Day 9 - 76 miles in the BMW

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Torridon, Scotland, United Kingdom
Up at 6:30 this morning so that I can get showered, have some breakfast and get on my way, I have a 70 mile drive and then a long bike ride (or so I thought!).

Today I am going to attempt the Applecross Peninsula, This route incorporates the highest mountain pass and one of the ultimate cycling challenges in the UK - the Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) - a climb that takes you from sea level to over 2,000 feet in 5 miles. I made it to 4 miles and had to turn around :-(

It was pouring with rain and the wind was so strong I couldn't cycle forwards without falling off, I even found it difficult to push the bike into the wind up the road. As I could see the cloud cover lowering over the mountain and no sign of the wind passing, I decided to turn around as it didn't feel safe cycling up here. The 4 miles going up were quite hard, but the 4 miles going down were super easy and at one stage I even smelt my brakes burning, they must have got hot on the ascent. I did get up quite a speed on some of the more straighter bits. Once back to the car I felt a bit like I had given up and been defeated but after seeing out the rest of the day I didn't feel too bad as the weather just didn't break.

I loaded up the bike and then headed up and over in the car and drove the 60 mile route. It would have been hard going and once started it would have been very difficult to cut short as there is no quick way back. Either the 11 miles back over the summit or carry on around the peninsula. I was quite glad that I had not carried on. I stopped in a parking, view point over looking the Isle of Skye, couldn't actually see Skye due to the low clouds. I ate my lunch and it almost felt like the car was being blown over, the winds were so strong.

I got to the SYHA Torriden at around 15:00 and it didn't open until 17:00 so I had a wee nap in the car park. I must be getting old, having an afternoon nap!!!
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