JOGLE route - Ballacluish to Crianlarich

Day Seven of my end to end cycle ride

Looking up the Pass from just south of Glencoe Village

I remember almost every detail of every day of my JOGLE, but there are one or two, where I remember everything - today was one of those days

I set off from Ballacluish at around 0930., the weather was clearing and as I rounded the bend and started pedaling toward Glencoe Village, I saw the mountains ahead of me. For quite a while I seriously thought I would have to walk at some stage, but I think it must have been the sheer hugeness of the scenery, the roadside wild flowers at the bottom and sight of things to come which seemed to put a hand behind and pushed me up and up.

I reached the first viewpoint , got off for the photo on right, standing against the towering three sisters looking distant and grand. Back on the bike again and before I knew it I was rounding a bend to find I had reached the summit with no pain and no tiredness.

I have to admit here that I found a quiet spot and had a good cry. There's something about the mountains for me, it is literally like you can reach out and touch the heavens sometimes. A great emotional experience and a great time for me.

Then it the start of Rannoch Moor, as still as the Moon and distant in it's remoteness. The roads were pretty easy and you cycled along and it was very foreign to anything I'd known before.

It was then I found a first, the first Roadside Snack Bar on my journey. It's odd, because wherever you go in England, you expect to find one around every corner and here we were, 130 miles or so past and finally reaching a Coffee not from a Shop or B&B !!

The road then takes a long windy downhill to Bridge of Orchy, which as far as I could see is a Pub and a Railway Station (I'm sure there's more). Not far from there, a few more climbs, bends and stunning views, you come alongside the railway line and make a descent to Lyndrum. I won't tell you what I had there!

The last three or so miles and it's cycling heaven, all down hill on a nice wide road and straight into Crianlarich, a small Village with quaint Church, Railway Station, Hostel and a couple of Pubs.

As, once again, I was a bit early, I took time out and sat on a bench with a view. A young chap came along and we spoke for a good half hour about quests, searches for self and more, a nice chap, still at University but obviously not with a brain just for academics.

I found my B&B which once again looked over Mountains, went to the Pub for a Meal where I spoke to an Italian who was over here doing some walking.

It had been a day which fulfilled all expectations, a day where I found a little bit more about myself and a day which ended with a perfect night's sleep !