Year Round Commuter, Cyclist and Adventure Seeker.

Gulp. Signs up now. Next year.

24hrs on Skye - August 2013 , a set on Flickr. Amazing ;) Photos from Sky Mor Sportive and some randoms on trip home.

Arrived in Portree after nearly a 6 hour drive. Did not think it would take that long. Bloody average speed around 40, but a beautiful night to drive up. Last time I was up here was 1996. Ffs. Forgot beauty of area. So heed doon up early. A 100 mile cycle around Skye. - then a 6 mile drive home and work Sunday. A need a fuckin talkin too. :)

Back last year this was the first ever Sportive I signed up for. Could not do it because of my Stores stocktake. After (Sept 2012) I signed up for the 2013 version. Thought 2 stocktakes same dates 2 years running, never happen - ?? guess what.. Aye happened. Been bugged for month to change dates, tried, but thanks to a National Company Conference - this year Ill give it a go. Well did pay it over a year ago. Cant wait - Right on the back of Arran. Skye, Ireland then this. FUCK thats 4 weeks on a trot- Love August. x

32hrs on Arran - August 2013 , a set on Flickr. random Photos of the Road. lol

Last night when I got back around 9pm it started to rain. Lashing down. Then it did so for the next 11 hrs. Got up around 8am, stuck heed out of the tent to discover it 'wasn't' raining so dawned hill walking stuff and decided to venture away a wee bit. Within 10 mins it was lashing down again. So hard the rain was bouncing off the road. Torrential. Gave in. Waited till it stopped packed up and headed for the Ferry. Always a love hate relationship weather wise with Arran but glad I did my cycle yesterday lol .... Still an enjoyable day and a bit. The joys of weekday weekends lol. !

So I was awake quite early this morning. Up around half 7 and went for a shower. Back to a breakfast of Porridge, and a roll n Sausage. - Just before 9 got the bike ready and headed South from Lamlash. Knowing that I had left my waterproofs at home, (never done that before eh?) I prayed for no rain. Got to Blackwaterfoot quite quickly then headed up back of Arran to Machie Bay.- Then the difference. Headed across Arran, right across the middle to Brodick, - This was new, having done Arran 4 times before, getting a new version was good. The 9 mile across, which I would need to do twice to complete a figure of 8 was quite flat to begin with then at least 2 miles of a gradual climb. At the top where I recognised as Glen Rosa (nearby), had a fantastic downhiller- 39mph according to my garmin, into Brodick, then left past the castle and upwards past Corrie, the familiar long sore climb up then great decent into Lochranza. Clock was at 44 miles, so nipped into the Arran Distillery for a lunc...

Finished work at 5pm and headed to Ardrossan for the 6pm Ferry which was quite quiet. It was nice to see the sun come out as I headed over on the Ferry , after the recent very wet weather. Decided to nip down to Lamlash this time to set up camp. Staying at the Middletons caravan and camp site, and not bad at only 9 quid for 2 nights lol. - Well I was only 1 man and his tent. Tent set up. Supplies from local co op then dinner. On my trusty gas cooker. 2 rolls n sausage. First class. Sitting eating in on a picnic bench surrounded by trees and hills. Magic. Went a late evening dauner about Lamlash just as sun was setting, enjoying the view over to the Holy Isle. On return was a bit dark. Forgot to bring a light so used my MacBook lol. Started watching Man of Steel but within 30 mins I was snoring my heed AFF. Woke up at 2am bursting for a pee. Shoes on and out the tent. Full moon. Very eery. Heard a few noises prob foxes or something. The grass got watered. Wasn't walking to the on si...

Decided to go tonight and weather dependant stay till Wednesday. Figure of 8 all dayer on the bike and take in some sights of Arran I have not seen yet. Eg the Standing Stones and the Distillery hopefully. And an early ascent of Goat Fell on Wednesday. Pray for Sun !!

Many times Ive been to this beautiful Island. Infact this is my 5th visit this year. I am working Monday then off Tues and Wed. With a new tent to try for Skye on Fri night before the Skye Cyclo on the Sat, I thought might as well try it out. Doing the Arran figure of 8 on tues then on Wednesday, Ive decided to climb Goat Fell again, home Wed night. Why not. So Ferry on Tues at 940. Pitch tent at Glen Rosa. Cycle that day then next morning early a repeat of the epic 2012 climb over the 3 peaks.. Cant see the weather being the same. Staying at Glen Rosa camp site.