It was the smell of the finish line and the smell of 3 week unwashed cycling clothes that got H to remove himself sloth like from his bed (admittedly in pain) so we could enjoy our breakfast and hit the road.
Fittingly after 4 weeks of indifferent weather our last day should be sunny as we made our way along a walking / cycling trail around what would have been a beautiful Loch Leven if you could see through the 6 foot high weeds and long grass.
It has been a constant reminder on tour of the shortcomings of the UK government's cost cutting exercises with road verges in dreadful condition and rail trails, road fringes and areas of council responsibility so overgrown with grass and weeds - this is something you would not see in many European countries.
One of these overgrown areas brought me undone this morning as I came to a trail intersection. Attempting to read a sign while avoiding an Oldie and her unleashed dog I overbalanced. Unfortunately for me I'd stopped unknown right next to a big ditch (overgrown with weeds) and simply rolled over bike and all into what H described as a Weed filled sink hole.
While more embarrassed than hurt i noticed in standing back up that my leg and arms were starting to fire up - the penny dropped I'd picked a patch of stinging nettles to fall into !
Cycling through Kinross we took on our last climb for the tour a goodish 3km climb a testing gradient but also with some wonderful views looking back towards Loch Leven.
A great descent followed into Dunfermline where we then made our way on a circuitous s shaped route to the Forth Bridge some 10kms distant.
With the new bridge in place over the Forth it meant that the not so old former bridge served as a freeway option for buses, a couple of taxis and quite a few cyclists and walkers.
With our journey completed amidst celebratory well wishes it was time to pack Henley off to the Greater Western Hospital where checks thankfully revealed no serious damage other than some exceedingly sore ribs.
Tomorrow we begin the 2nd part of our tour which includes some sightseeing as well as some cycling in Wales, Dorset, The Isle of Wight and Devon. For the moment it's time to reflect on our great tour of magical Scotland.
Sent from my iPad
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
It was the smell of the finish line and the smell of 3 week unwashed cycling clothes that got H to remove himself sloth like from his bed (a...
-
Of all the things that have epitomised the remoteness of Nth West Scotland the home delivery Tesco van that brings supermarket goods to loca...
-
In the New Forest Moreton Church Wareham T E Lawrences' grave Poole Harbour
No comments:
Post a Comment