Backpacking has been put aside for a whole weekend! The road bike is out & I've signed up for an ETape; not something I have done previously. An Etape is an actual cycle race 🚴♀️. It's on closed roads. This one starts and finishes in Inverness. Going around Loch Ness & the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Approx 66 Miles (105 km's) 3,400 ft (1,09 m) of elevation on what has been described as a challenging route 🚴😊. My Bib number is 6401 with a start time of 06:20, so best be up bright and early!!
For the bike people like me who may be reading this. I'm using my Felt VR, it's an endurance bike, not a racing bike. It has Shimano Di2 105 gearing, with a 50/34 Crankset & a 12 speed 34 cassette. She is affectionately known as Fuzzy Felt.
Do other people have names for their bikes?? Or is just me that's a bit sad 😉
Rather than stay in a hotel, I've chosen to go glamping & its beautiful, set in woodlands at Drumnodrochit, about 18 miles outside of Inverness. It is stunning 😍 couldn't really come to Scotland & not take a picture of a Highland COO 😁
Sunday started cold & grey 🥶, I came prepared, 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of gloves & 4 winter layers. My OH telling me how warm & lovely it is at home, here it was 2o at 4.30 am 😱.
I've cycled most today with a guy called Phil from Lincolnshire, his longest ever ride 👏👏. If you read this Phil - thank you for the company 😊
The ride itself is amazing, superb, what's not to love about the Scottish Highlands. Fab scenery, highland coo's wonderful wildlife & the odd 7 1/2 km climb thrown in for good measure 🥰. I loved it. At the top of the biggest climb of the day, a guy was playing "she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes" on the bagpipes - well why wouldn't you!
Food......On all my trips, I love to eat food I've never tried before & this trip is no exception!
A Haggis & Cheddar Toastie ..... interesting 🧐 jury is still out. I'm hoping it's not like smoked fish 🐟 that you can enjoy 5 days later 🤢🤣
Thank you for reading.
Please leave a comment, your email address will not be published, if you don't want to leave a comment no probs. give a star rating - thank you 😊
Add comment
Comments
What a great ride. 🤣🤣 the idea of you cycling with a piper playing “ she’ll be coming round the mountain” is hilarious. Looking forward to hearing all about it.
Well. No bag pipes playing when I did it. Well done. All amazing. 🚴🏻♀️👏🏻
Well done Wendy - glad to see that the sun did come out for you xx
Well done on doing the ride especially after getting up at that time in the morning sounds like you enjoyed it see you soon
You certainly get around on that bike. Looks amazing. Gotta love the haggis!