A Hebridean Adventure

To The Pipers 16.6.09

2010-03-02T15:12:00.005Z

So that's It I'm sitting in a very comfortable B+B "The Wireless Cottage"

Today is the first day I have had a real head wind and it was horrendous. So with the weather turning I have decided to call it a day and leave Barra for another time.

So with my tired sun burnt legs at last resting with a hot cup of tea in my hand Its time to think of all the wonderful memories that I have gathered on my trip.

The Blind Biker, Mad Max biker, The Lad from Trinidad, the cyclist biking down the edge of Britain, Sun burnt knees, numb bum, porridge, banana's, breakfastt bars, Beer and chilling out at the Black House. Its been some voyage.

As a complete fluke pipers are playing in the local pub the
" Lochboisedale Hotel" tonight and its looks like its gonna be some night.......Here's to the Pipers.

Windy Bernery 15.6.09

2010-03-02T14:36:00.007Z

The day dawned clear and windy. So it was down to the usual chores of breakfast, packing up and a final check to see that I hadn't left anything behind.
I said my "good bye's" and left the bunkhouse for the open road.
As I followed the coastal route round the Island the day grew hotter and hotter. With the result I had a pair of knees that resembled two bright red beacons with my ears beginning to fry also. Stopped at the Naafi Shop at benbecula for some much needed sun cream and supplies of food.

With the stunning scenery I stopped several times to catch the view's and take photos. With day slowly simmering into evening I arrived at the campsite to pitch my tent and go of in search of a much needed beer where I enjoyed a couple games of pool with a local. After supper a stroll along a deserted beech to catch the last rays of sun finishing off with a pint at the Dark Island Hotel.

Extract from Diary 14-06-2009.

2009-10-25T11:19:00.010Z

Awoke to a full cooked breakfast and a big pot of tea it was hard to leave the generosity given by my hosts.
But continue on I must.
As I write this I am on the ferry to Bernery and Noth Uist I wish that Elaine and the kids were here.

The bunkhouse at Bernery is one of these special places in the world it has a magic calming influence. Camping at bunkhouses is fun because of the rich variety of people you meet all with a story to tell. You are not alone for long.
The weather is warm and fair. Looking to getting on the road tomorrow, who knows whom I might meet.

Bad Sleep 13.6.09

2009-10-06T09:25:00.008+01:00

Extract from Diary 13-06-2009.

Bad sleep last night never the less up and at it to have big bowl of porridge, marmalade and a steaming pot of tea. Its started raining too. " Oh well" time to pack up and hit the road.

That was some day the Clisham Pass was very steep, never ending but the scenery was stunning (no Eagles Though)

As I wright this I am comfy in a warm bed at my cousins Ali and Cathlene who offered a bed for the night at Tarbert. Ali showed me the fish farms in the evening. the air was clear quiet warm and still.

What a day.

All along The Edge to Myself 12.6.09

2009-09-27T10:11:00.007+01:00

Extract from Diary 12-06-2009.
Arrival:
Left Ullapool with A Heavy heart as I didn't like leaving Elaine all alone at the pier.
So with the thoughts of tomorrows run drifting through my head I settle into the campsite at Stornoway with a windswept semi landscaped aspect. The wind is rising with a distinct chill in the air.
Hopefully tomorrow will be OK.
While I was on the ferry I met "Mad Max" on his old K1000 motor bike and his Friends one of whom was blind riding pillion.

Time for the Off draws nearer

2009-06-11T14:17:00.002+01:00

"OOH ere !"
The time for me going draws near. My gear is spread across the bedroom and i am wondering how its all going to fit in.
My wife has just resorted to shaking her head in miss belief. The Kids just laugh.
Inside my gut are turning at the thought (Its only a week at the West coast of Scotland an area I know well).
An its raining cats, Dogs, pigs, cows, and anything else the great god almighty wishes to through down. "Oh Well"
Back to the packing I suppose.
One more night of work and its off tomorrow to the wide blue yonder ....so to speak

Thats a Date Then

2009-06-02T17:37:00.003+01:00

That's it I have finally set a date to set off on this trip.
So on the Friday 12th June I head off to Ullapool to catch the ferry to Stornoway.
Training has been going fine and I have been biking to work over the hill as much as I can, getting about 50 to 70 miles a week.
Woohoo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disaster

2009-05-05T15:43:00.008+01:00

Disaster this week, The quick release skewer broke on the trailer, thank goodness it broke at home and not on the trip. The cheapness's of the trailer really shows and I suppose its my fault for being a cheep skate.
A quick chat with my mate at Standfast Engineering and a new bit was made and as the pictures shows all is good.
A big thanks to Gav and Standfast for sorting me out.

A long Slog To Huntly and Back

2009-04-28T17:45:00.003+01:00

Broke out the bike and the trailer for today's (18th April) challenge to bike from Craigellachie to Huntly and back again.
This time loaded my rig with 15 kilo's of stone chippings along with the rest of my usual gear the total weight was just short of 18 kilo's.
The bike is still pretty much configured for off roading ie Big chunky tread on the tyres so this would be a real good chance to see how my legs would cope with the long pull over the Course Mahl pass to Hunlty.

It was a hard pull and we, the bike and I made it over and back again though I have to admit it was a slog towards the end. I have fitted some semi slicks to the bike now and I am appreciating the difference in drag.

Training this weekend past (25th April) took a different twist as I went walking instead and tackled a couple of Munroe's and had a chance to try out the tent that I have purchased for the trip.

It was great to walk for a change and to strech my legs. The tent was fine with plenty of space to spread out with all the stuff that I seem to take with me.

The blue tent is mine, a Vango Spectre 200

First Training run With a Bag Of Spuds

2009-03-05T15:52:00.003Z

It was great to get out eventually and try the whole rig out. Also it was good to see what it felt like pulling weight up hill Puff Puff Puff!!!!
I utilised a couple of bags of spuds and old clothes to bring the weight up to around 10 kilos, I recon on around 20 for the trip so I will bring the weight up as I continue training.
I have found it use full that the surface of most of the fire tracks around my area resembles Strong Velcro...very good resistance training.
It was a good 15 mile over a mixture of fire road and tarmac with a couple of good stiff climbs. felt so much better than sweating it out in the gym.
The bike was fine and the trailer was fine but I am not convinced about the strength of the hook up to the bike yet but as i get more miles in we will see how it survives.

Getting Fatter

2009-02-19T12:13:00.003Z

The fitness regime is not going well so as of nxt week upping the visits to the gym to twice a week.
The past fortnight my area has been blanketed in a foot or so of snow so out door biking has been out.
Whats worse the chocy biscuits just keep on popping in through gritted teeth.
The snow has begun to melt so hopefully will be able to get out more.

Training for the Trip

2008-11-23T15:03:00.007Z

The major variable of the trip is of course my fitness and that so far has become the major issue for me at the moment. Getting hold of the hardware is easy , you just buy it or borrow or whatever. The only way to up the fitness is to get out and ride every day rain or shine and I am very lucky in that respect as I can choose to cycle to work over the hill. But that’s where I am finding it a problem as when I look out the window at 5 in the morning and its blowing a “Hoolly” I sneak into the car and off I go another day only 1 day. That’s where I am going to have to motivate myself some how, some how. A now the ground is covered in snow so the inclination to go out is even less. it's looking as though as I will have to go to that horrrible place... Sweatshop ... otherwise known as The Gym. At least the new wheels have arrived

New frame For the adventure

2008-11-11T17:24:00.000Z

Over the past couple of days I have managed to purloin a new frame for the trip. It was nice and cheep off the net. I was able to utilise most of the bits off the NRS for it too. It rides very nicely and has survived a battering round the foothills of the Cairngorms last weekend . Nearer the trip I think I will shave a few more pounds of it by fitting nice rigid forks and a nice new true set of wheels for it..

2008-11-11T17:16:00.001Z

New Frame for the Adventure
by freehighlander @ 2008-10-26 – 15:01:40
Over the past couple of days I have managed to purloin a new frame for the trip. It was nice and cheep off the net. I was able to utilise most of the bits off the NRS for it too. It rides very nicely and has survived a battering round the foothills of the Cairngorms last weekend . Nearer the trip I think I will shave a few more pounds of it by fitting nice rigid forks and a nice new true set of wheels for it..

A Hebredean Adventure

2008-10-05T23:58:00.000+01:00

A Hebridean Adventure.

Captain slows adventure

The first chills of autumn have just begun and I am already dreaming of some challenge to look forward and help get through the bleak winter months.

Inspired by Euan McGregor and Charley Boarmans Long Way round Trips I want to plan and execute a trip of my own. Neither my wife nor the bank balance would stand a round the world trip but I’m sure she would let me off for a week treading the tarmac of the Outer Hebrides. So As I dream of what I could achieve, a plan formulates in my mind and its time to sketch down a few notes. Where will this lead I do not know but now I have something to occupy my mind for the coming winter months.

The first part of the plan is to decide which way I will do it and what to include on my trip. North or South.
The latter decision is already confusing as, on one website it suggests a south North run due to prevailing winds being South Westerly. But my brother says he recalls the prevailing winds to be Nor westerly which would suggest a North South Run. I would prefer to get the more mountainous crossing of Lewis and Harris over at the beginning of the trip but further research is required on this aspect that’s for sure.
The other main consideration is Ferries and timing arrivals at the appropriate terminals this is by the far simpler choice as I only have one carrier to choose from good old Caledonian MacBrayne .
The whole trip does not look so hard when viewed from a fairly small scale map as the one shown here.

The other consideration is that I find road cycling quite boaring and so feel that I need to challenge myself to do that what I actively try to avoid at all costs, cycling on roads. So where better than the stunning Outer Hebrides.

So where am I in the Plan?Well I have A Route.....I think

Stornoway Callanish Tarbert Leverburgh.

The Uists

Barra

In that order

When?? Probably Mid May 2009

Time Frame:6 to 7 days

Well I was going to use my long suffering Giant NRS but after considering I think it would be more prudent to use a Hard tail as I will be pulling a Yak trailer for the Gear. I will post up soon what I end up with as I find Frame Wheels and other bits to build my Hedridean Steed.

Accommodation

Camping where possible.

That's the plan lets see how it changes over the coming months