Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release YouTube, Facebook and Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.</p><p>To see all of YouTube's competition rules check <a href="https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1620498?hl=en-GB" target="_blank">here</a>. Entries must comply with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/intl/en-GB/howyoutubeworks/policies/community-guidelines/" target="_blank">YouTube community guidelines</a> (I have to include that link). </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><br />Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-2035549409361688612021-11-28T16:00:00.003+00:002021-11-28T16:00:00.212+00:00The Moray Gravel Triangle - information for bikepackers<div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H57w9h5DKik/YWxVpV_eKhI/AAAAAAAAEEI/_zSg8VUbSdcGdluQedHyIOH2rHAX7_v2wCPcBGAYYCw/s1920/Collection.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H57w9h5DKik/YWxVpV_eKhI/AAAAAAAAEEI/_zSg8VUbSdcGdluQedHyIOH2rHAX7_v2wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Collection.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was Sean who devised this route. I’m not shifting blame you understand, I’m giving him the credit, because we ended up with one of the best four-day Autumn rides I’ve done in Scotland.<br /><br />We’re fortunate enough to have some epic bikepacking routes in this country - An Turas Mor, the Highland Trail 550 and Badger Divide to name but three. They take cyclists deep into Scotland’s wild heart, far from villages, roads or… help. If the weather isn’t right, or you or your bike are not quite up to the challenge, then you can have serious problems. The Moray Gravel Triangle is different. While the cycling is excellent it’s not so committing. The route passes through towns and villages where you can find hot food and a bed each night. <br /><br />Our initial plan was to ride only the intersecting sections of three long-distance walking trails - The Speyside Way, the Moray Coastal Trail and the Dava Way. From the beginning we called it The Moray Gravel Triangle, because we had a feeling this would be a top gravel ride. It’s close to what walkers and runners call The Moray Way but with a few tweaks to accommodate cyclists’ needs.<br /><br />At around 100 miles this seemed a little short for a multi-day ride, so we planned to ride the full length of the three trails rather than just their intersecting central triangle. That’s when things started to get a little complicated.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="580" scrolling="no" src="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1348795/embed" width="100%"></iframe> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Traditionally, <b>The Speyside Way</b> started in Aviemore. In recent years it has been extended to Newtonmore, but somehow that didn’t feel right for us and anyway, we had a place to leave our vehicles at Badaguish Outdoor Centre just outside Aviemore, so we stuck to the traditional option.</span><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/58iOq0a3HNo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we started investigating the <b>Moray Coastal Trail</b>, two quite distinct routes emerged. A walkers’ route clings to the coast but not all of it is rideable. The cyclists’ route follows Sustrans NCR 1, and while easier to follow, we felt it might skip some of the best coastal scenery before it veered off inland. Our solution was to cycle both. We tackled the walkers’ route in one direction, then after an overnight in the town of Cullen, rode back along the cyclists’ route. When we reached Lossiemouth, we enlisted the services of two local cyclists to keep us on track. Mark and Martin are the founders of a cycling ‘club’ that’s not really a club, called The Moray Gravel Collective. We had a bitter, brutal headwind that day and I’m not ashamed to admit I spent a mile or two drafting the pair as they led us on the best, rideable sections of the spectacular coastal trail.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QN3vvY3EZdE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b>The Dava Way</b>, the third side of our triangle, came as the biggest surprise. I secretly suspected this would be a boring, 25 mile flog down an old railway line, nothing more than the least worst off-road return route. I was delighted to find a varied trail that took us into higher, more open moors than we’d seen since leaving Aviemore. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/osCjyKR2yHc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />So while the central section of our Moray Gravel Triangle remains a cracking 100 mile route, the whole tour is a fantastic way to spend a few days on a bike. If it’s too early in the season (or too late) to tackle one of Scotland’s excellent long wilderness trails, or you just don’t fancy the exposure and risk which comes with being in such wild places, our longer tour is a great option.<br /><br />Our accommodation and meals were paid for by Visit Moray and Speyside for which we’re grateful. While there are obviously other accommodation providers, I’ve listed the ones for which we have first-hand experience.<br /><br />We cycled the three trails in September / October 2021 and we are aware things change, so what was open and/or closed when we cycled might be different for you. <br /><br />Certainly the diversion for cyclists on the Speyside Way might have changed. The section between Cromdale and Ballindalloch should be improved and open to cyclists by Spring 2022.<br /><br /><br /><b>Guidebook: </b>Walking the Speyside Way, the Cicerone guidebook, is useful background reading on the places through which you’ll pass and has the additional advantage of also covering the Moray Coastal Trail and the Dava Way. <a href="https://amzn.to/3AzmMUL" target="_blank">Here’s a link to buy it on Amazon UK</a>. <br /><br /><b>Bike: </b>A gravel bike is ideal for this route. Technical off-road tyres are not needed - Panracer Gravel Kings proved ideal. <br /><br /><b>Kit: </b>Obviously be prepared for bad weather. You can camp, but we used the following good hotels and consequently travelled much lighter.<br /><br /><b>MAPPING</b><br />We plan and share our routes on Komoot, and you’ll <a href="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1348795/-moray-gravel-triangle-collection" target="_blank">find all the options here</a>.<br /><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/3l6b01x4yy7du6t/GPX files.zip?dl=1" target="_blank"><br />Direct download of Zip files with all .GPX files</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>ACCOMMODATION</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="https://morayspeyside.com/" target="_blank">Visit Moray and Speyside website</a> is the best place to find accommodation and places to eat and drink. They helped us with both when we cycled the route and we weren’t disappointed.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKWNaBdiFlQ/YXQATPBAl4I/AAAAAAAAEFU/Vcb_oO1WFxk-Fu6ttP4_ntgouQEjymnZQCPcBGAYYCw/s1622/Highlander%2BInn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1622" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKWNaBdiFlQ/YXQATPBAl4I/AAAAAAAAEFU/Vcb_oO1WFxk-Fu6ttP4_ntgouQEjymnZQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Highlander%2BInn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><b>Craigellachie - The Highlander Inn.</b> Phenomenal whisky bar, good rooms and wholesome food although limited vegetarian options. <a href="http://www.whiskyinn.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>.<br /> <br /></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YHdeCnJ7Zqg/YXQASUbPPmI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/BrrU8q-RX8IAZRKB6q4lInYMVUogPN8CwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Royal%2BOak.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2048" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YHdeCnJ7Zqg/YXQASUbPPmI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/BrrU8q-RX8IAZRKB6q4lInYMVUogPN8CwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Royal%2BOak.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cullen - The Royal Oak. </b> Lovely hotel with superb rooms and outstanding food. Cullen Skink soup as it’s meant to be made and they organised an early breakfast for our long day. <a href="https://theroyaloakcullen.co.uk/" target="_blank">Website</a>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fgn-xVnBu88/YXQARmAJleI/AAAAAAAAEFM/-NDJOwWX6c8rFPBW6HN6T9rZM-FRs6u1QCPcBGAYYCw/s2652/Carisbrooke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2652" height="143" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fgn-xVnBu88/YXQARmAJleI/AAAAAAAAEFM/-NDJOwWX6c8rFPBW6HN6T9rZM-FRs6u1QCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Carisbrooke.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b>Forres - The Carrisbrooke. </b> A motel-like feel to the rooms which were comfortable and warm. Food was good although the kitchen closes at 8pm so don’t hang about or, like us, you’ll miss pudding. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thecarisbrooke/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</span><br /><br /><br /></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c8WI5dQdyOQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-51766407073048673422021-07-25T15:52:00.006+01:002021-07-25T15:52:46.042+01:00One bike to rule them all?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76nJeWuDXKo/YP16StuN4LI/AAAAAAAAJSU/kQFac0rmE90YGKS4rLdpgO26XaPVh9AUgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_8293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76nJeWuDXKo/YP16StuN4LI/AAAAAAAAJSU/kQFac0rmE90YGKS4rLdpgO26XaPVh9AUgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_8293.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Think of it as a mid-life crisis motorbike, but without the motor. <p></p><p>Actually, don't. I've already had several of them and I'm probably past mid-life now. Just think of it as a treat to myself. </p><p>My excellent road bike is showing its age. My gravel bike is great, but a little heavy. </p><p>Could I find one of the new generation of carbon, lightweight gravel bikes that would be at home on virtually any surface, road or trail. </p><p>Spoiler alert - I still don't know. </p><p>I bought one but it'll be a while before I know whether it fulfils every criteria. Still, it'll be fun finding out, and that's the thing which counts. Unlike most of the videos on Always Another Adventure, this one is a personal blog involving a trip back to my roots. </p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EkHATn7kVFc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-36046623807279599112021-07-23T16:15:00.000+01:002021-07-23T16:15:06.100+01:00Report & Advice from the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SefvG8yxWI/YPrbV9lmAtI/AAAAAAAAJRo/OquXsSrLoiserR1fAbf4HdNIAgezGhaCgCPcBGAsYHg/s2304/D0C19E55-64A0-4BB4-B63B-CC4D761E2C1C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2304" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SefvG8yxWI/YPrbV9lmAtI/AAAAAAAAJRo/OquXsSrLoiserR1fAbf4HdNIAgezGhaCgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/D0C19E55-64A0-4BB4-B63B-CC4D761E2C1C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In June/July 2021 Hannah and Frodo completed the whole trail in under two weeks. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> They have some great advice for doing the shuttle at the end of the trip, and some warnings for anyone thinking portages around tricky bits might be easy - they're not. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Hannah has kindly allowed me to publish her email to me, because I think others will find it helpful.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the spirit of helping others, I'll put her most practical comment first: </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Checking in at Ardmair Campsite allowed us to find a safe place to leave our kayaks whilst we went to get our car back. </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In terms of car shuttling logistics the quickest way to get back to Tayinloan turned out to be to get the coach from Ullapool to Inverness and then hire a car to compete the rest of the journey, returning it the next day whilst on route home. The car hire worked out at the same cost of a bus ticket for two people and took 4 hours off doing the whole trip by coach, allowing us to compete this round trip in one day.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">That's a very useful, potentially cost saving tip, so thanks Hannah. Here's the rest of her email and a little from a follow-up she asked me to include.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwhxHa857xo/YPrbzFTmWsI/AAAAAAAAJRw/C3BqnbbYhsEtBhmq_sEjl8d8wYoCdGkZgCPcBGAsYHg/s2016/1EED2D77-8ACB-4D77-A0E3-ACBE3847D9B5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwhxHa857xo/YPrbzFTmWsI/AAAAAAAAJRw/C3BqnbbYhsEtBhmq_sEjl8d8wYoCdGkZgCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/1EED2D77-8ACB-4D77-A0E3-ACBE3847D9B5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">We’re just on the way back home having completed the Scottish Sea Kayaking Trail. We started on the 22nd June in Tayinloan and did the whole route in a single push finishing at Ullapool yesterday early morning (5th July).</span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19.1px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">We just wanted to say awesome book and thank you for providing us through it with the idea for this epic adventure.</span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19.1px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">We were hoping at this stage to recommend some portage options to avoid crossing around headlands and high winds but unfortunately we can’t really recommend any of the following;</span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19.1px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">We portaged from the end of Loch Sween to Loch Crinan after sitting out a day of rain at Kilberry Head and not wanting to loose out another day to strong north westerly winds. This portage however turns out to involve the negotiation of a very steep and slippery embankment at the end of the Loch.</span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qw9VRUTdZE/YPrb6_Neh0I/AAAAAAAAJR0/flGBrpj0Mtc-QsmV7d21G-DJFVNB_5xlACPcBGAsYHg/s2016/075CA4D0-6855-4D52-A279-24F96309F1BF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qw9VRUTdZE/YPrb6_Neh0I/AAAAAAAAJR0/flGBrpj0Mtc-QsmV7d21G-DJFVNB_5xlACPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/075CA4D0-6855-4D52-A279-24F96309F1BF.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">Four days later at Ardnamurchan Point high winds forced us to detour down Loch Sunart and portage the next day from Salen to the River Shiel at Ardshealach. A most enjoyable detour with bacon butties and coffee at Salen and an ice cream stop before launching at the pier on an outgoing tide. </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTP3qvEU_KM/YPrcCJIVeNI/AAAAAAAAJR4/_mfnyeNxQZIg0mYbp0nqzsu4NRitD6O0ACPcBGAsYHg/s2016/CEE6686F-B805-417B-8533-4376C53FDF0B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTP3qvEU_KM/YPrcCJIVeNI/AAAAAAAAJR4/_mfnyeNxQZIg0mYbp0nqzsu4NRitD6O0ACPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/CEE6686F-B805-417B-8533-4376C53FDF0B.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">That is until we encountered an unexpected 8ft drop, which would have made a nice Grade 3 whitewater rapid, barring our access to the south channel off Eileen Shona which as the river appeared to be tidal was the last thing we expected. Remember the bacon button and ice cream... yeah we should not have missed high water. </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">We press ganged our throw lines into action to repel the kayaks down the rapid, climbing down behind and enjoyed the rest of the day thinking....well not quite sure what we were thinking. This is an awesome portage depending on our appetite for white water rapids.</span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uluOWpkumX4/YPrcKdkl3QI/AAAAAAAAJR8/ehgPWqerxM4n1LiQ-emo8iQCQmcPk7N4gCPcBGAsYHg/s2016/4C19EFA3-EF84-4803-8CD4-64407A04D35E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uluOWpkumX4/YPrcKdkl3QI/AAAAAAAAJR8/ehgPWqerxM4n1LiQ-emo8iQCQmcPk7N4gCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/4C19EFA3-EF84-4803-8CD4-64407A04D35E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><br /> </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">We finally reached Mellon Udrigle on the evening of the 3rd July falsely thinking we were pretty much there and woke up the next morning to smooth seas. Setting off to the Summer Isles the conditions drastically changed with force 4 wind gusts coming in several hours ahead of the forecast. </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pTU-5J7hYKU/YPrcPd2qC1I/AAAAAAAAJSA/rKjhKOSGJfoAuxkeJZFm7nKQMmN3fM-3gCPcBGAsYHg/s1932/FBD1B0AB-17DA-4032-AEDB-F1783962D90A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1932" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pTU-5J7hYKU/YPrcPd2qC1I/AAAAAAAAJSA/rKjhKOSGJfoAuxkeJZFm7nKQMmN3fM-3gCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/FBD1B0AB-17DA-4032-AEDB-F1783962D90A.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">So we decided to bail for Ullapool. When crossing the mouth of Little Loch Broom we realised something was up when a sailing yacht passed us heading hard for shore to shelter and figured we better check the weather forecast, which now implied our location to be right in the path of an incoming thunderstorm. </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNTxVM5PpBA/YPrcUPUYP2I/AAAAAAAAJSE/qeErRXglx34P5cxvRqiGIiHzqjXC6_M_QCPcBGAsYHg/s2016/611C5C1D-6CB6-4E7A-9A86-AA0A7E6D40BF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNTxVM5PpBA/YPrcUPUYP2I/AAAAAAAAJSE/qeErRXglx34P5cxvRqiGIiHzqjXC6_M_QCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/611C5C1D-6CB6-4E7A-9A86-AA0A7E6D40BF.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">Looking at the map we decided we couldn’t really fail so short with only 10km to go and an obvious solution would be to portage from the campsite at Badrallach over the hill to a jetty at a hotel shown on our 1997 eBay acquired OS map. </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">Well, it turns out this portage involves (beside the obvious height gain of 270meters), the negation of a locked 5 bar gate and a gravel track down the hill signposted as only suitable for 4x4 vehicles. And if you were hoping for a pint it turns out the hotel is permanently shut. </span><span class="s1"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We had happened to meet the owner at the top of the hill and he kindly gave us permission to launch from his garden/pier.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span>So far the day had involved some rather rough water, getting completely drenched in a thunderstorm having clambered ashore to escape the lightening and spending the best part of 4 hours pulling two fully loaded sea kayaks up to a spot height of 230m. All this to have both trolley axles break within the space of 25m of each other whilst Ullapool's lights were mocking us from only 2km away across the bay. This portage is definitely not recommended unless you are training for a Strong Man competition as even calling it “leg day” does not do justice to the effort involved in what followed next.</span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMyMOZXULSM/YOXVVqdd-8I/AAAAAAAAJNs/kGE1V_AZCh03pXBmKiuJ4ttv6BNykJJCACNcBGAsYHQ/s1131/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1131" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMyMOZXULSM/YOXVVqdd-8I/AAAAAAAAJNs/kGE1V_AZCh03pXBmKiuJ4ttv6BNykJJCACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h236/image0.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">The trolleys, purpose built for this trip, had so far survived 18km of pothole-ridden roads <span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>without any complaint and had allowed us to leave the car in Tayinloan and attempt the whole trip as an unsupported continuous push endeavor. This also meant we were now slightly stuck. </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">So we unpacked our kayaks into IKEA bags, carried each kayak down separately the remaining 1.5km to the pier and, having walked up the hill yet again for the third time to collect the bags, decided that we might as well camp here as 1am is late enough. After three hours sleep we lugged our remaining belongings down the hill to load up the kayaks one last time to finally make it to Ullapool yesterday after 14 days of the most enjoyable kayaking experience. </span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19.1px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">We would be interested to hear if you are aware of others having done the trip as a continuous self supported push and if so how long it took them.</span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19.1px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1">The only problem now is it’s going to be a challenge to find a holiday that tops this one.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Thanks so much to Hannah and Frodo for the advice and entertainment! It shows what I've said all along - you can decide how far you're going to paddle the trail, or how long you're going to paddle the trail, but not both. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Of such stuff is adventure made.<br /></span></span></span></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-20010189081908284112021-07-22T21:02:00.000+01:002021-07-22T21:02:24.312+01:00Kayak Fishing in the UK<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lrgDVEljrwE/TDMA23KA0UI/AAAAAAAAE8k/HF0sDXrwE4k/s1600/DKF_cover.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lrgDVEljrwE/TDMA23KA0UI/AAAAAAAAE8k/HF0sDXrwE4k/s320/DKF_cover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490733313213649218" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">How big is kayak fishing in the UK? More to the point - how big will it become? Because in the US it is big.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.pesdapress.com/index.php">Pesda Press</a> (who also publish <a href="http://www.scottishseakayaktrail.com/About.html">my book</a>) clearly think there is potential to grow. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hence this new publication in their Practical Manual series. It's the first on the subject this side of the Atlantic, with our different fish species and fishing techniques.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.pesdapress.com/Water-Technical/c2_5/p41/Discover-Kayak-Fishing/product_info.html">It comes out 16th August</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's aimed less at the kayaker, more at the angler who fancies trying kayak fishing. Andy Benham has written for angling magazines for 25 years, is addicted to kayak fishing he says, and is keen to share what he know, including:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Choosing fishing and kayak equipment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Modifying the kayak and installing a fish finder</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Fishing skills - tips on anchoring and 'downtiding'</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* What to fish for</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Freshwater fish and wreck fishing</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Staying safe at sea</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Seamanship</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* How to use handheld GPS and VHF radio</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the USA kayak fishing is big. Our DVD distributor there, <a href="tp://www.helipress.com/product/sea-kayak-with-gordon-brown-129.cfm">Heliconia Press</a>, has produced DVDs, book and even has a <a href="http://kayakfishingtv.oncourss.com/">Kayak Fishing TV channel on YouTube</a>. Here's the sort of thing they show.</div><div>
</div><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iotXSGn6mp0&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iotXSGn6mp0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485308908254312756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-41222141227112537982021-07-06T18:08:00.000+01:002021-07-06T18:08:08.486+01:00The Caledonia Way<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVWAMD3ECFo/YMmzg1ZpsSI/AAAAAAAAD_4/IT_4SuJ1x5g33MZ7AifWOI-Qe_rfqX_8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Cal%2BWAy%2BONLY%2BTemplate.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVWAMD3ECFo/YMmzg1ZpsSI/AAAAAAAAD_4/IT_4SuJ1x5g33MZ7AifWOI-Qe_rfqX_8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Cal%2BWAy%2BONLY%2BTemplate.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">The Caledonia Way is a somewhat unusual
long distance cycling route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it's
mostly on minor roads, you can't ride the whole thing on a road bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">There are at least three sections where it
heads into distinctly off-road territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">Not full mountain bike country, but rough enough to give anyone on a
23-25mm skinny tyre a hard time with skids and pinch flats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Touring 28mm and upwards would be fine.</span>
</span><span>
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">The other curious thing is that the
National Cycling Network seems to dis-own a few sections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NCN78 signs are rare between Campbeltown and
Oban, confined to the few off-road parts which aren't the Caledonian Canal
towpath.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">If that wasn't confusing enough, at Fort
William the Caledonia Way acquires a second name, and for part of this final section
it's better known as the Great Glen Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he
walker's Great Glen Way (which can be ridden on an MTB) splits off and takes a different, rough, high route as it approaches
Inverness on entirely the opposite side of Loch Ness.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">See what I mean about it being
unusual?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, our three videos
will clarify things before you ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Should you choose to come this way, I have one request - please don't
ride the A82 between Corran and Fort William unless absolutely necessary, and
then make yourself as visible as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is my local patch, but I'd rather ride 35 miles around the loch
than 10 miles with fast traffic skimming my elbow.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">I've broken this down into the three
sections shown in the video and added a few links I hope you'll find useful,
including those to the mapping on <a href="https://www.komoot.com/collection/991093/-caledonia-way-including-options?ref=undefined">Komoot</a> and <a href="https://ridewithgps.com/trips/69362381" target="_blank">RideWithGPS</a>. I also have a <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/6xocblyzbw59a5h/CaledoniaWay.gpx?dl=1" target="_blank">direct download link to the GPX file</a>.<br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">There is a <a href="https://amzn.to/2SuihLl">guidebook</a>
to the route and Sustrans has dedicated a <a href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other-routes/the-caledonia-way">page of
its website</a> to the Caledonia Way, both of which are helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more detailed maps are not needed unless
you want a souvenir of your ride.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="580" scrolling="no" src="https://www.komoot.com/collection/991093/embed" width="100%"></iframe>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="283" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/im0q9S6LZI8" width="489" youtube-src-id="im0q9S6LZI8"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6tPrph9srg/YMmxXGv10bI/AAAAAAAAD_c/MuKER9HkWH0tXOn0U-u-6ao3l3fPDBJOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Sect1%2BThumb%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6tPrph9srg/YMmxXGv10bI/AAAAAAAAD_c/MuKER9HkWH0tXOn0U-u-6ao3l3fPDBJOQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/Sect1%2BThumb%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Campbeltown
to Oban<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>121 miles 8025 ft ascent</span></b></span></i></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">Although it's the first section, this is
the last one I cycled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rode it as a
return ride after completing the Kintyre Gravel Bike Way with Sean McFarlane,
and it was the only route on which I needed accommodation.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> <br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">I'll list where we stopped for food and
overnight accommodation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
accommodation came courtesy of Wild About Argyll but I've also listed a couple
of places I think would make good options too.</span></span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Getting
to the start:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> ScotRail trains from Glasgow connect
with the summer only ferry by <a href="https://www.calmac.co.uk/" target="_blank">Caledonian MacBrayne </a>from Ardrossen on the
mainland to Campbeltown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alternatively
you could ride down the A83 on the west side of Kintyre but it's a busy road
and not recommended, even though it's part of the new 'KN66' marketing push.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Campbletown:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> We stayed in <a href="https://campbeltownbackpackers.co.uk" target="_blank">Campbeltown Backpackers</a> which opened for us while it was still working out how it would deal with
visitors during a pandemic. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKb99xyLtuc/YLtPirs0ONI/AAAAAAAAD9M/RXqQQlXFbfQv3qya3hXrN4Dyqxu0q8dDgCPcBGAYYCw/s1920/Backpackers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKb99xyLtuc/YLtPirs0ONI/AAAAAAAAD9M/RXqQQlXFbfQv3qya3hXrN4Dyqxu0q8dDgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Backpackers.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">We had a great dinner at <a href="https://www.craigard-house.co.uk" target="_blank">Craigard HouseHotel</a> and a frankly superb dinner at
<a href="https://ardshiel.co.uk">Ardshiel Hotel</a> which is walking distance from the hostel and has a multi-award winning whisky bar.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sG0vweSBfuE/YLtPh5OspnI/AAAAAAAAD9A/oL8iLo7FW2UbDxFBHFhEvSlT8D_cLl7cgCPcBGAYYCw/s1920/Ardshiel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sG0vweSBfuE/YLtPh5OspnI/AAAAAAAAD9A/oL8iLo7FW2UbDxFBHFhEvSlT8D_cLl7cgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Ardshiel.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Saddle
Bay:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> You can find the Anthony Gormley statue <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GRIP</i> in the grounds of Saddle Castle on
the shore side of the road opposite Saddle Abbey which is marked.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EV6-rujkaj4/YMm8LuqHlcI/AAAAAAAAEAA/E1zr_QcxAisbl3IN4MEIM3l1_v0eJ8IOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Grip.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EV6-rujkaj4/YMm8LuqHlcI/AAAAAAAAEAA/E1zr_QcxAisbl3IN4MEIM3l1_v0eJ8IOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Grip.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Carradale:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> two great coffee stops here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="https://www.dottiescafe.com" target="_blank">Dottie's Cafe</a> is small and <a href="http://www.carradalebikesandbuggies.co.uk" target="_blank">friendly with abike repair business alongside runby Ian Brodie</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span><span lang="EN-US">Hopefully you won't need his services.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QwZeWS8tClI/YMmu9ij4n0I/AAAAAAAAD-s/hw5ugxLM9awtNxFgkzmCQ3_aUFGlhPwPACLcBGAsYHQ/s2661/Dotties.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2661" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QwZeWS8tClI/YMmu9ij4n0I/AAAAAAAAD-s/hw5ugxLM9awtNxFgkzmCQ3_aUFGlhPwPACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Dotties.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.torrisdalecastle.com" target="_blank">Torrisdale Castle's</a> Bienn a Tuirc cafe is a
little pricier but fabulous quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They make their own gin and their website is a useful source of local
knowledge. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxsY9MnvkFs/YLtPltZ79qI/AAAAAAAAD9A/c8AWEAwjztYynbcrWZJzR6BuXuuseWJlwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Gather.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxsY9MnvkFs/YLtPltZ79qI/AAAAAAAAD9A/c8AWEAwjztYynbcrWZJzR6BuXuuseWJlwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Gather.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Tarbert:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://thegather.uk" target="_blank">The Gather</a> is a relatively new business
where we were allowed to leave a vehicle for the duration of our ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as coffee and food, they have 'glamping'
pods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they can't yet take touring
tents, cyclists who camp on the wild land behind their business are allowed to
use their showers and facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are many other options around Tarbet worth exploring and it's a good distance
to ride on the first day.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">We chose to cycle the Kilmory Loop, whereas
some people prefer to head directly north towards Lochgilphead.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMi1XrxtmD0/YMmvMTJT7kI/AAAAAAAAD-w/brdUt_5rV8cUt3Sp2RkCZsdzFm_8UH-hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2516/Port%2BBan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2516" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMi1XrxtmD0/YMmvMTJT7kI/AAAAAAAAD-w/brdUt_5rV8cUt3Sp2RkCZsdzFm_8UH-hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Port%2BBan.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Kilmory:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> accommodation options are limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We managed to get a one night deal in a mobile home (usually 2-night
minimum) at <a href="https://www.portban.com" target="_blank">Port Ban Holiday Park </a>although they
seemed to expect us to travel with all our own bedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Book well in advance if you want to stay at
the <a href="https://www.kilberryinn.com" target="_blank">Kilberry Inn</a> a seafood restaurant with rooms.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLwAxrki-pc/YMmvV2wm46I/AAAAAAAAD-4/y-esfQAgWc8d4izR3TnZUCpLTNrrtfqCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2576/Hostel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2576" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLwAxrki-pc/YMmvV2wm46I/AAAAAAAAD-4/y-esfQAgWc8d4izR3TnZUCpLTNrrtfqCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Hostel.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Inverneil:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> More modest but equally popular accommodation can be found in
<a href="https://www.argyllbackpackers.com" target="_blank">Argyll Backpackers' Hostel</a> where the
Kilmory Loop returns to the main road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Run by Kate and Pam, we called in for a coffee and chat, and were
impressed by their covid protection measures.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RGLAgqB2BA/YMmvfidQ0AI/AAAAAAAAD-8/n6yAn9qJyvIq8y-2Ceae3wTLqtf90OSLACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/KingsReach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RGLAgqB2BA/YMmvfidQ0AI/AAAAAAAAD-8/n6yAn9qJyvIq8y-2Ceae3wTLqtf90OSLACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/KingsReach.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Bridgend:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> A short detour from route 78, but one of the nicest places we
stayed, was <a href="https://kingsreachbedandbreakfast.co.uk" target="_blank">King's Reach Vegan B&B</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2021 this was the only 100% vegan B&B
in Argyll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sean and Sara were keen to
learn how to be more cycle friendly, so might soon offer kit washing, track
pump and bike washing facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://horseshoeinn.co.uk" target="_blank">The
Horseshoe Inn</a> is walking distance away for a good
meal or alternative accommodation.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="278" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KUdso_PQBro" width="460" youtube-src-id="KUdso_PQBro"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PvBZJF7MTq4/YMmxlZDz-4I/AAAAAAAAD_k/4p6tKf0vbzgWeKAb-TlE6ZbgpmLaTF1YQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Sect2%2BThumb%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PvBZJF7MTq4/YMmxlZDz-4I/AAAAAAAAD_k/4p6tKf0vbzgWeKAb-TlE6ZbgpmLaTF1YQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/Sect2%2BThumb%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /><i> </i></span></span><i><span>
</span></i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Oban
to Fort William<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50 miles<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1950 ft ascent</span></b></span></i></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">I regularly ride this route back from Oban
after our weekly shopping and I've seen this improve from being a road ride
with a few off-road sections, to being almost entirely segregated cycleway with
a surface suitable for a skinny tyred road bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The newest section, which as you'll see in
the video I rode while it was still being finished in 2020, is beautiful and
inspired, passing through a nature reserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just keep an eye on your watch for the ferry times.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">Where the route reaches the outskirts of
Ballachulish (pronounced Balla hoo-lish) you can divert east, still on cycle
path, into the town itself or Glencoe village for food and/or
accommodation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Glen Coe is the valley,
Glencoe is the village).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best
supermarket is the Ballachulish Coop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
it's a Sunday you might wish to do the because of the way the ferries work -
this is explained in detail in the video.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TijmT4AHs-o/YMmvy-gp0MI/AAAAAAAAD_I/5X7t8efPhlAMqivcyru7yDtkq6yPxeMvACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Corran%2BF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TijmT4AHs-o/YMmvy-gp0MI/AAAAAAAAD_I/5X7t8efPhlAMqivcyru7yDtkq6yPxeMvACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Corran%2BF.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">There are four ways into Fort William, <a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/385019138?ref=wtd" target="_blank">andthe two-ferry route is best</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The segregated
cycleway continues to the Corran Ferry, then you ride a relatively quiet minor
road to the Camusnagaul Ferry at the top of the loch. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQrsLLxJ4NE/YMmv7Hm3p-I/AAAAAAAAD_M/fBE79Fh0PUA-MCzK2bvsI9R_CXYg2dFDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Camus%2Bferry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQrsLLxJ4NE/YMmv7Hm3p-I/AAAAAAAAD_M/fBE79Fh0PUA-MCzK2bvsI9R_CXYg2dFDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Camus%2Bferry.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">The service does not run on Sundays and
only four times daily, but on running days it will make a special crossing for
two or more cyclists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Operated by
Highland Ferries their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CamusnagaulFerry">Facebook</a>
is updated more frequently than their <a href="http://www.highlandferries.co.uk/">website</a>.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">If you miss the ferry, or the times don't
work out, the safest option is to <a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/385019918?ref=wtd" target="_blank">cycle around the loch adding 22 miles to the journey</a>.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">I can't recommend <a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/385018393?ref=wtd" target="_blank">cycling the busyA82</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have done, and I regularly see
people riding it, but it's a scary option.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">There is a <a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/385021559?ref=wtd">great off-road option</a>, but it
strays into wild country and requires some hike-a-bike over possibly boggy
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see the route <a href="https://youtu.be/Lvvw0o9RW58">in this video where I tried a titanium bike</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's a second off-road route <a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/385022499">here too along the West Highland
Way</a>.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="319" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i4KOQwHQDGQ" width="416" youtube-src-id="i4KOQwHQDGQ"></iframe></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> <br /></span></span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aEEyB_CoEsE/YMmxsuq-aJI/AAAAAAAAD_s/xO3IqrZxO_QC_09-Zo_vbVKhSe294dw8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Sec%2B3%2Bthumb%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aEEyB_CoEsE/YMmxsuq-aJI/AAAAAAAAD_s/xO3IqrZxO_QC_09-Zo_vbVKhSe294dw8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/Sec%2B3%2Bthumb%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Fort
William to Inverness<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>68 miles<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3100 ft ascent</span></b></span></i></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">This was one of the first videos I made,
and I've re-cut it to fit the style of the other two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to visit a dentist in Inverness, so I
decided to ride there, carrying camping equipment that I could test on the
return trip.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">The twin-names can cause some
confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Caledonia Way still
exists, but it has acquired the additional title of the Great Glen Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That changes again shortly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">A few years ago, parts of this section
would be strictly mountain bike territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sustrans has worked,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hard to
improve these and added a new cycleway, so now it's all rideable on touring
tyres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still wouldn't take a skinny
23-25mm road tyre on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mix of
Caledonian Canal towpath and off-road take you to the popular tourist town of
Fort Augustus where many people overnight.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">The walkers' Great Glen Way now climbs off
up the West side of Loch Ness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A version
of this can be ridden on an MTB or Gravel Bike, but it's called the 'Loch Ness
360'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, the Caledonia Way (aka
cycling version of the Great Glen Way) head up the steep road hill on the East
side of Loch Ness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is probably the
toughest hill on the whole Caledonia Way, so try to divert yourself by Nessie
spotting in Loch Ness below.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">The route follows the 'back road' to
Inverness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this is much quieter
and safer than the A82, it's still a popular road and, first thing in the morning,
you find workmen's vans whizzing past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgXN3Oxfppo/YMmxKGG0qwI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/6mQZ0CYlFNUEInsoZU6BQetMjTnF8vTVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1349/Camerons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1349" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgXN3Oxfppo/YMmxKGG0qwI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/6mQZ0CYlFNUEInsoZU6BQetMjTnF8vTVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Camerons.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span lang="EN-US">Lots of cyclists from Inverness ride the
roads around here, and tend to congregate in <a href="http://lochnesscottage.com/Camerons-Tea-Room-and-Farm-Shop.php">Camerons'
Tea Room</a> which 78 passes on it's way to Foyers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's then a flat route beside Loch Ness into
Inverness.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><style><span style="font-family: inherit;">@font-face
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{page:WordSection1;}</span></style></span></p><p></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-147774968227019072021-06-06T09:04:00.018+01:002021-06-29T06:51:22.071+01:00Kintyre Gravel Bike Way<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-inZvOT1YLKw/YLyHkmmKb1I/AAAAAAAAD9Y/96ke981g5nQlehMtp7fK2NZbBry1vAJjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Kintyre%2BGravel%2BThumb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-inZvOT1YLKw/YLyHkmmKb1I/AAAAAAAAD9Y/96ke981g5nQlehMtp7fK2NZbBry1vAJjACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Kintyre%2BGravel%2BThumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">The Kintyre Way was ahead of its time.<span> </span>Established in 2006, it's a good 100 mile
walking route, usually split over seven days.<span>
</span> </span></span></span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">However, since its inception a new breed of outdoor transport has
appeared, the gravel bike.<span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>It's a hybrid
of road and mountain bikes, ideally suited to mixed terrain, and utterly
perfect for the Kintyre Way.<span> </span>Almost.</span></span></span></span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">A few sections of the walking route are
just too narrow, too steep, or too fragile to be explored on bicycles.<span> </span>What if alternatives could be found to
these?<span> </span>What if gravel bike riders could
exploit the new rough roads installed for forest harvesting and wind-farm
construction?<span> </span>What if there could be a
rideable, top to bottom, Kintyre Gravel Bike Way?<span> </span>We decided that would be a good thing, and
set out to create it.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;">Disclaimer: we safely
followed the route given here but that does not guarantee it is safe for you or
a Right of Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please use your own common
sense and cycle safely.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xon0zTxQOu8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p> </p><p> <iframe frameborder="0" height="580" scrolling="no" src="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1194773/embed" width="100%"></iframe>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><style>@font-face
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{page:WordSection1;}</style> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Also available on </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://ridewithgps.com/trips/68273329" target="_blank">Ride with GPS</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">The Kintyre Gravel Bike Way is the perfect
introduction to multi-day off-road touring, offering a level of safety that's
hard to find in some parts of the Scottish Highlands.<span> </span>It explores seriously wild country running
down the spine of Kintyre, yet descends to towns and villages every night so cyclists
can camp or seek out accommodation. <span></span>If
this three-day, zig-zag route gets too much it's easy to switch to road
riding.<span> </span>There's a mobile phone signal
almost all the way.<span> </span>And then there are the
views.<span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPhfLcaigD8/YLywuUPIIVI/AAAAAAAAJLc/t5ICZIYNUGQKo6c6Rb6aPPoPCTG1VU2EgCNcBGAsYHQ/s893/f858792d-7998-4a9d-8209-e1b6558315c7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="893" height="258" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPhfLcaigD8/YLywuUPIIVI/AAAAAAAAJLc/t5ICZIYNUGQKo6c6Rb6aPPoPCTG1VU2EgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h258/f858792d-7998-4a9d-8209-e1b6558315c7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">Kintyre is a rugged, rounded, peninsula,
arguably less dramatic than many parts of the west coast.<span> </span>Yet its location means it's a perfect viewing
platform for the mountains of Jura to the west and Arran to the East.<span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">We're not trying to detract from the
original Kintyre Way.<span> </span>Those blue post
waymarks are very welcome when you see them through a haze of pelting
rain.<span> </span>They confirm you're on the right
track.<span> </span>Yet we think we've improved on it
for cyclists.<span> </span>Using Sean McFarlane's
knowledge of racing the Kintyre Way on a bike (he came second) and on foot
(Kintyre Way Ultra) plus that of James McNair who runs the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/krbikeproject/" target="_blank">KR Bike Project</a> in
Campbeltown, we've stayed faithful to the experience of the route while
allowing the pedals to keep turning - provided you have a good set of lungs and
legs.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">We've plotted the route we took, having
first removed the sections where we became (ahem) temporarily dislocated.<span> </span>You can find and download the GPS
tracks on <a href="https://www.komoot.com/collection/1194773/-kintyre-gravel-bike-way" target="_blank">Komoot</a> and <a href="https://ridewithgps.com/trips/68273329" target="_blank">Ride with GPS</a> above.<span> </span>We
made a video of the ride which you can watch here on YouTube.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">Once down the south end, the obvious return
route is to follow The Caledonia Way, a cycling specific road route that has
been adopted by Sustrans to form part of Route 78 to Inverness.<span> </span>We made a video about that too and it's coming soon.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">However, in summer you can use ferries from the mainland to make a rather special loop. </span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
</span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
</span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Either get the train to Ardrossen, or park a vehicle there, and take the CalMac ferry over to Arran. Ride across Arran, then catch the Lochranza-Claonaig ferry. You'd have to skip the first half of our first day and pick up the route at Claonaig. </span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
</span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
</span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Then ride our three day route to Machrihanish, and back to Campbeltown where you can catch a summer ferry back to Ardrossen.</span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"> </span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MHjW5mBVWU/YLywpkI6WVI/AAAAAAAAJLU/K-tGpY5h4GoW2G5TJscMQgG13i293aGeQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1063/8b815271-a91c-4a46-990c-128fc9c68833.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1063" height="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MHjW5mBVWU/YLywpkI6WVI/AAAAAAAAJLU/K-tGpY5h4GoW2G5TJscMQgG13i293aGeQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h294/8b815271-a91c-4a46-990c-128fc9c68833.jpeg" width="400" /> </a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US">The tourism associations <a href="https://www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk/destinations/kintyre-and-gigha/" target="_blank"><i>Explore Kintyre and Gigha</i> and <i>Wild About Argyll</i> </a>arranged complimentary
accommodation and some meals, for which we're grateful.<span> </span>However, the businesses described here are
those we feel are worth knowing about, regardless of whether they gave us free
stuff.</span></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><style><font size="4"><span style="font-family: arial;">@font-face
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</span></span><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Tarbert:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://thegather.uk/" target="_blank">The Gather</a> is a relatively new business where we were allowed to
leave a vehicle for the duration of our ride.<span>
</span>As well as coffee and food, they have 'glamping' pods.<span> </span>While they can't take touring tents, cyclists
who camp on the wild land behind their business are allowed to use their
showers and facilities.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxsY9MnvkFs/YLtPltZ79qI/AAAAAAAAD9A/c8AWEAwjztYynbcrWZJzR6BuXuuseWJlwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Gather.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxsY9MnvkFs/YLtPltZ79qI/AAAAAAAAD9A/c8AWEAwjztYynbcrWZJzR6BuXuuseWJlwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Gather.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Tayinloan:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> the obvious first night for accommodation.<span> </span>Ferry Farm B&B is well placed and linked
to Big Jessie's Cafe, where we stopped for coffee and cake.<span> </span>However, you might have to travel a short
distance up or down the coast to find somewhere, in which case we'd recommend
<a href="https://www.glenbarrstores.com/the-houseglenbarr" target="_blank">The House at Glenbarr</a>.<span> </span>There's a cafe
alongside, plus a local store and strangely a garden centre. As there's nowhere
to eat evening meals locally, the owner kindly left a plate of food for us
which we devoured in one of the big greenhouses.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5t0BEOt0Qfk/YLtPrjExGpI/AAAAAAAAD9I/CiA2ac4mRgYcxf-9jYjrZ6saaZb7ReB3QCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Glenbar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5t0BEOt0Qfk/YLtPrjExGpI/AAAAAAAAD9I/CiA2ac4mRgYcxf-9jYjrZ6saaZb7ReB3QCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Glenbar.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Carradale:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> two great coffee stops here.<span>
</span><a href="https://www.dottiescafe.com/" target="_blank">Dottie's Cafe</a> is small and friendly with a <a href="http://www.carradalebikesandbuggies.co.uk/" target="_blank">bike repairbusiness alongsid</a>e. </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.torrisdalecastle.com/" target="_blank">Torrisdale Castle's Bienn a Tuirc cafe</a> is a
little pricier but fabulous quality.<span>
</span>They make their own gin and their website is a useful source of local
knowledge. <br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXZlGG9YwYE/YLtP0U7bisI/AAAAAAAAD9U/EVXh8Cns3m4yByvh3o3tea-vFCopgl-0QCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Torrisdale%2Bcafe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXZlGG9YwYE/YLtP0U7bisI/AAAAAAAAD9U/EVXh8Cns3m4yByvh3o3tea-vFCopgl-0QCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Torrisdale%2Bcafe.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Campbletown:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> We stayed in <a href="https://campbeltownbackpackers.co.uk/" target="_blank">Campbeltown Backpackers</a>
which Alan kindly opened for us while he was still working out how to deal with
groups of visitors during a pandemic. It doesn't look like it will be re-opening during 2021 for most guests due to the difficulty of making it Covid compliant, but please check for yourself. <br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKb99xyLtuc/YLtPirs0ONI/AAAAAAAAD9M/RXqQQlXFbfQv3qya3hXrN4Dyqxu0q8dDgCPcBGAYYCw/s1920/Backpackers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKb99xyLtuc/YLtPirs0ONI/AAAAAAAAD9M/RXqQQlXFbfQv3qya3hXrN4Dyqxu0q8dDgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Backpackers.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">We had a great dinner at <a href="https://www.craigard-house.co.uk/" target="_blank">Craigard HouseHotel</a> and a frankly superb dinner at
<a href="https://ardshiel.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ardshiel Hotel</a> which is walking distance from the hostel and has a multi-award winning whisky bar.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sG0vweSBfuE/YLtPh5OspnI/AAAAAAAAD9A/oL8iLo7FW2UbDxFBHFhEvSlT8D_cLl7cgCPcBGAYYCw/s1920/Ardshiel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sG0vweSBfuE/YLtPh5OspnI/AAAAAAAAD9A/oL8iLo7FW2UbDxFBHFhEvSlT8D_cLl7cgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Ardshiel.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Southend:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> The <a href="http://muneroy.co.uk" target="_blank">Muneroy Tearoom</a> (not sure how well that website works!) at the south end of Kintyre
is something of a legend thanks to chef Francis’ amazing cakes
which are baked fresh every day.<span> </span>It was
take-away only on our visit but worth it.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X61ZrXUaMpc/YLtPx6ScSxI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/OL2KkzK4VtYxvaDUTXgheA5Nm4tvUEsjQCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Muneroy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X61ZrXUaMpc/YLtPx6ScSxI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/OL2KkzK4VtYxvaDUTXgheA5Nm4tvUEsjQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Muneroy.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Machrihanish:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> we only had a snack here but the <a href="https://machrihanishdunes.com/dine/the-old-clubhouse-pub/" target="_blank">Old Clubhouse Pub</a> was good. <a href="https://www.dunlossithouse.com/" target="_blank">Dunlossit House B&B</a> was
excellent with a room overlooking the first tee of the world-famous golf
course, and breakfast overlooking the start of the 6km long beach. The family who run it are keen cyclists.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MR1v6d6NdQ/YLtPjVMtIkI/AAAAAAAAD9E/uaYZHdbpgEIhrqVQ-HHDB3GLzx-nNCBcgCPcBGAYYCw/s1122/Dunlossit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1122" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MR1v6d6NdQ/YLtPjVMtIkI/AAAAAAAAD9E/uaYZHdbpgEIhrqVQ-HHDB3GLzx-nNCBcgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Dunlossit.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">On our return ride up the Caledonia Way,
Sustrans 78, we now feel the best location for first night accommodation would be
around Tarbet, possibly at <a href="https://thegather.uk/ " target="_blank">The Gathe</a>r where we left our vehicle.<span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span lang="EN-US">Instead, we chose to cycle the
'Kilmory Loop', although some people prefer to head directly north towards Lochgilphead. If you're doing this, then head for </span><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.argyllbackpackers.com/ " target="_blank">Argyll Backpackers' Hostel</a> where the
Kilmory Loop returns to the main road.<span>
</span>Run by Kate and Pam, we called in for a coffee and chat, and were
impressed by their Covid protection measures.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>
</span></span></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Kilmory:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> accommodation options are limited.<span>
</span>We managed to get a one night deal in a mobile home (usually 2-night
minimum) at <a href="https://www.portban.com/" target="_blank">Port Ban Holiday Park</a> although they
seemed to expect people to travel with all their own bedding. <span> </span>Book well in advance if you want to stay or eat at
the <a href="https://www.kilberryinn.com/" target="_blank">Kilberry Inn</a> a seafood restaurant with
rooms.</span> <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b><span lang="EN-US">Bridgend:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> A short detour from route 78, but one of the nicest places we
stayed, was <a href="ttps://kingsreachbedandbreakfast.co.uk/" target="_blank">King's Reach Vegan B&B</a>.<span> </span>Sean and Sara were keen to learn how to be
more cycle friendly, so might by now offer kit washing, track pump and bike
washing facilities.<span> </span><a href="ttps://horseshoeinn.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Horseshoe Inn</a> is walking distance for a good meal or alternative accommodation.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><style>@font-face
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></span></span></p><br /><br />Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37247451.post-81569509538746451372020-06-15T10:26:00.128+01:002023-11-04T16:28:13.196+00:00Compliance Information<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQhEPg_m2zMfOOxOiERLgWQsLdL6EoG0BEA1Ib8fRwkGbuNOSNQzkjvMAEmPCzYTQxw9yj5EEMZbx_uq0rmQtuUO1nz26kjXpMcjYInWCTi2IQbDDoCu0ysIcXPVlcsqPber76g9_Pa0e-nYnfrG-B9dPrv4VB8YZiq0LHjNKkrpvecTOQA/s280/Logo%20plain%20even%20crop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Always Another Adventure logo" border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQhEPg_m2zMfOOxOiERLgWQsLdL6EoG0BEA1Ib8fRwkGbuNOSNQzkjvMAEmPCzYTQxw9yj5EEMZbx_uq0rmQtuUO1nz26kjXpMcjYInWCTi2IQbDDoCu0ysIcXPVlcsqPber76g9_Pa0e-nYnfrG-B9dPrv4VB8YZiq0LHjNKkrpvecTOQA/w200-h200/Logo%20plain%20even%20crop.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: small;">This page is linked from my website and YouTube videos so anyone can see the relationships I have with companies and the basis on which I have been given or loaned products and services. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> My aim is to be transparent.</span><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> </h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Paid Endorsements</h3><p>None</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Brand Ambassador</h3><p>None. Previously <b><i>Pearl Izumi</i> </b>in exchange for kit and exposure and <i><b>Science in Sport Academy</b></i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Paid Reviews </h3><p>None</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Affiliate Links</h3><p>Mainly <b><i>Amazon</i></b>. Also <b><i>Powersocks</i></b>, now called <b><i>Baresocks</i></b> (<a href="https://baresocks.com/?ref=Always" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #f57c00; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-line; widows: 2; word-break: break-all; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">https://baresocks.com/?ref=Always</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #565656; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> )</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Discounts</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Rapha UK</i></b> Industry standard discount (% varies) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Camping / bikepacking kit</h3></div><p><i><b>Terra Nova</b></i> - Jupiter Lite Bivi, retained for photo shoot then given to me in exchange for product photos<br /></p><p>Laser Compact 1 tent - Loaned for Torino Nice Rally ride and returned </p><p><i><b>Rab Equipment</b></i> - Neutrino 200 sleeping bag. Loaned for Torino Nice and retained for own use</p><p>Aeon LT25 rucksack. Sent for review and retained for personal use</p><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Clothing - most sent for review and can't be re-used by another reviewer</h3><p><i><b>Altura</b></i> - Jacket, jersey, arm warmers, gloves, cargo shorts. Sent for review and retained for personal use</p><p><b><i>Giro UK</i></b> - 1 MTB helmet. 1pr shoes</p><p><b><i>Rab Equipment</i></b> - Jacket, jersey, light-weight waterproof, 2x shorts, t-shirt. Sent for review and retained for personal use.</p><p>Subsequently sent heavy-duty waterproof, waterproof shorts, waterproof trousers, insulated gillet <br /></p><p><i><b>Torm.cc</b></i> - 2 Jerseys, 1 neck warmer</p><p><b><i>Darn Tough</i></b> - 5 pairs of socks</p><p><b><i>Extreme Eyewear </i></b>- 1 set of Oakley frames with prescription glasses</p><p> <br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Bike and/or Camera Tech<br /></h3><p><b><i>Garmin</i></b> - Varia 515 reviewed and returned</p><p>Varia 715 attempted to return but no response</p><p><b><i>Bryton</i></b> - Garda rear radar. Retained for long term testing as firmware improves</p><p><b><i>Cycliq</i></b> - Fly 12 Sport. Retained for long term testing</p><p><b><i>Tubolito</i></b> - 6 tubes given for review during Torino Nice Rally</p><p><b><i>SeeSense</i></b> - Ace rear light sent for review. Offer of return refused</p><p><b><i>Akaso</i></b> - Brave 7 Camera sent for review. Offer of return refused so ran Members Only giveaway</p><p><b><i>Spoked</i></b> - 90 free use of App for review</p><p><b><i>Zero Zero Robotics</i></b> - Hover Camera X1. Sent for video review and retained for long term testing and use. Have offered to buy.</p><p><b><i>Fumpa Pumps -</i></b> Rechargeable electric bike pumps currently being tested. Company did not want pumps returned so running Member giveaway.</p><p><b><i>Cycplus Cube</i></b> - Rechargeable electric bike pump currently being tested. </p><p><b><i>Fara All Road bike - </i></b>currently being tested and used in videos<br /></p><p><b><i>MyMonX - </i></b>Health tracking watch. Tested and returned </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Redshift Sports</h3><p>I've created a separate section for this company because I've been a long term supporter of their products and, in return, they send me items to try, to review and to keep. That said, I don't take or keep items I don't think I can use.<br /></p><p>2 Shockstop stems, both retained and in use on bicycles</p><p>2 Shockstop seatposts, PRO and regular both retained and in use on bicycles</p><p>3 Kitchensink bars and accessories, one for a viewer giveaway, other two in use on bicycles</p><p>1 Set arclight clipless pedals, retained for long term review <br /></p><p><br /></p>Simon Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01533568590064769969noreply@blogger.com