The challenge: To cycle 200 miles during April 2023
After my cycle ride on the 19th April, I had completed my challenge of cycling 200 miles in April!
😁 🥳 👏 🏆 🏅
Thank goodness for that, because, after that, the weather has taken a major turn for the worse. Temperatures have dropped dramatically and everyday has had some form of severe winds, rain, hail, sleet or snow. Most of the time it has been the majority of these all at once or alternating at very frequent intervals.
My bike is allergic to such weather and had gone into hibernation in the garage, refusing point blanc to come out. Not that I tried too hard, to be fair!
Today, I woke up to crystal clear blue skies with the sun shining strongly and only a very slight North Westerly wind. The weather report declared that there was not supposed to be any rain. 😂🤣
In the North of Scotland, there has to be a catch. Indeed, there was! The temperature was 1’C and there was quite a hard frost lying on the ground.
Who cares! With weather like this, its time to go cycling! So it was into the back of the cupboard, rummaging through all the cycling gear, pulling out all of the winter kit again. Multiple layers on and warming pads in the shoes to protect the delicate tootsies, I set off just after nine am. By this stage it was a balmy 2’C!
A lovely ride of 52Km (32.5 miles). Not even a stop for coffee, food or ice cream! I must be sick!
After today’s ride, that’s me up to 235 miles in total.
The weather is due to deteriorate again tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to get out and add a few more miles to the total before the end of the month.
I have been absolutely blown away by the financial support I have received during this challenge. Initially, I had a donation target of £150. When I reached this target, I very cheekily increased it to £250. Again, this target was breached and I increased it to £300, never thinking in my wildest dreams that we would achieve that.
Well, look to the left. It has been exceeded, and how! Wow 😯!!!!
Thank you to everyone who has supported my efforts for Highland Hospice. You’ve been brilliant and made it worth all the effort. 😊
For those of you who haven’t yet managed to support my cycling for this worthy charity 😝: Come on! Donate! You can still do it!!!!!
Please support my efforts – click on the “donate” buttonabove or scan the QR code.
The challenge: To cycle 200 miles during April 2023
I am away at work this week at Stracathro near Brechin. The weather was predicted to be great for the entire week, so I loaded my bike onto the car and brought it down with me.
Monday 17th April: Woke up to a predicted day of bright sunshine and no wind. A quick temperature check, oops 😬 , only 6’C. Ok better put on an extra layer then. Open the curtains to thick fog, what they call a haar here in the Northeast of Scotland. No sun yet! That’s not going to put me off. I’m still cycling!
It’s a late-ish finish in the evening and I have a VC meeting to attend in 45 min. So it’s a quick dash home, cook supper and log on to the meeting. The temperature had improved slightly on the way home and the sun was out, but someone had forgotten to tell the North of Scotland that it was supposed to be warm. A maximum of 12’C! Ha! Warm, no not really!
These two commutes add another 14.4 Km (9 miles) to my charity cycle total. 😊 Every little helps – where have I heard that before?
It’s Tuesday 18th April, and the haar is back even thicker than yesterday. The temperature is even lower at 4’C. I’m still doing it! So it’s onto the bike and set off. Today, I try the alternate road out of the AirBnB as it looks less rough. 😬 That was only for the first 2-300 yards. The tar then ends and its a gravel road but covered with stones a few inches in diameter. These can be fatal to a cyclist especially when going downhill at speed, as I was. Note to self: stick to the advised route, they are advised for a reason!
Again, it’s a late-ish finish. What’s happening this week???? The cold breeze still comes off the North Sea and keeps the temperature to a lowly 12’C, but the sun is out at least.
That’s another 15.2 Km (9.5 miles) from today’s two journeys – yes the alternate route was longer as well as being worse!
It’s Wednesday 19th April. Again it’s predicted to be a lovely day. Even better, I have a day off, so I am planning a wee cycle ride today. Surprise! Surprise!
Now, as you are no doubt beginning to realise from my blogs, my cycle rides revolve around food stops. Today is no different! I cycle from my AirBnB to The Drovers Inn, a lovely pub / restaurant situated near Forfar in a little village called Memus.
There are a few ways to get from my AirBnB to and from Drovers. I opt to take the high road to cycle there. This is shorter but closer to the nearby hills and therefore much more up and down. I think that most of you also know that hills (climbs), and me on a bike, are not best friends!
On the way back, I will take the low road, longer, but flatter, allegedly.
Now, I realise that the wind is a wee bit stronger today. I check my phone and see that the wind is directly from the East, gusting 40 Kph 😬 . In my head, I envisage Forfar lying directly South of Brechin and I am therefore going to be cycling at right angles to the wind which will be perfect 😊.
Off I go. The way there is very hilly, well, for me anyway. But, I have a plan! My electric bike will assist. I am managing the hills pretty easily on very low settings of the electric power. It must be that all of the additional cycling I have been doing recently has improved my fitness and power!
About three quarters of the way there, I realise that the grass and bushes on the side of the road are all blowing parallel to the road, and in my direction of travel, not perpendicular to it as I had imagined. The penny drops! 😱 No wonder it so easy, I have a fairly brisk wind behind me, blowing me along.
When I get to Drovers, I formally check a map. Forfar is actually almost directly West of Brechin, not South as I had imagined. Hence the lovely tail wind on the way here.
The way back is not going to be fun 😬! The good news is that with the brisk tail wind, I had only used 20% of my battery. So I had 80% left for the cycle back into the wind. I was going to need it, I think 🤔!
TheDrovers Inn has a lovely beer garden outside where one can sit, eat and drink in summer. For us Scots, whenever the sun shines, it’s summer, no matter the temperature! So despite it only being 11’C and quite a blustery wind, I sat outside. Yes, I admit, I found a table protected from the wind by a hedge which served as a very effective wind-break.
I opt for two starters. Pork belly and scallops.
Both absolutely delicious 😋
Oh! And a wee glass of Pinot Grigio (well, maybe not so wee) – Just because!
I head off after lunch for home, full of trepidation. The wind blows straight into my face for the first 14 miles. It is heavy going. Despite being the flatterlow route, it is by no means flat and has many climbs and descents, just not as big as the high route. I have no shame in admitting that my battery was well used on the way back, as were my legs. I arrived back with 20% left in my battery and 0.3% left in my legs!
Another really good cycle ride of about 48 Km (30 miles) ✅.
After today’s ride, that’s me up to 203 miles in total.
That means that the challenge of cycling 200 miles in April has now been completed!
😁 🥳 👏 🏆 🏅
Thank you to everyone who has supported my efforts for Highland Hospice. You’ve been brilliant and made it worth all the effort. 😊
For those of you who haven’t yet managed to support my cycling for this worthy charity 😝: Come on! Donate! You can still do it!!!!!
Please support my efforts – click on the “donate” buttonabove or scan the QR code.
The challenge: To cycle 200 miles during April 2023
As predicted we had a couple of days of grubby weather with lots of wind, rain and even some hail. My bike decided it was going back into hibernation and did not emerge from the garage.
Friday 14th April: Woke up to bright sunshine and no wind. Yes it was cold, but, hey after the last couple of days…….
It’s not going to last, however, rain predicted by 1200. Tomorrow is predicted to be a better day – all day! Planning a cycle ride tomorrow.
I have to go to the shops for a couple of wee things this morning. This weather is bugging me. It’s sooooo nice! I go down to the garage and wake the bike up. A wee cycle to the shops will help with my #TeamHighlandHospice charity ride total.
So off I go to a couple of shops in town. Goods into rucksack and turn for home.
Nah!……
Take the long way home!
A quick wee 23 Km (14 miles) added to the total.
Let’s hope the weather holds for tomorrow!
It’s Saturday 15th April, and true to form the weather is beautiful. Sun, no wind – ok it’s only 9’C, but you cant have everything!
So it’s bike out and off we go to the “Bootlegger’s Bar and Grill” in Hopeman for lunch. Helen drives down to join me, but it’s holiday season and she has to park miles away at the harbour 😂🤣 – you should have cycled!!!!
Lovely meal with a lovely view. Great service.
After lunch, it’s time to dash back home because we are off to Nairn to have fish suppers with our folks – better get another few cans of G&T on the way then!!!!
Another really nice cycle ride of about 46 Km (28.5 miles) ✅.
That’s me up to 155 miles in total, 77% of the way to my target. Over three quarters done now 😁!
Only 45 miles to go!
I am away next week at work.
But the weather looks great, so guess what?
The bike is going with me……………😁
Please support my efforts – click on the “donate” buttonabove or scan the QR code.
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.
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” buttonabove or scan the QR code.
The challenge: To cycle 200 miles during April 2023
I was away at work for a few days last week. The weather was predicted not to be too great, so didn’t bother to lug the bike all the way to Brechin and back, for nothing! As it turned out, wise decision!
Saturday 8th April.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and we are doing a the full sheebang Easter lunch, roast lamb etc, in Nairn with our parents and Alexander. So, here is the plan, I’m going to cycle to Nairn, have lunch and get a lift back afterwards. That should add a few miles on to the total.
But this is my first day back and the weather was OK. A bit on the windy side, but hey, I have electric support on my bike, I tell myself, no problem! So why don’t I do a warm-up cycle today, just a few miles to get back into it and loosen up for tomorrow.
I set off after lunch. It is more windy than I’d thought and I’m having to fight with the side gusts to remain on the path. I try to plan a route that will keep me mostly-side-on to the wind most of the way, rather than heading directly into the gale.
It sure looks lovely in the pictures, but at this stage, I had turned back and despite all calculations was now heading directly into the teeth of the gale.
I eventually had to relent and shift the electric power up from low (green) to medium (blue). I can count one hand the number of times I have had to use this setting!
I made it back into Elgin and cycled past the beautiful and eerie Elgin Cathedral built in 1224.
Only 5Km to go from here but directly into the wind.
I struggled back home again. Legs on fire after a comparatively short ride of only 26Km (16 miles). So much for my warm-up cycle!
So, this was the anti-gale effort. I am more tired than I was after my 60Km ride a few days ago!!!
Wind and cycling just don’t go together, in my humble opinion!
That’s me now up to 74 miles in total, 37% of the way to my target.
Tomorrow’s cycle to Nairn will add another 50 to 60Km to the total.
Or will it!?!
Tomorrow comes. The wind is even stronger than the day before. My legs can hardly move from yesterdays’ efforts. Common sense (cowardice) prevails and I leave the bike behind opting for the luxury of motorised transport and extra glass of wine with lunch to console myself!
Please support my efforts – click on the “donate” buttonabove or scan the QR code.
The challenge: To cycle 200 miles during April 2023
Today I managed to squeeze into the Highland Hospice jersey. Very smart. I like it! But, I have to agree, they are certainly on the smaller side.
That’s Duffus Castle in the background.
As you can see it was a fabulous day for a cycle ride
It started off very chilly this morning, -1’C when I woke up.
My plan today was to go to Nairn on the train to sort out a few things for my folks and meet with my accountant, then cycle back to Elgin in the afternoon.
When I left home to cycle to the railway station to catch my train, it was still only 5’C so was still a bit chilly. Several layers were required as was warming pads within the shoes. My problem was that it was predicted to rise to 13’C by the time I was due to cycle back. Whilst I realise that for my friends in Botswana, this is positively Arctic and would require 10 layers of thermals, for us here in Scotland, this is a lovely day and definitely tropical requiring shorts etc. Because, I was cycling I had to travel light, so wardrobe selection was critical. Or, was it, 🤔, I could just dump a bunch of stuff at my parents house – to be collected later. That is what I did!
So, this is today’s effort.
The straight line is the train journey and, before you ask, was not included in the final mileage!
The wiggly line is my cycle ride. It is wiggly because that is how the little back roads are (I was following on the N1 cycle route) not because I had been on the wine at lunchtime (today anyway!)
Part of the route I used involves crossing the Findhorn river on an old railway bridge. It’s lovely.
Loads of newborn lambs in the fields today. Awww 🥰 ☺️
And of course the magnificent Duffus Castle (without me in the photo to spoil it!)
So, a heavy day today, for an oldie like me anyway, 60Km (37 miles) in total. Seven Personal Best’s (PB’s) on various Strava segments 😲
That’s me now up to 58 miles in total, 29% of the way to my target.
I am aware that it is only the 3rd of the month, but I’m conscious that I will be away a bit more at the end of the month and unable to cycle, so better get ahead now!
Now the bad news. My legs are knackered. I’m away for a rest!
Please support my efforts – click on the “donate” buttonabove or scan the QR code.
Highland Hospice aim to support people, their families and carers, living with an advancing, life shortening illness in the Highlands to live the best possible life and to prepare for and experience the best possible death.
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.
The challenge: To cycle 200 miles during April 2023
With yesterday being the first day of the month, I got the bike out of the garage, blew off the dust and set off.
It was only 6’C so was a bit chilly. Several layers were required as was warming pads within the shoes and over boots – the feet are the part of me that always suffers the most when it’s cold!
A wee cyclical route around Elgin to start with, but that’s 33Km (20 miles) in the bag. Not a bad start!
So, that’s me 10% of the way to my total.
Please support my efforts – click on the “donate” buttonabove or scan the QR code.
Dr Doug (Douglas) McKendrick 