A Few Thank You's and Thoughts on Belles C2C

Statistics:  Total Miles - 215 Miles.  Total Elevation: 10,472 ft

13 Arran Belles left Lochranza on the Claonaig Ferry in high spirits. Ahead of us was a cycle trip heading firstly North then East cycling Coast to Coast across Scotland. There is no recognised route, we were following a mixture of A and B roads plus some cycle paths, the emphasis being on safety rather than speed. Three Belles, Linda, Jillian, wee Flo were staying in Cilla, camper van,  Jackie was camping and the rest in hostels and one posh hotel night. It worked perfectly, we were delighted with our accommodation (the last hostel could have been better), hostels have really improved in recent years, providing towels, food and en suite rooms.  Weather to begin with was dull, improving on our second day to glorious sunshine then some rain but we always arrived at our destination dry,  a huge bonus. We experienced stunning scenery, friendly curious people, quiet back roads and some heavy traffic roads. Our journey home organised by SLM Cycle Transport was first class. Efficient, smooth, quick. Just what we needed at the end of a tiring week.

Special mention must go to Linda/Jillian/Wee Flo who once again came up trumps. Cilla Campervan turning up, on cue, just when we needed bags delivered or collected. They make it all look so easy, effortless, but a lot of time and work goes into just being there. We really appreciate your help and value your company. Linda thank you for the delicious meal you cooked at Torran Bay, I think that was one of our favourite evening get togethers.

Thanks go to 'The Places of Interest' reporters...Sue B., Sarah, Kim, Isla and Fiona C., all star turns.
Thank you for research, excellent delivery and entertainment.  Fabulous.

Congratulations to Josephine and Jackie completing their first long distance cycle with the Belles. I know you were both anxious but you were amazing, cycling so strongly, in at times uncomfortable conditions, well done. Jackie you were worse than me for taking photos, but what terrific photos, brilliant !

Kudos to Annie, Sarah and Josephine for slaying 'The Dragon', the steep climb between Dunning and Kinross. Great achievement ladies, conquering gradients of over 20%, chapeau !

Thank you to Kim for bringing and carrying a cycle tool set, unneeded but reassuring to know it was there.

Thank you to Fiona L. for bringing cheese and biscuits, we all love cheese !!

Thank you to Carol for her quiet, constant support.

All agreed it was a fantastic trip from beginning to end, surprising as it can be difficult coordinating such a large group. I think it was down to everyone pulling together, supporting each other, no grumbles just getting on with it, coping with and learning from the experience.What fun we had, especially at our evening meals, Order, Order, sometimes enjoying uncontrolled hysterical laughter.  As usual our Coast to Coast trip was all about enjoyment and this we had in spades.

 What a brilliant group of ladies, congratulations to all, you were amazing, you can go anywhere, do anything. For me, once again it was a learning curve which I will use in future trips, hugely satisfying and enjoyable.  Till the next Arran Belles Challenge........ See you on the road !

The Look !!!

The Boss !!!

Day 6 Belles C2C: Return Home from St Andrews.

Oh to be young and in St Andrews during Freshers Week !!! We return to the Hostel after our delicious meal, check our bikes which are locked up in the back yard, fingers crossed, they will still be there in the morning. I should have explained how we decide who sleeps with whom. I have a packet of Happy Family cards and whoever draws the same family shares a room, seems to have worked quite well throughout the trip, only fair.   The girls in the other room to mine had an unexpected visitor during the night, one Belle was up at the toilet and left the door on the snib, a young man in boxers visited. He was adamant he was in the right room till Sue B told him in no uncertain terms, he wasn't !!!!  The beds and coverings leave a lot to be desired but we close our eyes and mutter repeatedly, it is only one night!  We are all up about 8.00am as our transport home arrives at 10.00am, we breakfast at the Student Union Cafe across the road, cheap, good, adequate. Some of the girls then go for a wander round town, we have time.  Stuart from SLM Cycle Transport arrives with van/trailer, car/bike rack to take us back to Ardrossan.  His trailer can take 7 bikes but as we are 9 he has brought a friend with car. He takes great care in loading our bikes, wrapping contact points in foam, making sure everything is secure.  Kim is in her element using her MTB experience to help load the trailer. A very comfortable van with air conditioning and individual air vents.  Stuart also provides fruit and bottled water and we have a very smooth journey to Ardrossan, arriving in plenty time for 3.20pm boat.  A very professional outfit, would highly recommend.  The Belles are happily quiet as we head home on the final part of our journey. Fiona C has remained on in St Andrews for a few days, Linda/Jillian/Flo/Jackie will meander home in Cilla camper van. At Brodick some are met by partners/husbands and we all hug and sadly say goodbye. We all agree it has been a fabulous trip, Scotland at its best. I feel as though I have been away for a month, will report tomorrow on my thoughts of our journey, always a learning curve !!

Day 5 Belles C2C: Kinross to St. Andrews. 36.36 miles. 1,629 ft Elevation.

All back in Arran safely, ready to report on Day 5.

We woke to rain at Kinross, so disappointing as we had been promised a dry day. After a delicious breakfast at the Kirklands Hotel, brilliant hotel, we loaded our bags once again into Linda, Jillian, Flo's camper van and the Belles confidently hit the road for our last day.  At Wester Balgedie we turned onto a lovely quiet back road which, because of the rain, quickly turned into a very muddy road, spattering our bikes, yeuch !  Our lunch stop was at Muddy Boots, Balmalcolm and after another of my detours we eventually reached there cold and wet. It couldn't have been a better place to stop as they were most welcoming,  turning up heaters to dry off our clothes, wonderful service. By the time we were ready to leave the rain had stopped and the day was looking brighter, good stuff.  We cleaned our bikes with an outside hose so now fed, warmed up, dry, bikes clean, we were good to go.  Perfect.  More lovely back roads with St Andrews and the North Sea appearing in the distance then Kim has a puncture with a fews miles to go, couldn't have happened in a better place and to a better person. Kim quickly and efficiently changed her tube and we were soon off.  As we can't access our hostel till 5.00pm we head for Linda/Jillian campsite on the coast.  We have gone as far as we can .....the North Sea blocks our path....we have cycled Coast to Coast. Congratulations, high fives, hugs all round.  After tea and coffee we pick up our bags and head into St Andrews town centre quickly locating our hostel.  The girls wait outside while I check in, after our posh night it is Faulty Towers night. Reception apologises that the boiler is broken and the towels won't be back from laundry till the next day, you're having a laugh !!!! After a bit of wrangling he concedes we can have 2 minute showers and I locate 9 threadbare towels, better than nothing !!!   The rooms are smelly and the bed linen has seen better days, still it is only one night !! As usual the Belles just get on with it and accept it is what it is. One conciliation the toilets are clean and the showers hot !   We head out into St Andrews to celebrate firstly to the pub then Forgan's restaurant meeting up with Linda, Jillian and Jackie.  Again a very accommodating restaurant, great food and chat.  Thanks to all were exchanged and Coast to Coast medals presented, great night. What a fabulous bunch of ladies, couldn't wish for better. (  PS: have updated previous posts so have a look. Will report on our return trip tomorrow.)

                                                                           

                                                                             
                                                                               

                                                                                     

Day 5. C2C

Sorry folks, no blog tonight, late night. Suffice to say all Belles safely completed  C2C . More to follow tomorrow, if I can remember !

Day 4 C2C Comrie to Kinross. 43.4 miles 2445 ft Elevation

Firstly must report on last nights dinner at Comrie Hotel. My original taxi booking had let me down, another story, but managed to source another company and Mr Grumpy turned up to take us from Comrie Croft to Comrie Hotel, so rude and unfriendly.. Although the girls on the second trip around said  he had mellowed, aye right. At the hotel we were greeted by our Hungarian waiter who turned out to be a star turn, giving as good as he got from 13 slightly inebriated ladies. A daunting task especially when he entered the room and the table was rapped to the shouts of  “Order, order “. . . Again action stories were related to great hilarity and hysteria from some. Isla reported, I’ll rephrase that, Isla tried and eventually succeeded to give a very informative summary of today’s area despite being consumed with a fit of the giggles.  Well done Isla. A fantastic night, one to remember, great food and company.

Now onto today’s cycle. We knew it was going to rain but it was ok, warm, no wind, could be worse. Trying to get 12 Belles out at an agreed time is no mean feat, last minute toilet visits, bike maintenance etc but we get there, no one is left behind, as yet ! My trusty Garmin (satnav) packed in on day 1 and I have been cycling by the seat of my pants and getting away with it. Today and tomorrow I knew would be tricky so borrowed Sue’s Garmin, fortunately I had shared the routes with her before we left home, and it proved invaluable. God knows where we would have ended up without it. The rain was light and we made good progress through quiet, scenic, backroads to Auchterarder then onto our lunch stop at the Tee Room, Dunning Golf Course. After lunch the group split with Annie, Sarah and Josephine following the more challenging route over “ The Dragon”. From reports received it was very hard in sections then some reprieve. Well done girls in taking it on. The rest followed me on a longer less challenging road, or so we thought !! We reached the Yetts of Muckhart and at a confusing junction, I took my eye of the ball, and headed the wrong way. We were on the right road but heading west instead of east. I knew something was wrong but couldn’t work out what. After a couple of confused stops the penny dropped so we turned back, but not until we had cycled 4 miles downhill. The poor girls suffered an extra 8 miles, what a numpty. Another learning curve ! Then horrors our road is blocked, diversion, road works, access only, but we decide to chance it and get through. Finally we reach our destination and on the plus side Kirklands Hotel, Kinross is fabulous and we are looking forward to an in-house meal tonight. Alls well that ends well..
Reporting after another delicious meal and superb evening. Kirkland’s Hotel, Kinross is to be recommended. Brilliant accommodation at a reasonable price, efficient, friendly staff. 5 Belles have a suite of rooms - sitting room, bathroom, 2 bedrooms. Just perfect. Tomorrow is our last day, coming to an end all too quickly. Loving it.

                                                                     

                                                                           

                                                                         
                                                                           

Day 3 C2C. Crianlarich to Comrie Croft. 34.44 miles. Elevation 1353 ft

Day 3 dawns for the Arran Belles but we are up early, keen to be on the road. Crianlarich hostel provides a superb breakfast of cereal, yoghurts, toast, drinks, excellent facilities. Kim’s turn to provide a history talk of the area which she does with great finesse and knowledge, superb research. Apparently Mary Queen of Scots and Darnley hunted in this area, can see why, forests hugged our route. Linda/Jillian arrived and once again loaded our bags, on the road again. We turn onto the busy A85 in groups of 4 and make good time to the cycle path at Glen Ogle, traffic not just so heavy today. We regroup and meander safely downhill via Glen Ogle viaduct to Lochearnhead enjoying stunning views over the loch, a highlight of the day. We meet many groups of cheery walkers and also Linda, Jillian and wee Flo walking up the path to meet us. We stop at the Clachan in LEH for lunch, all feeling surprisingly chilled, think it must have been the downhill also it is more overcast. More great chat and stories, difficult to break the party up and get back in harness. Now onto the peaceful South Earn Road, running alongside the loch. A just beautiful road with impressive views, quiet with very little traffic. Back onto the A85 for the last few miles to Comrie Croft, road is flat, great surface, traffic is light and we whizz along. Soon we reach Comrie Croft with its superb outdoor facilities, booked in quickly, bikes locked up, en-suite rooms, very impressive. Another fantastic day riding across Scotland, we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Now getting ready to hit the high spots of Comrie, will report later ! What a brilliant group of gals, all coping well, each with their own strengths which enrich this group.   Only blip is that our taxi due to transport all 13 of us has cancelled, have managed to source another company and eventually all sorted. The joys. What can I say, another fantastic day.