Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Outer Hebrides, Day 1.
To say we are being lucky with the weather would be understating it. In fact lucky doesn't even come close. I had been slightly dreading this part of our holiday as Mrs D gets seasick in a pedalo, and the outer isles have a fearsome reputation for rough seas and horizontal rain. Turned out it was 18 degrees today though, with blue, cloudless skies, following on from yesterday's ferry across a millpond of a Hebridean Sea. What is going on with the weather? Today was our first full day on the islands, and was to be a busy one, taking in (by car) seven islands, all connected by causeways. Somehow, (and I'm not sure how), I was also able to squeeze in two short bike rides on 3 of the islands. (Well, you've got to, haven't you?).
Ride 1: Got up at stupid o'clock to make the short ride from our hotel along the coast of South Uist and over the causeway to Eriskay and back before breakfast. Watched the sun come up over the hills of South Uist before heading over the causeway to Eriskay. Played hide and seek with a curious seal along the causeway, and carried on onto this little gem of an island. Passed the "Am Politician" pub -named after the steamer full of scotch that sank off this coast in 1941 with predictable illicit consequences, inspiring the book (and film) "Whisky Galore". Some lovely little steep but short hill climbs showed off the coastline and lovely beaches at their best, and after reaching the ferry terminal for Barra, I turned tail and enjoyed it all again, albeit sprinting to get back in time for a quick shower before breakfast. 12.6 miles before my haddock and poached egg.
Dawn ride along the South coast of South Uist.
Sunrise over South Uist - seen from the causeway to Eriskay.
Catholic shrine on Eriskay. South Uist in background.
White sandy beach on Eriskay.
Ride 2: After a great day's drive, we arrived at the Langass Lodge on North Uist after doing a whistlestop tour of 7 islands in a day, In the time between our arrival and our table booking in the restaurant, I managed to do the honourable Cyclechat thing and squeeze another ride in. This time I had to sprint a bit, out along a rough track to the nice wide main road, then a mile along the A road and then hung a left into a little single-track road running along Loch Eport right up to the East coast of North Uist. Passed an ugly old ruined and abandoned whaling station before the road became stunningly beautiful, passing houses and bungalows scattered sparsely above the South bank of the loch, which was looking ridiculously blue in this astonishingly good weather. My maxim has always been "Keep Right On 'Til The End Of The Road", so that was precisely what I did - clock-watching all the way, and eventually turning tail again at the turning area at the very end of the loch (and the last moment possible) and sprinting back hell-for-leather just in time for another shower and our evening meal in the hotel. Made it by 2 minutes! Another 13.6 miles, so 26.2 miles in all today, somehow!
The road along Loch Eport. A cycling paradise (- at least it is in this weather).
And again.Still no traffic.
I've been wondering lately just what it is that I want to get out of my cycling. Rushing around at speed keeping up with others? Putting miles on the clock for the sake of it? Not really. I've decided that I have to do that stuff to keep ride fit, but these are the days I do all that for. It's just fantastic being able to get out and about in new and exhilarating places in the knowledge that you can get up every hill and you don't have to miss a thing.This is bliss.
Planning to get up at stupid o'clock again tomorrow to ride into Lochmaddy and back before Mrs D gets up. Then we are off via the ferry from Berneray to Harris, where I plan to get another ride in before dinner, then a proper ride the next day . Anyway, smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast. Cheers, Donger.
To say we are being lucky with the weather would be understating it. In fact lucky doesn't even come close. I had been slightly dreading this part of our holiday as Mrs D gets seasick in a pedalo, and the outer isles have a fearsome reputation for rough seas and horizontal rain. Turned out it was 18 degrees today though, with blue, cloudless skies, following on from yesterday's ferry across a millpond of a Hebridean Sea. What is going on with the weather? Today was our first full day on the islands, and was to be a busy one, taking in (by car) seven islands, all connected by causeways. Somehow, (and I'm not sure how), I was also able to squeeze in two short bike rides on 3 of the islands. (Well, you've got to, haven't you?).
Ride 1: Got up at stupid o'clock to make the short ride from our hotel along the coast of South Uist and over the causeway to Eriskay and back before breakfast. Watched the sun come up over the hills of South Uist before heading over the causeway to Eriskay. Played hide and seek with a curious seal along the causeway, and carried on onto this little gem of an island. Passed the "Am Politician" pub -named after the steamer full of scotch that sank off this coast in 1941 with predictable illicit consequences, inspiring the book (and film) "Whisky Galore". Some lovely little steep but short hill climbs showed off the coastline and lovely beaches at their best, and after reaching the ferry terminal for Barra, I turned tail and enjoyed it all again, albeit sprinting to get back in time for a quick shower before breakfast. 12.6 miles before my haddock and poached egg.
Dawn ride along the South coast of South Uist.
Sunrise over South Uist - seen from the causeway to Eriskay.
Catholic shrine on Eriskay. South Uist in background.
White sandy beach on Eriskay.
Ride 2: After a great day's drive, we arrived at the Langass Lodge on North Uist after doing a whistlestop tour of 7 islands in a day, In the time between our arrival and our table booking in the restaurant, I managed to do the honourable Cyclechat thing and squeeze another ride in. This time I had to sprint a bit, out along a rough track to the nice wide main road, then a mile along the A road and then hung a left into a little single-track road running along Loch Eport right up to the East coast of North Uist. Passed an ugly old ruined and abandoned whaling station before the road became stunningly beautiful, passing houses and bungalows scattered sparsely above the South bank of the loch, which was looking ridiculously blue in this astonishingly good weather. My maxim has always been "Keep Right On 'Til The End Of The Road", so that was precisely what I did - clock-watching all the way, and eventually turning tail again at the turning area at the very end of the loch (and the last moment possible) and sprinting back hell-for-leather just in time for another shower and our evening meal in the hotel. Made it by 2 minutes! Another 13.6 miles, so 26.2 miles in all today, somehow!
The road along Loch Eport. A cycling paradise (- at least it is in this weather).
And again.Still no traffic.
I've been wondering lately just what it is that I want to get out of my cycling. Rushing around at speed keeping up with others? Putting miles on the clock for the sake of it? Not really. I've decided that I have to do that stuff to keep ride fit, but these are the days I do all that for. It's just fantastic being able to get out and about in new and exhilarating places in the knowledge that you can get up every hill and you don't have to miss a thing.This is bliss.
Planning to get up at stupid o'clock again tomorrow to ride into Lochmaddy and back before Mrs D gets up. Then we are off via the ferry from Berneray to Harris, where I plan to get another ride in before dinner, then a proper ride the next day . Anyway, smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast. Cheers, Donger.