Training Log Archive: MagicIn the 7 days ending May 17, 2022:
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Tuesday May 17, 2022 #
7 AM
Bike - Gravel 6:47:10 88.43 km (4:36 / km) +1319m 4:17 / km
ahr:101 max:149
Bikepacking NW Scotland - Day 2 - Scourie to Durness
Another quick pack up to get on the road reasonably early, which worked well as it was the best part of the day. Great veggie breakfast at the Old Scholl cafe in Inshegra before heading onward to Sandwood Bay. Bit of a trek down to it with the path continually crossed by drainage channels, but worth the effort. Stopped for a good while enjoying the beach, sunshine and lunch, before the long trek back to the main road (where we bumped into Dave again). Really enjoyable (though quite busy) pass over the hills to Durness. Stopped at the Cape Wrath ferry to check out sailing times, but not much info and no answer from the phone number. Most of Durness seemed to be closed due to lack of staff, but managed to get to the chocolate cafe in time for a (disappointing) hot chocolate.
Another quick pack up to get on the road reasonably early, which worked well as it was the best part of the day. Great veggie breakfast at the Old Scholl cafe in Inshegra before heading onward to Sandwood Bay. Bit of a trek down to it with the path continually crossed by drainage channels, but worth the effort. Stopped for a good while enjoying the beach, sunshine and lunch, before the long trek back to the main road (where we bumped into Dave again). Really enjoyable (though quite busy) pass over the hills to Durness. Stopped at the Cape Wrath ferry to check out sailing times, but not much info and no answer from the phone number. Most of Durness seemed to be closed due to lack of staff, but managed to get to the chocolate cafe in time for a (disappointing) hot chocolate.
Walk 1:13:38 6.43 km (11:27 / km) +84m 10:45 / km
ahr:116 max:147
Walk along the beach and sand dunes (very mappable) plus ride there and out before my watch died. AP though this was skiing, but alas no snow to be seen.
8 PM
Bike - Gravel 18:44 3.82 km (4:54 / km) +41m 4:39 / km
ahr:108 max:131
From dinner to a camp site in the hills - found a nice stop next to a wee lake, quite exposed but the wind had at last settled down.
Monday May 16, 2022 #
8 AM
Bike - Gravel 5:00:18 73.21 km (4:06 / km) +1293m 3:46 / km
ahr:108 max:146
Bikepacking NW Scotland - Day 1 (1) - Achnahaird Beach to Kylesku
Forecast was for a sunny morning, windy all day and some afternoon rain. We got two of these...
Really windy overnight, tent felt like it was going to shake apart. Too windy to eat at camp so set off as soon as packed - fortunately straight into the wind... First few km were no fun but we then got some shelter, changed direction and found some water. Breakfast eventually had in a nice cove on the coast.
Lovely winding road along the coast with plenty of hills, but not too tough before a stop in Lochinver for toilets and a visit to the pie shop (too close to breakfast to east, but stocked up for lunch). The most excellent pie was consumed at Clackholl Beach, another nice wee place, before another lovely coastal road as far as Drumbeg. Much busier now with campers and motorbikes as part of the NC500 route. From Drumbeg things got quite a bit tougher. Some savage steep hills, a strong headwind with pellets of rain in it, not the most fun to be had. Also arrived at Kylesku to discover the restaurant both closed for the afternoon and booked out in the evening. Back up the hill to the rock cafe, where we just manged to make last food orders.
Forecast was for a sunny morning, windy all day and some afternoon rain. We got two of these...
Really windy overnight, tent felt like it was going to shake apart. Too windy to eat at camp so set off as soon as packed - fortunately straight into the wind... First few km were no fun but we then got some shelter, changed direction and found some water. Breakfast eventually had in a nice cove on the coast.
Lovely winding road along the coast with plenty of hills, but not too tough before a stop in Lochinver for toilets and a visit to the pie shop (too close to breakfast to east, but stocked up for lunch). The most excellent pie was consumed at Clackholl Beach, another nice wee place, before another lovely coastal road as far as Drumbeg. Much busier now with campers and motorbikes as part of the NC500 route. From Drumbeg things got quite a bit tougher. Some savage steep hills, a strong headwind with pellets of rain in it, not the most fun to be had. Also arrived at Kylesku to discover the restaurant both closed for the afternoon and booked out in the evening. Back up the hill to the rock cafe, where we just manged to make last food orders.
4 PM
Bike - Gravel 59:26 18.44 km (3:13 / km) +360m 2:56 / km
ahr:117 max:144
Bikepacking NW Scotland - Day 1 (2) - Kylesku to Scourie
With no dinner available around Kylesku it was quite an easy choice to push on to Scourie. Also had the benefit of a change in direction so the wind was now pushing us along nicely. Bit of a gloomy afternoon so didn't stop much and treated ourselves to a campsite and its excellent showers for the evening. Bumped into Dave Coustick in the restaurant.
With no dinner available around Kylesku it was quite an easy choice to push on to Scourie. Also had the benefit of a change in direction so the wind was now pushing us along nicely. Bit of a gloomy afternoon so didn't stop much and treated ourselves to a campsite and its excellent showers for the evening. Bumped into Dave Coustick in the restaurant.
Sunday May 15, 2022 #
5 PM
Bike - Gravel 2:16:34 38.21 km (3:34 / km) +439m 3:23 / km
ahr:113 max:148
Bikepacking NW Scotland - Day 0.5 - Ullapool to Achnahaird Beach
Easy drive up via a stop in Dunblane for tea and an enjoyable, but short, catch up with BradC. Restaurants all booked so a quick bag of chips and on the bikes for the evening to find somewhere to camp. Main road at the start was a bit uninspiring, being wide and with some long hills, but that changed one on the single track track road that headed west past Stac Pollaidh. Really nice start to the ride on a decent evening. Found a spot in the dunes to camp and spotted a seal after a quick dip in the sea to wash off - also saw a bunch of dolphins playing on the incoming tide in the distance - blood moon (which we watched rise over the mountains) so water was really high.
Easy drive up via a stop in Dunblane for tea and an enjoyable, but short, catch up with BradC. Restaurants all booked so a quick bag of chips and on the bikes for the evening to find somewhere to camp. Main road at the start was a bit uninspiring, being wide and with some long hills, but that changed one on the single track track road that headed west past Stac Pollaidh. Really nice start to the ride on a decent evening. Found a spot in the dunes to camp and spotted a seal after a quick dip in the sea to wash off - also saw a bunch of dolphins playing on the incoming tide in the distance - blood moon (which we watched rise over the mountains) so water was really high.
Saturday May 14, 2022 #
8 AM
Run - Terrain 1:29:40 7.52 km (11:55 / km) +376m 9:32 / km
ahr:121 max:161 shoes: Jalas 2010
Hanging controls for Sugarloaf - lovely morning and car park half full when I arrived at 8:00. A few issues finding a platform that I hadn't checked but all good in the end. Back 20 seconds quicker than I'd allowed!.
2 PM
Run - Terrain 44:37 4.92 km (9:04 / km) +207m 7:29 / km
ahr:128 max:160 shoes: Jalas 2010
Collecting a few controls - got the far ones, but that was grand as I didn't have to do much. Perfect day to spend in the hills.
Friday May 13, 2022 #
4 PM
Bike - Gravel 1:00:53 16.87 km (3:37 / km) +244m 3:22 / km
ahr:127 max:152
Over to Simon R's place in Church Village to pick up a very kindly donated Salomon race vest (he's now sponsored by someone else so can't wear it any longer). Windy and surprisingly cold with it. Took a bit of an off road detour on the way back.
Thursday May 12, 2022 #
11 PM
Strength exercises 18:31 0.44 km (42:05 / km)
ahr:90 max:119
First day in the office for 26 months, and as the showers are still being fixed I couldn't cycle in. Won't be rushing back in until they are as the drive was unpleasant. Haven't missed the office but it was nice to be in all the same and to catch up with the few people who were in. Didn't have the motivation to get out when I got home so a few strength exercises sufficed once dinner had settled.
Wednesday May 11, 2022 #
6 PM
Run - Trail warm up/down 6:45 1.21 km (5:34 / km)
ahr:122 max:137 shoes: Salomon Sense Pro
Very stiff and needed this just to get moving.
7 PM
Run - Orienteering race 40:20 8.19 km (4:55 / km) +33m 4:49 / km
ahr:148 max:163 shoes: Salomon Sense Pro
SWOC Park Series, Pontcanna. Didn't want to run hard and nor could I, so this was just a steady run at tempo type pace. Unfortunately for me at the moment that only means just under 5mpk. A few hesitations of a couple of seconds hear and there but otherwise the nav was easy and I just tried to focus on keeping good form. Very surprised to only be 3 minutes off the fastest.
8 PM
Run - Trail warm up/down 24:59 2.43 km (10:16 / km) +2m 10:14 / km
ahr:114 max:144 shoes: Salomon Sense Pro
Collecting controls.