Day 5 - Inverary to Brodick - Miles of sunshine

 I could not have asked for better weather, if I relate it to a really important football match where your team doesn't score and they lose, that's the equivalent of it raining every day and, for any football fan, that is so frustrating. You end up thinking, if only my team had scored just one goal, at least we would have had something to cheer.

Well, I've had no rain, 1.5 days when it was cold and 3.5 days of glorious sunshine. That's the equivalent of being 3 goals up (and hitting the post), so even if it rains every day for the rest of the trip at least we scored! Maybe I've had too much sun :-).

I left Inverary just before 9.00 am, cycling alongside Loch Fyne, with the occasional foray uphill into pine clad hills, smelling sweet in the early morning air. The views across the loch to the mountains beyond made it difficult to concentrate on the road ahead, but the traffic was light and I made good progress.

The 1st, and only, significant town I passed through was Lochgilphead, a pretty little town where I stopped for a while at the edge of the loch for a drink, a photo, a short rest and a chat with an old man who was out walking his dog.

In the far distance I could see a series of mountains and I wondered if the furthest, and highest, were the mountains on the Isle of Arran where I was heading, I was later to find out that they were.

I was expecting to get to West Tarbert for lunch, but the route I had pre-planned, unexpectedly didn't take me there. My satnav kept tempting me, making me think I would soon be there, but I ended up at Claionaig, where the ferry leaves for Arran, without passing through any other town.

That meant I had done over 50 miles without eating since breakfast, except for a sachet of gel which I had when I was flagging and new West Tarbert had 'gone west'.

There was nothing at Claionaig except a ramp into the sea! So I asked a motorist, waiting for the ferry in the scorching mid-day sun, if there was anywhere to get food and drink at Lochranza the point of arrival for the ferry on Arran.

I was told yes, at Brodick, I explained that I would be cycling anti-clockwise then over the mountains to Brodick, not going the direct route. He said "when you get there eat in Brodick", I said "but I'm hungry now and I have 20 miles and a mountain range to cross, I need some fuel". He said "there's no Petrol stations if you go anti-clockwise, you will have to go to Brodick"! Grrrrrr, I asked him if he was the chief tourist officer for Brodick then delved into my bag for a life-saving energy bar.

As it was there was more than one place in Lochranza to purchase food and drink so I had an alfresco sandwich, vimto, packet of crisps and bag of Maltesers, mmmm much nicer than Petrol.

Whilst eating my fuel, a couple of cyclists arrived and we chatted and discovered we were all staying in BRODICK tonight, I was promised a free drink if we see each other later ..... I hope I don't see the chief tourist officer.

The route around the west coast of Arran is quite challenging, especially after 50+ miles and I had a strong head wind, the 1st for a couple of days, which reminded me of that well known Bolton phrase: Too much wind against bikey ...... No flippin likey!

 Turning off from the coast road the climb over the mountains commences, quite gentle at first and before I hit the serious section I came across a couple of cyclists at the side of the road with one of their bikes upturned. I stopped to ask if I could assist them but was informed one of the wheel bearings was 'knackered'.

We discussed options and agreed that as soon as I got to Brodick, where they knew there was a bike shop (come to Brodick it has EVERYTHING .... I didn't ask if they knew the chief), I would ask about the availability of wheel bearings and also if they would stay open until one of the stranded couple arrived.

So off I set with renewed vigour, having given them my mobile number and told them to ring it so I would have their number. The road got steeper and steeper and the surface was bone-shaking. In the heat, sweat was pouring from every pore, so much so that I had a million flies following me. These were big flies, probably from Brodick on a day trip to the mountains, if I stopped they stopped, if I squated them they came back for more. At one point I thought the sun had gone in there were that many surrounding my head and face, but I had to press on in order to get to the bike shop before it closed.

I was also motivated knowing that I would be doing over 30 mph down the other side of the mountain and then it would be Asta la Vista Brodick flies. As it turned out I set a new record for me of 46 mph, you should have seen those pesky flies flounder!

Unfortunately when I arrived in Brodick I couldn't spot the bike shop so I got my phone out to ring the couple and ask directions, but there was no missed call and therefore no number to ring!

Slightly deflated, I headed for the B&B where I had a shower then checked my phone again. This time there was a missed call so I rang back to explain but got no answer.

Brodick, the place that has everything, except a good phone signal. Actually its really nice, all my points are purely jocular.

Back to the mainland tomorrow morning then down to Dumfries. England is calling.

Statistics

Distance cycled:                71 miles                  Total distance cycled since start:        350 miles

Average speed:                 13 mph

Maximum speed:             46.24 mph (New record)

Average heart rate:         130 bpm

Maximum heart rate:     161 bpm

Motorist watch (Quantity)

Considerate motorists         (The good):         100’s

Inconsiderate motorists     (The bad):           1

Lunatic motorists                  (The ugly):          0

Scores (out of 100)

Scenery:                   88

Road surfaces:       70

Weather:                   100