Chaplog tries hard In which an ageing climber comes to terms with life closer to the ground.

I always promised myself that I would buy a BMW motorcycle. That dream has faded. I did, more recently, desire a Titanium bicycle. I now have one and yes it was expensive enough!

We caught a ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick. We saw many useful things left in bus shelters for their owners return – wellington boots and cycles of all kinds. A fully furnished bus shelter is a rare sight.

A showcase bus shelter

The Shetland photographs

We caught the ferry from John o’Groats to Burwick and then cycled across the Churchill barriers to Kirkwall.

We made a visit to see the Old Man of Hoy. It was lovely weather apart from the fog that hugged a part of the island and spoilt our view.

You can see the photographs here

The photographs

Someone who needs no introduction

Loch Lomand – Ballahulish

103 Km
5 hours 15 min
Av Speed 19.7 Km/hr

Loch Lomand to Glencoe is a road I know well, the A82, I spent a week during each February half-term holiday in this part of Scotland for at least 10 years when I used to go ice climbing on the Ben and in Glencoe.
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Loch Lomand after a very wet day

Llandrindod Wells – Mollington (Chester)
9 hours 11 min
Av speed 16.8 km/hr
Distance 155 Km

I woke up expecting to have to abandon the trip or at least take a few days break and re-book the hostels. I went for a trial run before breakfast and my leg ached but there was no pain.
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Cheddar – Porth
6 hours 56 min
Avg 18.1 Km/hr
Distance 126 km

Perfect weather blue sky and no wind. I climbed up Cheddar Gorge stopping to take a photograph of a climb, Corronation St that I climbed with Rick many years ago.
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2nd August Lands End to Golant Youth Hostel (East of St Austell)

King Harry Ferry across the river Fal.
105 Km
6 hours 8 min
Av Speed 17.2 Km/hr

St Michael’s mount

I rode down to Lands End in the rain. I got another cyclist, who was going to do the route and camping – taking three weeks, to take my photo. The rain soon stopped and I cycled down small lanes with no views as the hedges were so tall. The Highlight of the day was the King Harry Ferry across the river Fal a steep descent through woods down to the river and then the ferry.

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Hermaness Nature Reserve (Unst Shetlands) about as far North as You can get in the British Isles without hiring a boat to get you to Out Stack – the full stop that is in the margin of Ordance Survery map One.

The bare bones of the journey are below – more to come

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I Hired a car and drove down to Penzance over night starting at 3:30 am. – I am scared of traffic jams – I arrived at 9:30 am. (more…)