Archev's adventures in the Berlingo

[Archev]

Thank you!

Actually the info sheet for the route says May to September, and we're nearly out of time on that one. When it was an actual road they apparently had to go up for the bodies in spring sometimes.

Yeah well obey that mantra then I’m a bit squeamish about bodies on bicycles

 

[Rolfe]

General Wade was out of his tiny mind on that one. As good for wheeled vehicles as any road in Britain, right. Only surpassed by his successor Major Caulfeild, who actually thought the Devil's Staircase was a good idea. (While you can actually get vehicles over the Corrieyairack, with determination, the Devil's Staircase is now a footpath on the West Highland Way. A footpath I would not care to tackle.)

 

[Archev]

General Wade was out of his tiny mind on that one. As good for wheeled vehicles as any road in Britain, right. Only surpassed by his successor Major Caulfeild, who actually thought the Devil's Staircase was a good idea. (While you can actually get vehicles over the Corrieyairack, with determination, the Devil's Staircase is now a footpath on the West Highland Way. A footpath I would not care to tackle.)

I can confirm your judgment on the staircase being one of the multitude of devils to have ascended it. I would love to have tried it on my semi trials type Triumph Tiger Cub motorcycle. In reality probably neither that machine nor I were ever capable of it. My boots, like Nancy’s, were made for walking but met their match that day.
The Corrieyairack was on our list but never made it to the top
So it sounds like Hilda is earning her place on your support team ? You must have covered a fair number of miles together to say nothing of Caliban and his kettle.

 

[Rolfe]

Hmmmm.....

One mile in. Four to go. The first mile of that is hell. We'll see how far I get.

 

[Archev]

Hmmmm.....

View attachment 40176

One mile in. Four to go. The first mile of that is hell. We'll see how far I get.

Hell looking heavenly there.

 

[Rolfe]

Views are spectacular.

Met a couple of guys on a tandem who said it's even better above the zig-zags.

 

[Archev]

Beautiful autumnal colours there.
Wouldn’t want to be on the back seat of a tandem on that kind of road surface. You’d need absolute faith in the steering judgement of he / she who operated the handlebars.

 

[Rolfe]

They seem well practised! I've got to the top of the zig-zags but there are still steep bits ahead.

 

[Archev]

They seem well practised! I've got to the top of the zig-zags but there are still steep bits ahead.

Impressive well done

 

[Rolfe]

I made it to Blackburn. There's no mobile signal there, but here's proof.

It's not that much further to Lagan a' bhainne, but I had resolved to turn back at three and it was already 2.30. I rested for a bit, ate more food, and headed back about 2.50. The sun is out again and it's lovely, but I'm also conscious I'm getting tired. Even downhill is tiring on these surfaces and sometimes gradient plus stones means walking, even downhill. But I'm able to ride quite a lot of it now and the wind is now at my back. Yay!

Other travellers full of the news that one guy ripped a tyre badly on these stones earlier today. Pray for me!

 

[Everest]

Pray for me!

Not needed - you've had your quota of punctures already this year

 

[Archev]

Impressive well done

 

[Rolfe]

Not needed - you've had your quota of punctures already this year

That's what you all said after the first one! But I'm back at the car in one piece.

Impressive well done

Thanks!

Current situation...

 

[Rolfe]

Just finished an "all day breakfast" heated up on the induction hob. The things you find in camping shops. Now for the washing up.

My tyres are aching to feel tarmac. Glen Roy tomorrow I think. I might actually go home tomorrow evening because the better weather after the weekend seems to have vanished. It would save me having to buy more milk.

 

[decrep]

I made it to Blackburn. There's no mobile signal there, but here's proof.

View attachment 40181

It's not that much further to Lagan a' bhainne, but I had resolved to turn back at three and it was already 2.30. I rested for a bit, ate more food, and headed back about 2.50. The sun is out again and it's lovely, but I'm also conscious I'm getting tired. Even downhill is tiring on these surfaces and sometimes gradient plus stones means walking, even downhill. But I'm able to ride quite a lot of it now and the wind is now at my back. Yay!

Other travellers full of the news that one guy ripped a tyre badly on these stones earlier today. Pray for me!

Is that a house in the back ground?
Is the path to the right its only access?

Sure is a house now I see it closer up.

And I thought some of the places here were isolated!

 

[Rolfe]

It's a bothy. Open to all for shelter, especially in an emergency. Can save your life if the weather suddenly turns bad. There are two or three on that road. This one is unusually large and they say well-appointed, although I didn't go over to check. There will be the wherewithal to light a fire and keep warm.

 

[Archev]

Mostly very basic but a very welcome shelter in a storm or when there’s two feet of snow on the ground. Look up utube “aitkins morning rolls” to get an idea of the bothys and the sort of nonsense that can take place.

 

[Rolfe]

That one is particularly luxurious, I'm told.

 

[Archev]

That one is particularly luxurious, I'm told.

Aye it’s well looked after, and well used, I think

 

[Archev]

OK doctor visit over. He thinks if I keep taking the tartan tablets there’s no reason to suspect I might not live well over fifty. OK so he’s majored on the medicals not the mathematicals (2025 - 1949 = too many for the average ticker tablet trader)
Anyway Berlingo sits with battery at 85%. Berlingo needs only a few items added to make it adventureworthy. So I shall open the hatches and add some goodies then vanish in a north westerly direction. I seek merely some scenery, I’ll take the bike and the boots and cry “Freedom” or maybe “Coffee” more likely.