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Scotland
  • Eugene Kertzman
Aug – Sep 2024

Scotland

Scotland's mainland as well as the Shetlands and Orkney Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 9, 2024
    Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Balloch BCQ

    August 9, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Day 1 - 36km warm up ride from Balloch to Helensburgh. First BCQ was easy, 5 min from the car park in the Balloch country Park where there is an old castle from the 13th century. Unfortunately it has not yet been restored and it is boarded up. Although it was a cyclepath all the way it was very busy with traffic, not many roads out there!Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Isle of Mull

    August 10, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Day 2, 14°c, 80 km, some rain showers but mainly dry. I find there are a number of differences to doing a journey by car or by bike and why you should try a bike!
    1. You get time to look around and enjoy the scenery, drivers of cars rarely get to do this but even the pilot on a tandem gets to enjoy the vistas, especially on the coastal road on the Isle of Mull. You can smell the sea air and hear the noises around you, Doesn't happen in a car! You appreciate the downhill speeds because you just had to work hard to get up there, great feeling to ride a tandem down long hill at 60km an hour, I can tell you! Speed in a car becomes immaterial unless maybe in a ferrari! The purpose of the journey is far more fulfilling because you get there under your own steam, getting in and out of a car at every view point is nowhere near as fulfilling!

    The views along the roads from Craignure to Tobermory were just stunning! Across hills, mountains, vast seas and cliffs, Single track road with passing places slowed the usual 60 mph cars and RVs down and an exchange of smiles snd handwaves made travelling a pleasure! Total 106 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Cairndow to Strachur BCQ

    August 10, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Day 3 - 15°c, 34 km, including a section off road on a path that disappeared into the Loch! After some scrambling around and dropping the tandem onto the foreshore we manage to find the path again. Strachur's BCQ was a moment dedicate to serviceman that died in the Boer war, not something you would expect many Scotsmen to be taking g part in! The local Scottish Batton Twirling group provided a cream tea in the village hall. Fresh zones with jam and cream, not bad for £5.00 p.p. Total 140 kmRead more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland
    1

    Killin & Loch Katerine

    August 12, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Day 4 - 72 km 15°c and 20 later! Thunderstorms stopped play but eventually we got going after parking at our Airbnb on the South side of Loch Tay. We won't be back here till Friday and have still a few nights of wild camping ahead!
    Turns out we managed to find a beautiful spot on Loch Katerine, only thing is the midgies found us too and in great numbers! We had to abandon any great cooking plans and quickly rustle up some mash and grains and hide in the tent. We were set for a restless night.....
    Total 212 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Loch Katerine to Comrie Croft

    August 13, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Day 5 -16°c 80km we survived the midgies! Sally was worse off then me and was eaten alive. A hasty breakfast at 6.00 inside the tent saw us on the road by 6.45! Unheard off! A very nice off road path took us to Callander where we had a well deserved breakfast. Persistent drizzle got us to Bracu via Dunblane. As we got nearer to Comrie we started exploring options for wild camping but they turned out not to exist, we found a nice eco friendly campsite at Comrie Croft but they seem to want to charge eco trendy prices which seem double then at other places No allowances for our eco friendly mode of transport! Total 292 kmRead more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Comrie Croft to Pitlochry

    August 14, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    17°c 77km. Very nice day riding today on a mixture of cycle paths and quiet roads. Got to Aran Bakery in Dunkeld for a late lunch to find that the last loaf of sourdough just being sold under our noses whilst discussing what to have for lunch! Lunch by the river Tay and the cathedral followed by a 10km ride to Pitlochry. This was on the NCN 7 which happened to be closed for cars but not cyclists, hurray! Later we also crossed the Tay on the only community owned bridge, rather unusual! The graveyard where we had a cup of tea had special metal cages to stop resurrectionists and grave robbers getting to the freshly burried parishioners! Backpacker Hotel tonight, bad weather overnight persuaded us to get a bed! And local grilled salmon for dinner! Total 369 kmRead more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Pitlochery to Glengoulandie

    August 15, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    50km 8 - 15°c, rain in the morning till 14:00 hrs, dried out when we got to Tummel Bridge. Had coffee at a holiday camp, quite a different world! Hidihi style entertainment and parents eating too much rich food and drink. They'd run out of baguettes so no food for us!
    Got our lunch in Rannoch, sourdough bread from pitlochery, beats any baquette!
    Surveyed part of Sunday's bike course to end up at our campsite for the night at Glengoulandie. We had the camping field to ourselves but some midgies did come out to try and get to Sally! Total 419 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Glengoulandie to Loch Tay

    August 16, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    20 km Good night sleep, only the noise of the stream to get us off to sleep. A deer park next to our camp but not a sound from them! The ride this day was mostly down hill, along the bike course I'd be doing during the aquabike on Sunday. Kenmore has a great village shop and bakery and yet another sourdough loaf was purchased, this time to pick up later when we would be in the car. One more uphill stretch got us to our Airbnb for the next 3 nights and a rest from the saddle!
    Total 439 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Aberfeldy Triathlon Weekend

    August 17, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    On the Friday night we helped out marshaling the trail 10k. Not many in it and we were quickly done as we were on one of the first corners near the start. Really friendly bunch up here! Next day helped at the open water swim, starting with the 10k, 5km, 3000m right down to 350m swim. All shapes and sizes with and without wet suits, and that in 14°c!
    Sunday was my turn to do the Aquabike, 1900m swim and 90 km bike, easy? Not quite, the swim was quite choppy and I started off with my breathing way too high and I couldn't get in a regular front crawl stroke. After several bits of breast stroke I got going and managed all of the buoys across to the other side of the Loch.
    Change over to the bike and up and over the side of Schiechallion mountain to Loch Rannoch. Just on my loop round the Loch and disaster struck! A puncture! I set upon repairing it and a stream of fellow cyclist went past in the 13 minutes it took to get going again. Found my mojo 15km later and motored on to start overtaking a few riders; back on the mountain road and more riders came into sight and some got picked off. The descent was fast but I kept it safe considering the bends and the oncoming traffic. On the last flat 10k to the finish I managed a good time trial pace and a few more riders got left behind! Into transition and a short 600m run got me across the finish! 43 min swim and a 3:30 cycle (including the 13 min enforced stop.
    21st out of 32, 1st in my age group (only 2 in it)
    Great organisation, great event!    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Aberdeen and Shetland islands

    August 19, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Leaving our Airbnb today to travel to Aberdeen and taking the tandem and our camping kit on the ferry to the Shetlands. Short walk to the waterfall nearby at Aachan. Very comfortable ferry and reasonable prices. Crossing should be reasonable smooth with a following wind!Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Shetland, going South

    August 20, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    76km, 14°C, Sunshine. After a comfortable ferry crossing we got escorted of the ferry and were soon peddling South out of Lerwick. Our first destination was a community campsite at Levenwick about 30k away. Undulating with the odd challenging hill into a head wind. Campsite found, fantastic views and tent pitched. Off loaded our luggage and a quick bowl of porridge for energy and we were on our way again.
    St Ninian's tombola, a narrow strip of sand connecting two islands, very beautiful and the sun came out too! First BCQ on the island!
    We then cycled further south towards Sumburgh Head but stopping first to watch a colony of 40 seals sun bathing, fascinating site.
    The viewpoint at Sumburgh brought us our first site of puffins but no whales just yet! Great day cycling and great views with some sunhine! Total 515 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Shetland - trying to beat the rain

    Aug 21–30, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    82km, 12°c, wind in the back going North.
    Levenwick was a lovely community campsite and the two volunteers collecting the money and doing the cleaning were charming.
    As the forecast was for 40mph winds and heavy rain by 16.00 hrs we made a booking at the Brae Hotel and planned to get there by 14.00 hrs so we would have enough time to pop over to Sullom Voe to get the number 4 BCQ. The plan worked perfectly and we got back to the hotel just when the rain arrived. The receptionist offered to put our bike in the snooker room and there it went, right through reception!
    Dinner was a treat at Frankies Fish & chip shop, the most northerly fish & chips in Great Britain, and they tasted as well as they claimed!
    Total 597 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Brae to Scalloway - Storm ahead

    August 22, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    42 km, 12°c, 40kph wind & rain.
    After overnight storms and high winds we set off to try and beat the winds and cycle 35 km to Scallaway to get to our next campsite with the rain improving but the wind increasing.
    It was probable the most difficult journey we've done on a laden tandem. The head and side winds played havoc with your position on the road and the rain at first made it even more miserable. And when you get a hire car pushing through with traffic coming the other way you do feel very vulnerable!
    We made it to Shetland Jewellery just when it was clearing up and had a very welcome hot drink and chocolate fudge as well as a very friendly lady serving us who offered to send our room key back to the Brae Hotel that I still had in my pocket!
    Onwards to Scalloway Caravan Campsite, another very friendly and well run campsite, free washing machine & dryer!
    Total 639 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Scallaway to Lerwick

    August 23, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Just 18km! Scallaway was decent site for a decent price with a very friendly warden called Janet. Along Loch Asta and Loch Tingwall where the Shetland Island Council still meet once a year as the local government used to meet there till the 16th century.
    Over the hill to Lerwick coming across another cyclist struggling to adjust his gears to come with the hills. New cables always stretch and you will need to adjust them at some point!
    We spent a lovely time in Lerwick and Sally purchased a Shetland woollen jumper which we posted back home.
    The ferry that took us to Orkney was quite lively and Sally had to lay down the whole of the journey whilst we watched Anthony Hopkins in 'One Life' a very moving film!
    When we arrived we had to cycle 3km along a dark road to Lerwick to find the Peedie Hostel.
    Total 657 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Kirkwall to Isle of Hoy

    August 24, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    76km. We set off early to make the most of our time on the Orkeys. Cycled along several lochs and stone circles, one of them the BCQ, the neolithic standing stones of Stenness. They nearly didn't survive as Captain W Mackay decided to smash them up as he didn't like people trespassing on his land to have rituals. This caused outrage and he changed his mind! Not much changes!
    Had a quite ride to Birsay to see the Earl's Palace (BCQ), he left sometime ago and Cromwell smashed it up so a lot of it was a pile of stones and some windy towers.
    On to Stromness to have our dinner at the Ferry Inn before taking the actual ferry to Hoy.
    Arriving at Hoy at 18:45, everyone getting off quickly disappeared and we cycled to Radwick across the Middle of Hoy in between two huge mountains (500 m). We searched fir the Bothy in Randwick with was a little track down to the beach. A locked gate soon became a barrier but I noticed the kissing gate next to it and managed to lift it off its hinges to get the tandem through.
    The bothy was something out of Edith Blyton, 5 travellers inside huddled around a wood fire. No lighting or other services, a couple of tables and chairs. Space to sleep on stone slaps, couldn't get more adventurous! The wind was howling, the rain bashing the stone slab roof. Managed a fitfull sleep on the stone floor, was this real?
    Total 733 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Hoy back to Kirkwall

    August 25, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    44km Early rise in the bothy to make the ferry at 10.00 and get the BCQ. As we left we saw a white tipped Eagle soaring overhead, quite amazing!
    Wind in the back we speeded in between the two big mountains and past Dwarfie Stone to the view point near the water of Hoy where Betty Corrigal was finally given a proper burial. She committed suicide in 1770 after getting pregnant by a sailor who promptly left her!
    We were picked up at 10.00 by the ferry and as we oassed Graemsay lighthouse we spotted an otter darting through the sea, amazing again! On the mainland we made it back to Kirkwall to check into the Peedie Hostel. Total 777 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Kirkwall to South Ronaldsay

    August 26, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    80 km 2 more BCQs to get across what used to be a string of islands but that were joined together by the Churchill barriers in the war. One of the BCQ is the Italian chapel built by Italian prisoners of war on the side of their camp.
    The end of South Ronaldsay is Burwick were you are suppose to be able get a ferry to John O'Groats but there were little signs that was still the case!
    Total 857 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Aberdeenshire to Bennachie

    August 27, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    66 km Coming off the Orkney ferry at 8:30 and negotiating Aberdeen City centre was interesting. We tried getting o coffee at Torrie Battery but they close on Tuesday and Wednesdays. We ended up in Greggs instead. Our very kind fellow tandemist Colin guided us 15km out of Aberdeen to the start of the cycle path, saving us a lot of route finding!
    Total 923 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Bennachie to Strathdon

    August 28, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    77km after a peaceful night wild camping , today's trip started of with a trip back to Inverurie to fix 4 spokes on the back wheel. 3 hours later and we were back on the road heading for a cafe run by a French man. When we got there he'd just shut for a hospital appointment! O la la!
    On the the hills of the Cairngorms, tomorrow will be a hilly day!
    Total 1000 km!    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Strathdon to Breamar

    August 29, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    77 km 1600 m elevation Today has some big climbs in store, the first one is 800m up and over AND back again to get 2 BCQs! Crazy work! But the weather is dry if not a bit windy. Strange seeing a ski resort without snow! Back down to Corgraff fir lunch and then onto Braemar over another hill. We passed Balmoral Castle and King Charles just returned in a helicopter, probably to come to the Braemar Gathering at the weekend!
    Total 1077 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Braemar to Ballater

    August 30, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    30 km 16°c - Today is a 'short' day, just to Ballater. Visited the Highland Games Information Centre. Next week are the Braemar Highland Games we're all the clans from the area march into the arena in their kilts and with bag pipes. It was the occasion for the clan leaders to see what his men were made of and to recruit more strong or fast men for his team.
    Past King Charles' summer castle at Balmoral Estate (50.000 acres) who was in residence with Queen Camilla . Staying in a comfy hotel tonight....
    Total 1107    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Ballater to Banchory

    August 31, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    40 km We coming towards the end of or grand Tour of Scotland and have a couple of easy days. Sally is a bit under the weather as she has a nasty cold. We followed the Deeside railway from Ballater and started at the old station that had a riyal waiting room and privy as well as one of the royal carriages. The Dee valley is very beautiful to cycle through especially the off road sections along the river.
    Total 1147 km    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanTravelerScotland

    Banchory to Aberdeen

    September 1, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    31 km Last ride back to Aberdeen along the Deeside trail. Again a very pleasant ride with coffee on the side of the trail before we worked our way through the Abuerdeen suburbs back to the car. Now we just have to get back home.
    Grand total: 1178 km    Read more

    Trip end
    September 2, 2024
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