Macretro: Coast to coast, aftermath

[kaiser]

No Country fur Auld Scrotes

Day One....

Intrepid.Fearless.Daring. Bold. All words which could never describe the team assembled for the herculean task of a double coast to coast adventure. Looking around the group you could see the experience etched into some of their faces, or else it was a rumpled pillow. This was a crack commando unit ready for anything. This image was soon shattered when it was apparent no one knew the way, we did manage to get out the carpark though.

setting off in (surprisingly) the right direction there were a few jags at the peloton head with rob showing a bit of oomph quickly reigned in though. We bimbled along for quite bit, grinding our way ever upwards it seemed until finally a wee bit of loose downhill action.

gazz and thereal discuss trail options whilst Scots/Canadian womens wrestling starlet Mrs P threatens TK with some ring action.



Another wee bit of downhill action led us to a rather picturesque waterfall and time for first lunch

 

[kaiser]

after the relatively idyllic waterfall we all knew the raging torrent river crossing was waiting for us, we had convinced tk to leave his rope but this might have been a bad move...... fortunately it wasn't the raging torrent barely licked our ankles but some of the jessies still insisted on taking their shoes off much to the chagrin of the local fish. Once again onwards and upwards to the bothy where a well deserved rest was taken, TK a bit too keen to have a rest just lay down at the bottom of the hill. Setting off thoughts started turning to the dash, major tactics would have to be employed :twisted:

after rado and I set off at a lick with me sookin his wheel any advantage we gained was soon levelled when we got lost. Eventually finding the hostel only to see Lady P roll in to take the first honours of the trip

a wee night on the tiles and a live band soon saw us all retiring to bed.

DAY2

Every true coast to coaster knows you have to have a dip at either end, both gazz and me were surprised at the poor uptake with only me and bonzo doing it.

Hasselhoff decides to let the minke make its own way out of the shallows

Yes it really was as warm as it looks

 

[kaiser]

Little did we know that one of the party wouldn't be going with us......

Bikes ready

stunning ride out

the bothy provided respite for refuleeling and err.....unloading by the looks of it

Evidence MrP had been seen in the area previously

more dooking and believe it or not the water didn't get any warmer :roll:

 

[mikee]

well that was rather quick

 

[zigzag]

A wee taster while I link them all in...

I am TK. Hear me roar!

 

[RobMac]

TK just discovered that his saddle had dropped off.

.

 

[zigzag]

Full sized pics here.

Day 1

The suspects, usual and otherwise - From L-R: Mr Panda, The Ken, Radoslaw, Kaiser, Clockworkgazz, therealkw15, RobMac

First stop of the day

Mr P not pointing at something for a change

TK pretending his bike isn't too heavy

Steven consults the map. Mr P knows where we are

Lost yet? Well at least we can laugh about it

Again, probably not lost, but taken from an angle more likely to inspire confidence

Radek and Rob out front (theme for the weekend)

Kaiser bravely cycles through a puddle, Gazz captures the heartstopping action in all its glory. Note the Cuillens of Skye not in the background

How many loose headsets did we have? 3? 4? TK's turn to tighten a nut

The colour drains from TK's face as he realises he's forgotten to pack a second kitchen sink

Abhainn Dubha - View from Duag bridge

Rob and Radek enjoy the watersports on display...

First up, TK skimming stones like those professionals over in Oban

Then Gazz prepares for the 10m underwater freestyle cycle. Why aren't these guys out in Dehli with the Scottish Commonwealth team?

Dive, dive, dive

Hmm, on second thoughts...

... run for the hills

The fearful BSD climb - Many tried

Some more than others

Different techniques and riding styles were applied

And safety was paramount with brakes well covered

Although the shockwaves from TK's sonic boom...

... leave Mr P a shattered wreck at the bottom

Shoes and socks back on after fording the mighty (cold) Abhainn Poiblidh

therealkw15 - mountain biking Rhapsody in Blue

The Ken - Back in Black meets the anodized star spangled x-lite banner

Somewhere near Knockdamph bothy - What's that coming over the hill, is it a troll in lady's underpants?

Radek - spaced out after another can of Red Bull

Nearing the end - fleeing the hungry coos, Creag Ghrianach and Creag Ruadh in the background

Journey's end - Ullapool

Helmet hair? Who, moi?

Pass the invisible vinegar. Kaiser also not needing another pint of Guinness because he ' finds it really hard to drink it fast '

Martin Stephenson (and some of ?) the Daintees - the man can still sing and play guitar. Note friendly locals

Epic didgeridoo

Your witty caption here. Mr P detects a possible fashion faux pas (Author's note: Modelling contract with Morvello more likely!)

Day 2

Arty window condensation shot ruined by Ullapool's stunning harbour backdrop

Boat house on the shore of Loch Achall

TK and Kaiser on the climb up out of Glen Achall

Get a whiff of this

Radek not tempted by Kaiser's subtle body language

Gazz is just relieved to be sitting in his own

And the crappy panoramas...

And finally... Please note the Rocky Mountains, the Himilayas and Vesuvius in the distant background. Radek hides from Mr P's swinging arm

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Epic looking ride. Well done to all. How do you get your panniers to stay on? Mine used to fire off like mortars if they even thought of rough surfaces. I came up with a solution but it ain't pretty.

 

[therealkw15]

I've plotted the actual route with reference to a Google Earth overlay, and the profile was as follows (Ardgay on the left, Ullapool on the right):


C2Coffroadactual by therealkw15, on Flickr

Summary stats:

Distance on the map: 35.7miles
Distance on my Lidl bike computer: 38.1
Total ascent: 817m
Highest point: 263.5m

The long steep incline at about 24km is when we left the Carron and headed up over the hill. The local minimum at 31km is Deag Bridge then the next distinct minimum is our river crossing. It then rises steeply until we are on the shoulder of the valley and drops a bit to the Knockdamph bothy. It then rises steeply from the boathouse at the end of the loch till the savage brakepad-eating descent. It then meanders past Rhidorroch Lodge before a final plummet past the quarry into Ullapool.

 

[RobMac]

Brilliant ZZ it brought back painful memories lol

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