St. Michaels to Montrose - 48 miles
Mike arrived last night to join me for the two days up to Aberdeen. We stayed in the very mediocre St. Michaels Inn, just near St. Andrews. This place was expensive and I suppose they can justify the prices for the Americans that come over to play golf. A very average hotel, the room we had was badly equipped and the bathroom was straight out of Faulty Towers. On the plus side the staff were terrific and gave us full use of their conference room to store bikes and prepare equipment for the day, also the food was very good.
We were up early and after a full Scottish breakfast we donned our wet weather gear and headed off on our new route over the Tay bridge, destination Aberdeen. We decided the night before due to the severe weather warnings for the Grampians that we would bypass the Braemar route and head up the more sheltered coastal road - part of the Sustrans UK cycle network - route No. 1.
Whilst enjoyable and great to be riding with a friend, it did rain non stop all day. Sometimes hard and sometimes a constant drizzle - within 2 hours we were soaked through and Mike needed to replace his golf waterproofs for a real cycling waterproof jacket and also needed proper gloves. The staff at the Angus Bike Chain shop in Arbroath, were fantastic, very helpful, took lots money from Mike, which is always fun to watch and when I found I had a puncture, they changed it for free.
Another few hours in terrible rain and we arrived at the Esk View Farm B&B as drowned rats, Kathy the owner, looked after us and we turned her lovely guesthouse into a Chinese laundry, with wet gear draped on every radiator in the house.
Mike had never cycled more than 30 miles in a single day - so had done well to complete the full 48 miles, he was asleep within minutes of lying on the bed.
We passed through many sleepy towns along the way, there was a distinct lack of the commercialisation we see in the South. This was the South 20 years ago, local bakers and butchers, small toyshops, and fashionable clothing stores selling the latest styles circa 1980. Everyone was pleasant and the food wholesome, even if lacking somewhat in fruit and vegetables - I do think I have developed a mild case of scurvey, I need to find some salad and an apple!
I don't seem to mind the rain anymore, and I am not put off by 6 hours in the saddle when the skys look grey. Forecast for tomorrow looks better though :-)
Mike arrived last night to join me for the two days up to Aberdeen. We stayed in the very mediocre St. Michaels Inn, just near St. Andrews. This place was expensive and I suppose they can justify the prices for the Americans that come over to play golf. A very average hotel, the room we had was badly equipped and the bathroom was straight out of Faulty Towers. On the plus side the staff were terrific and gave us full use of their conference room to store bikes and prepare equipment for the day, also the food was very good.
We were up early and after a full Scottish breakfast we donned our wet weather gear and headed off on our new route over the Tay bridge, destination Aberdeen. We decided the night before due to the severe weather warnings for the Grampians that we would bypass the Braemar route and head up the more sheltered coastal road - part of the Sustrans UK cycle network - route No. 1.Whilst enjoyable and great to be riding with a friend, it did rain non stop all day. Sometimes hard and sometimes a constant drizzle - within 2 hours we were soaked through and Mike needed to replace his golf waterproofs for a real cycling waterproof jacket and also needed proper gloves. The staff at the Angus Bike Chain shop in Arbroath, were fantastic, very helpful, took lots money from Mike, which is always fun to watch and when I found I had a puncture, they changed it for free.
Another few hours in terrible rain and we arrived at the Esk View Farm B&B as drowned rats, Kathy the owner, looked after us and we turned her lovely guesthouse into a Chinese laundry, with wet gear draped on every radiator in the house.
Mike had never cycled more than 30 miles in a single day - so had done well to complete the full 48 miles, he was asleep within minutes of lying on the bed.
We passed through many sleepy towns along the way, there was a distinct lack of the commercialisation we see in the South. This was the South 20 years ago, local bakers and butchers, small toyshops, and fashionable clothing stores selling the latest styles circa 1980. Everyone was pleasant and the food wholesome, even if lacking somewhat in fruit and vegetables - I do think I have developed a mild case of scurvey, I need to find some salad and an apple!
I don't seem to mind the rain anymore, and I am not put off by 6 hours in the saddle when the skys look grey. Forecast for tomorrow looks better though :-)
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