The only way is up: Land's End to John o' Groats 2015

[Neverna]

Don't forget the traditional Scottish desert - a deep fried Mars bar.

[dirk diggler]

I generally dont bother with sweet dishes but battered mars bars are actually quite good. I sell them in my shop in Songkhla, or snickers if you prefer.

Anyway, well done with the adventure this far, It is a remarkable achievement and worthy of eleventy million cool points.

Did you weigh in before you set off? You're a winner if you do that and put on weight.

[kingwilly]

Scotch Egg - gotta have one, Slaps; deep fried if need be...

Scotch egg, yum.

Bacon, yum

Gandalf's magic fuckin staff topped with a scotch egg and wrapped in bacon? ??? We?

[patsycat]

Scotch Egg - gotta have one, Slaps; deep fried if need be...

That looks like an "ice cream cone" of bacon with an egg stuck on top.

If he ordered that in Scotland he would be laughed all the way back to Gretna Green.

Pies in Scotland are not poncy with puff pastry as they are in England.

Two weeks ago, Slap, we could have met up in Edinburgh. You just weren't cycling fast enough!!!

[Neverna]

Pies in Scotland are not poncy with puff pastry as they are in England.

Puff pastry is slightly more appetizing than the greasy flaky pastry used for bridies (and sausage rolls).

[PAG]

[QUOTE=patsycat;3089101][
Pies in Scotland are not poncy with puff pastry as they are in England.

/QUOTE]

Actually, one of the most popular pies in Scotland is the Forfar Bridie, which is frequently made with puff pastry.

[taxexile]

[Jack meoff]

Hoping there's a Spoons in Inverness or I shall be most disappointed.

There is indeed called the Kings Highway on church street. See you there on Saturday

[Dillinger]

Oh Slap would bike 500 miles
And Slap would bike 500 more
Just to be the one that Biked a thousand miles
To jack some guy off he met on Teakdoor

Bad da bop pa, bada bop pa.........

[patsycat]

Those twins give me the heeby jeebies..

[patsycat]

[QUOTE=PAG;3089112]

[
Pies in Scotland are not poncy with puff pastry as they are in England.

/QUOTE]

Actually, one of the most popular pies in Scotland is the Forfar Bridie, which is frequently made with puff pastry.

He wasn't in Forfar was he? He was in Fife. Where the pies are not made with puff pastry. Unless he asked for one.

[somtamslap]

Another long day. I'm in spitting distance of the fucker now. Day report en route...

[somtamslap]

A monumental slog took place today during the first 60 miles.

I left the pub I'd stayed above at around 7.45, no one else was up - in fact I think the landlord was still passed out at the bar. So I began today with no breakfast having been eaten.

Keen to make some good progress I found a pretty efficient cycle lane (as in it was reasonably direct) and braved the rain for 30 miles until I met Pitlochry where I had a chicken and bacon baguette, a cup of coffee and a can of coke - and a good chat with the proprietor. I'm beginning to warm to these Scottish lassies, if ya ken what I mean.

I then began a 20 MILE ascent into the Highlands; in the rain with a very strong headwind. Needless to say I questioned my sanity more than once and even considered hitching a ride up the A9. But I battled to the summit and amid the pain and unpleasantness of it all slowly became encompassed by incredible scenery...

Approaching Pitlochry...



A bit of local history...



Ascending into the Highlands...





(notice coca cola in the water bottle there





Of course - if you'll excuse the cliché - what goes up, must come down. And in this instance I'm happy to report I was treated to a 30 mile descent. Fooking dancer!

Now in Aviemore with two days left of the trip.

Ave it!

Loch Alvie this evening...

[chassamui]

The cycle track looks desolate - in a good way.

[somtamslap]

I saw two other riders on that path in 92 miles. I've started listening to audiobooks to stave off insanity.

[kingwilly]

Simply gorgeous scenery.

[patsycat]

Did you go by Carrbridge and see the bridge. You were in my country there.

Just up about ten miles from Aviemore.

Grantown on Spey etc.

[somtamslap]

Grantown on Spey etc.

Went through it, Pats, or near it, or saw a sign for it at least.

I was starting to hurt quite considerably by then so not much was going in.

[chassamui]

Try, "How to win" by a bloke called Lance Armstrong, super motivation.

[buriramboy]

Little village called Carrbridge where my Grandparents retired to only about 5 - 10 miles North of Aviemore, used to have somewhere called the landmark centre there which was basically a tree top walk, I'm going back 30 years though so no idea if still there but was good fun as kids.

No idea which way you are going when get out of Aviemore but presumably you will be following the A9 up to Inverness but you have a choice just North of Aviemore you can either fork left and take the A9 up to Inverness or bear right and take the A95 which will take you through Speyside and the Cairngorms national park and all the distillery's you will encounter makes it worth while as you get a free tour and dram to keep you going.

[somtamslap]

I must admit, I widnae say no to a wee dab of speed, likesay...

[somtamslap]

^^Thanks for the heads up BB.

[buriramboy]

^^Thanks for the heads up BB.

If I'd had some notice would have sorted you out for an evening if my cousin was around as my family distillery is only 3 miles from Aberlour, longest family run one still going if were going that way.

As far as I know they still have the whisky trail going on, basically about 10 distillery's get a free tour and drink in each one!!!! Good fun on a bike I imagine.

[kingwilly]

If I'd had some notice

Presumably daily updates on this thread do not count as notice that he might be getting close to your family place in Scotland.

[somtamslap]

If I'd had some notice would have sorted you out for an evening

To be honest I didn't know I was gonna stay here until about 5 o' clock this evening when my legs told me to fuck off.