Stats: Distance 61.4 miles, Ascent : 5836 ft, Ave Speed: 9.93 mph, Moving Time : 6 hrs 11m
The Belles plus support team were up bright and early anxious to get on the road to tackle the notorious Bealach Na Bar the highest mountain pass in Britain at 2300 ft. Beautiful dry sunny morning so we set off in good spirits. Murray and Neil were cycling with us to the top then returning to Lochcarron to pick up their vehicles and make their way to Kinlochewe. Tom as usual was with us and little did we know how pleased we would be to have him nearby !!! Anyway, lovely 6 mile lead in to the mountain, a few testing ups and down but nothing the Arran trained Belles couldn’t cope with. Then it started, up and up but we took it nice and easy, pacing ourselves enjoying the stunning views and brooding mountains. We were lulled into thinking ‘this isn’t as bad as we thought’ ,famous last words because then we hit the really steep part and the legs started hurting. Cars were coming up behind us and some managed to squeeze past but on the really steep, narrow part they just couldn’t. We could not stop as we knew we wouldn’t get purchase to start again. One car, a black jag, was very impatient, revving, clutch burning trying to squeeze past then hesitating. I was wobbling all over the place, legs screaming until eventually we reached a lay-by where Gwen, Jillian and I stopped. Apart from him most car drivers were very considerate, clapping, giving us the thumbs up, families cheering - all wonderful and very encouraging. We made it to the top, high fiving, elated. Linda, (camper van) Murray, Neil and Tom were waiting with a very welcome cup of tea. We all had stories to tell about experiences on the climb. Good job, good stuff. Then we noticed the rain had come on so reluctantly we set off to complete the descent and another 48 miles of hills!! The descent was hair-raising , sore on the hands and fast with slicing crosswinds. Once we reached Applecross the wind was with us and we made, if slightly wet, progress. Linda was meeting us at 30 miles with lunch - then came the drastic news !!! She was still on top of Beach na Bar because Cilla, Camper Van wouldn’t start. However the AA had been called but wouldn’t be with her untill 2.00pm. Having reassured ourselves she was ok the next problem was where would we get lunch - the nearest place was Sheildaig - 45 miles in, too far - and this was where Tom was invaluable. He met us at the top of a hill, and believe you me there were many short, sharp, steep exhausting hills, he had bananas, nuts, biscuits, enough to keep us going. So grateful !!! We then continued on to Sheildag where Jillian uttered the prophetic words -‘ I hope there is not a Gala Day’. There was - the annual village fete in the rain - but everyone was so friendly, we enjoyed hot tea, coffee and beef burgers, absolute bliss. Another 15 miles to go, everyone feeling tired but glad we were almost there and then the heavens opened - it chucked down. I’m afraid I then upped the pace hoping to encourage everyone to reach Kinlochewe in good time. We had a wonderful tailwind and the hills flattened out a bit, we felt we were on top of the world - misty, bleak, barren. 61 miles in we reached Kinlochewe and the welcome sight of Murray and Neil standing at the roadside to welcome us in. Murray took our bikes guided us to our hotel rooms then dried and lubed the bikes. By this time we just wanted looked after, wonderful. It was a very eventual day in all respects - weather good and bad, Linda’s mechanical, constant steep hills after the Beach na Bar but I was so proud of everyone. We coped with whatever was flung at us, made good decisions, looked out for each other and kept smiling. It may sound like an awful day but it wasn’t - we had a tailwind , it wasn’t cold and we saw humour in many situations. The scenery was breathtaking, what a beautiful part of the world we are privileged to live in. At one point I thought we will never get there , always stopping to take photos. Delicious dinner in the Kinlochewe Hotel with Murray giving his weather report and Tom his places of interest report. We are all very tired tonight and away to bed at 9.30 pm but you know what - we had fun, fun, fun !! ( Again apologises for delay - bad signal ).
No comments:
Post a Comment