A route of Fuel-stops!
I’m cycling 200 miles in April to support Highland Hospice
You can follow my progress on my Facebook Page or on this blog.
Please support my efforts for this worthy cause using this QR code or the “donate” link below.
Thank you!
The challenge: To cycle 200 miles during April 2023
My last rather pathetic 25Km cycle ride on the 9th April wiped me out completely as the wind that day was a bit on the vicious side. This meant that it was not possible to do my planned longer cycle ride from Elgin through to Nairn for a fabulous Easter Sunday Roast Lamb Lunch on Sunday 9th April. I do have to admit that the aching muscles were not the only reason for the ride being cancelled: the weather had deteriorated further and the wind was even stronger, so I chickened out!
Monday 10th April: As predicted, the weather had deteriorated even further. Heavy rain in the morning and gale-force winds in the afternoon. Not a day for the bike which remained locked in the garage.
Tuesday 11th April: A big weather front is expected to hit the UK tonight. It will lash us tomorrow and Thursday. So today is the only potential chance to get out for a cycle ride. I stick my nose outside, hmm 🤔, it’s still rather windy 😬 . I do have a charity challenge to uphold for Highland Hospice, and as the next few days will be a write off, there is no chance of ducking out today, or else the whole week would be a write-off and my attempts to meet the 200 mile challenge would fail. Can’t have that, so it’s gotta happen. Today’s the day!
It was a lovely day, despite the breeze
A few miles, six or so, into my ride, I pass the RAF airfield at Lossiemouth. I am treated to the wonderful sight of a Poseidon MRA1 reconnaissance aircraft on a training run doing circuits around the airbase.
From Wikipedia: The P-8 (Poseidon MRA1) operates in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. It is armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons, can drop and monitor sonobuoys, and can operate in conjunction with other assets, including the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
I also pass the fascinating Duffus Castle, seen here from across recently ploughed fields. A different angle from my post a few days ago.
Duffus Castle is a motte-and-bailey castle and was in use from c. 1140 to 1705. During its occupation it underwent many alterations. The most fundamental was the destruction of the original wooden structure and its replacement with one of stone. At the time of its establishment, it was one of the most secure fortifications in Scotland. The strongest part of the new castle was a two-storey stone keep, surrounded by a stone curtain wall. Unfortunately, the keep was not built upon strong foundations, and this fact would some become apparent! Sometime before 1350 the castle passed to the Earl of Sutherland. Around this time the soft motte underpinnings gave way, and part of the stone keep slipped down the motte, where it lies today, canted at an absurd angle. The most obvious part of this cockeyed structure is a garderobe bench, now slanting dramatically upwards on one side. One has to hope no-one was sitting down at the crucial moment when the motte gave way!
Arriving in Lossiemouth, on a lovely sunny day like today, one is treated to a magnificent view.
From the clubhouse of the Moray Golf Club out over the Old Course, a fabulous links golf course designed by Old Tom Morris. It is listed at 31st in the Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland.
The view continues out over Lossiemouth West Beach to the Covesea Lighthouse beyond and then out across the Moray Firth towards Sutherland in the North.
After about 20Km or so, it;s time for a re-fuelling stop. Harbour Light’s Cafe next to the Lossiemouth harbour is a favourite. A hearty Scottish breakfast does just the job!
Back on to the bike and head toward Fochabers via Garmouth. Just after Garmouth, I joined the Moray Coastal Trail and cross the magnificent Spey River, famous for it’s salmon fishing.
The Spey Viaduct is an old Moray Coast railway bridge that crosses the iconic Spey River near to the mouth of the Spey River in Moray where it terminates into the Moray Firth / North Sea. The Spey Viaduct (sometimes also known as the Garmouth Viaduct) is no longer used for its original purpose, it has become part of the sensational Moray Coastal Trail and Speyside Way walks. It is frequently used by walkers, runners and cyclists to safely cross the River Spey between Garmouth and Spey Bay. A popular route is to walk from Spey Bay WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre down to the viaduct along quiet back roads taking in the wildlife and Spey mouth. The Spey Viaduct is quite picturesque and contrasts between the wild forested areas on either side and its own strong industrial iron lattice appearance. The bridge had to be built with the changing nature of the Spey in mind, the river can often surge and change direction depending on the amount of rainfall so it had to be big enough to take this into account. Taking in all spans the viaduct is 950ft / 290m long and is a fantastic example of Victorian engineering.
This my video of my cycle across this iconic bridge
After crossing the bridge, I turn South onto the road towards Fochabers. The wind is blowing from the South East. I am heading straight into it. Deja Vue! Memories of my last short ride from a few days ago flood back. I tell myself, that it’s only 5 Km until I turn East again. I can do this!
The reward, a refuelling stop at the lovely Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour. Mmm 😋
Ice cream and tea repleat, it’s time to head for home on the last leg of my journey. This takes me directly East, and into the wind again. Switch on, and turn up, the electric power on the bike!
Again I pass over the magnificent Spey River over another disused rail bridge, now converted for use by pedestrians and cyclists, which runs right next to the main car route, the A96.
My battery does the trick and I make it home despite the best efforts of the wind.
Three stages of about 20Km each, perfectly separated by refuelling stops. A total of 61Km (38 miles) today. Ahh 😌! Time for a sit down!
That’s me now up to 112 miles in total, 56% of the way to my target. Over half way now 😁!
The next few days have seriously poor weather predicted, so that’s the bike packed away until the weekend. The legs will get a well deserved rest!
Please support my efforts – click on the “donate” button above or scan the QR code.
Dr Doug (Douglas) McKendrick 
Great photography and like your stopovers 😋! Well done a very interesting read.
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