Ironman blowout gets the attention .........

Today was the final paragraph of the end of the beginning - The Highland Adventure. The plan was for 65 miles through Callander, Stirling and onto Dunfermline. The Ironman had joined us for the victory final 65 mile stage. Even last night the excitement was high, the tension exuding from surprising angles. Who could have thought that so much unrest could be caused over a block of Mozarella cheese or Buffallo Mozzarella balls? Only the masterchef, Duracell, could dare to send the Wingman back to the supermarket for the correct Mozzarella. It was all an indication of the heightened tension about the last stage. Who was going to blow up first?

The tension spread to the eight Dundee ladies sharing our hostel accomodation. So much so that they left for the next stage of their Rob Roy distance walk having left one of their party in the toilet, unnoticed.

It was pervassive.

We listened to the wind whistle through the night, and the rain pelt down outside. The break of dawn brought no change to the weather. Within half an hour of departure we were as wet sa teh £10 note of teh Duracell's john Bul printing set. On the climb over into Glen Ogle, the sun teased us with a shimmer through the rain. But it was only the warm up act for more downpours. Caravanners were really interested in our travels. It is the only reason we could find to explain why they should want to get so close. And get close they did with a few close shaves. I would love to say the journey to Callander was an experience to remember ................... but I can't. It was without question an experience to file in the 'forget it' box. I have cycled this road many times in fine sunny weather and the views over Loch Luibnig are stunning, but not today.

The coffee shop in the square in Callander brought a lift in our spirits with some fine fruit scones and nice hot fresh copy. The Duracell shared a route introduced to him by the Fit One which would take us off the main road and spit us out in Doune. This led to a good chat as we cycled and was a tremendous route with good views of the tumbling torent ............... that is, the one following the river bed rather than emanating from the sky!

Around Doune the weather faired better, and the roads dried. We blasted down past Blair Drummond Safari Park. The Duracell suggested we pop into see the Wingman's relations in the monkey house however time was short and lunch at one of the finest Italian cafe's in Scotland awaited the team - Corriellie's in Bridge of Allan. It has a been a friend to cyclists for many years with iconic imagery bedecking the walls. Even a pink version of Santiago's recent cycle wear hangs proudly above the tables. With the whiff of pasta filling our nostrels just 2 miles short of our target stop, we experienced only our second pucture of the trip, and of the day, and both on the Ironman's Peugot 531. The first happened before we left the hostel. Busy powering air into his tyre up to a pressure befitting his alias - 130psi, the tube exploded. It is a complete surprise that one of the ladies did not need to be resuscitated, such was the bang. However, it may have been the cause for the extended toilet visit referred to earlier! The second puncture was soon fixed and lunch ordered. Several pizzas and a pasta dish later and we were back on the road.

The cycle track from Clackmannan to Dunfermline is a superb surface for all types of bikes and we battered along at over 20mph, wind assisted.

And in no time at all, it was over. 355 miles, 5 days, three men and their machines and the Highland Adventure was finished. We tried to assess the best and worst hostel, the best and worst stretch, or the best and the worst moment. It was impossible. Everything about the trip was brilliant albeit in different ways - the food, the fellowship, the accomodation, and the experiences we shared together over the five days.

we had traversed Scotland from the East to West and hugged the coastline from Ullapool to Skye, and onto Fort William and experienced the magnificent Rannoch Moor in splendid sunshine. The Wingman has captured the long and the short of it in many pure dead brilliant photographs which will remind us in the years to come of the End of the Beginning - Highland Adventure.

Footnote

As for Curlie, she has been adopted by the Duracell and his family ................ subject to approval by the notorious Tiger...........