Moodyman
Legendary Member
I’ve just returned from a week’s tour in the Scottish Highlands and was reminiscing about the memorable encounters I had.
1. First day, arrived at campsite at dusk after a long day of trains and coach. It was damp, cold and windy (by the sea). A woman from a nearby static caravan came out with a hot cup of tea. She explained her family had been watching me put up the tent and thought I could do with warming up. When I returned the washed mug an older man (father, presume) invited me into their caravan, which I declined.
2. Third day, arrived at campsite wet and shivering (rained all day). Asked warden if there was a camper’s kitchen on the site, he said no, but opened up the staff caravan for me to use the kitchen and warm up. Even put heating on.
3. Another day, struggling up yet another steep hill, a campervan pulls alongside and says: “for everything up, there is a down. You’ve got a long downhill after the next bend”. That was the final push I needed.
4. Running short of water, I knocked on a local’s door to fill up my bottles. This turned into a 20 minute natter about cycling, the local terrain and a small pep talk from him about what was ahead. He was a cyclist too. As I left, he asked if I needed some food. I transformed from being knackered and peed off to having the wind at my back. And the water, from a nearby loch, tasted great.
These things remind me why cycle touring is so friggin brilliant.
So, c’mon share your experiences.
1. First day, arrived at campsite at dusk after a long day of trains and coach. It was damp, cold and windy (by the sea). A woman from a nearby static caravan came out with a hot cup of tea. She explained her family had been watching me put up the tent and thought I could do with warming up. When I returned the washed mug an older man (father, presume) invited me into their caravan, which I declined.
2. Third day, arrived at campsite wet and shivering (rained all day). Asked warden if there was a camper’s kitchen on the site, he said no, but opened up the staff caravan for me to use the kitchen and warm up. Even put heating on.
3. Another day, struggling up yet another steep hill, a campervan pulls alongside and says: “for everything up, there is a down. You’ve got a long downhill after the next bend”. That was the final push I needed.
4. Running short of water, I knocked on a local’s door to fill up my bottles. This turned into a 20 minute natter about cycling, the local terrain and a small pep talk from him about what was ahead. He was a cyclist too. As I left, he asked if I needed some food. I transformed from being knackered and peed off to having the wind at my back. And the water, from a nearby loch, tasted great.
These things remind me why cycle touring is so friggin brilliant.
So, c’mon share your experiences.
