Saturday: Accompanied Martin (MSeries) on the next leg of his journey.=20
Having prepped all my stuff for a one night tour (Tent, sleeping bag,=20
etc.) I discovered the beginnings of a nice new crack in the recumbent=20
frame (See other post). I decided to ride on anyway and check it once we=20
reached the bridges to see if it had got any worse where I could then=20
decide what to do.
I led the way through the maze that is the NCN 1 on its approach to the=20
Forth Bridges, where we stopped for a photo opportunity. We then headed=20
on over the bridge and into Fife. There was a brief period of confusion=20
once over the bridge as to which road we wanted. For some reason the=20
signposts were suggesting that we head under the A90 to the west side of=20
it, while the map said east. We decided that we were misreading the sign=20
and went east.
Cowdenbeath-Kelty-Kinross. Passed with little notable excitement except=20
for the confirmation that I need some lower gears on the bent and that=20
it goes down hill quite well. There was a lovely descent into Kelty=20
which was sadly cut short by a T-junction. As we left Kelty we reached=20
the border of Perthshire which was a "photo opportunity" as Martin is=20
trying to get a photo of the "Welcome to..." county signs as he passes=20
them. In Kinross we stopped for lunch. Refuelled by baked potatoes and=20
beans on toast we continued.
Kinross-Bridge of Earn-Perth. Kinross to Bridge of Earn was a bit of=20
haul. A few relatively major roads to start with and some more hills=20
(Did I mention a need for lower gears?). One of these however introduced=20
the first real highlight for the day. Having finally crested the top,=20
Martin suggested that I roll on ahead and he'd take a photo then catch=20
me up. I began the descent. After he'd taken the photo I stopped braking=20
and relaxed into it.
It turned out to be quite long. Having reached over 35mph without=20
pedalling it flattened out for a bit and I was just about to start=20
braking and wait for Martin when I saw the warning sign for the 12%=20
gradient. I released the brakes and "tucked in" (Hands on the main bars=20
as close to the seat as I could.). When I hit the first corner I was=20
concerned that it was going to be a twisty road but then it straightened=20
out into a dead straight, no holds barred descent. Tucked in again and=20
kept glancing at the speedo. I was smiling when it reached 40mph,=20
grinning like an idiot when it hit 45mph and shrieking with delight as I=20
watched it clock up from 47mph, to 48mph. Rather successfully beat the=20
46mph that I was aiming for!
Interestingly, despite being quite heavily laden down and on a frame=20
that was overdue for a service, the bent handled admirably at speed. It=20
seems that the faster it goes, the better it behaves.
Anyway, main roads into Perth and back out again on the A93, with Martin=20
chuckling at the attention that the bent collects. My favourite comment=20
on the trip being "Can you balance on that?" as I rode past. The answer=20
could be deemed "self-evident"!
About 3 miles out of Perth we stopped for refreshments at a Farm Shop=20
for a strawberry farm. We were hoping that the benches outside indicated=20
a cafe, but it was not to be. They did have cold drinks and some=20
biscuits that were basically shortbread but sweeter so we took time out,=20
restocked on water and rode on. From here it was basically up and down=20
until we reached Blairgowrie.
At Blairgowrie we stopped at the Tourist information to try and find=20
somewhere to stay. The nearby campsite was full, but their partner site=20
5 miles north had spaces. Both sites charged =A314/tent/night. Given that=
=20
for =A325 ea we could get a twin room in a B+B it didn't really seem worth=
=20
it. There was another campsite that was marked on Martin's map but the=20
tourist office had no information on it other than that they thought it=20
was a farmer's field which he let people camp in. They couldn't contact=20
him, or find prices.
We thought about it for a while and decided to eat in Blairgowrie and=20
then continue north. If the site existed we would use it, and if it=20
didn't, we'd either find a farm to enquire at, or head down one of the=20
side roads and pitch in a forest. Dinner was reasonable and we were=20
lucky as the cafe / restaurant we chose was closing not long from when=20
we arrived. After questioning from one of the staff as to where we were=20
going, we received some complementary cakes from the cafe and (rather=20
bizarely) a leaflet on finding God in Perthshire. I've kept this as a=20
momento because it makes me laugh (Probably not the right attitude but=20
oh well. Lightening bolts here we come!).
We rode on out and as dinner kicked in, realised that we could probably=20
both keep going. The only problems were that I had no lights and had to=20
return to Edinburgh on Sunday, and that a fog was slowly rolling in=20
bringing with it the promise of insects! We reached the area where we=20
were expecting to find the site and lo, to our right there was a field=20
of motor homes and permanent holiday caravans. We rolled in and looked=20
around a little confused until someone came out. He wasn't the owner,=20
but explained that it was owned by the farmer and to just pitch the=20
tents and the farmer would come around to collect the money later. He=20
reckoned it'd probably be about =A36.
We found a suitable patch of ground, set up camp and made use of the=20
toilets to clean ourselves up a bit. I had a stove with me, so we=20
relaxed with a very civilised cup of tea and waited for the arrival of=20
the farmer. When he turned up, we chatted for a while about where we had=20
ridden and what Martin was up to (And of course, about what they weather=20
would be like!). Then we got down to business. "Call it a fiver" said=20
the farmer. "Each?" we said. "No. For the pair of you".
So. Two tents, two people, use of a small area of ground for bike=20
parking and the use of the toilets for =A32.50 each! Seemed reasonable to=
=20
me. So by way of recommendation, anyone doing LeJOG and travelling along=20
the A93 11 miles north of Blairgowrie, the farm at Middleton of=20
Dalrulzion offers a fantastic rate for lightweight campers and is a=20
really nice guy. Blairgowrie Holiday Camp, you can keep your swimming=20
pools and pony trekking courses!
Distance covered: just under 74 miles (Also making it the longest=20
journey that I've done on the recumbent (And very close to the furthest=20
I've ever ridden in a day!).
Martin had now done over 300 miles on this tour and was still rolling.
The following day we rose, drank more tea. Waited for the sun to dry the=20
tents a little then packed up and set off. I took a photo of Martin on=20
his bike (Basically to show that he was riding as well) and then we went=20
our separate ways. He headed northwards up the A93, and I headed back to=20
Blairgowrie to find out train times, and then back to Perth to catch a=20
train. The aforementioned crack had now reached far enough to discourage=20
me from riding all the way back to Edinburgh.
Made it back to Waverly station to discover that the Festival Cavalcade=20
was on and that I couldn't get out of the station.
First cop: Just wander along to the taxi entrance and they'll let you=20
out onto the road and you head up to Prince's Street.
Second cop (At the relevant entrance): You're best walking down there=20
<Indicates the packed pavement>. There's a crossing at the end and then=20
you can get out onto that road <The mound>.
Me: Can't I head out to Prince's Street?
SC: Yeah, I suppose. But it's just as congested that way. <Look out at=20
empty road.>
Me: Sod it, I'll go back through the station <I don't really fancy=20
riding past all spectators who are there to watch the cavalacade!>.
Third cop: Can you move that <My bike> out of the road?
Me: I'm trying to, but there are all these people here. I'm trying to=20
head into the station.
TC: <Points at barrier blocking footpath> No pedestrians.
Me: It's a bike! I ride it. That's what I'm trying to do.
TC: <Looks puzzled but clears a path for me to turn around onto the down=20
ramp.> You're going to ride, mind?
Help me. It was more grief getting from the station to my flat (20mins=20
on foot!) than it was getting from the campsite to the station at Perth!
So anyway. I had a great time and am looking forward to getting the bike=20
built up again and heading out some more. Once this festival malarkey's=20
over mind!
Jon