Day 10
The Pedal for Parkinson's Double End-to-End Cycle Challenge
Stirling to Pitagowen (Perth and Kinross)
65, correction, 80 miles
Posted by the Secret Secretary
As reported yesterday, Friday 24th June was a rest day for the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Team. After a full week's riding (all too often in the rain), the day off in Stirling was a welcome and much needed opportunity to catch up with bike maintenance and the laundry. Even the sun came out for the occasion! Happily, in addition to the chores and bike fettling, there was also time for a therapeutic sports massage from local masseur Angus Robertson* who was ready to lend his healing hands, to help set the lads up for their next day's riding, and the day's riding after that, and again after that...
Needless to say, if the rest day in Stirling was gloriously sunny, the 10th stage of the Pedal for Parkinson's Cycle Challenge started under (in Les' words) "leaden skies and in drizzle" and... slightly later than usual. There was of course good reason for this delayed start: before hitting the road, the Team were again pleased to see off the local riders taking part in the second of this year's three Parkinson's UK Fun Rides**, which it is hoped will become an annual fund-raising fixture on the cycling calendar. The Fun Rides have been organised to coincide with the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge route. So last Sunday (19th June) the Team were able to see the start of the first Fun Ride in Stratford whilst yesterday the second Fun Ride took place on a circuit setting out from Stirling and the third Fun Ride is scheduled to take place in Swansea on 17th July. Although the Team will have finished their own Challenge by then, they expect to be in Wales for the event.
The Fun Riders on their way, the 6 Challenge Riders left Stirling at 10h30. According to the Roadbook, there were 65 miles to cover but the planned route north out of Stirling on the A9 soon became very tedious and it was decided to revise the route in favour of much quieter roads. It was a good decision: even the weather brightened and, as Les says, the Team soon found itself "enjoying the best day yet in every respect". The kinder weather provided a welcome opportunity to take in some beautiful highland scenery: rivers, lochs and pine forests. So if the hills were indeed long and testing, the views offered ample reward and a fine backdrop for a picnic lunch. As it happens, the Team stopped for lunch at The Challenge Arms, a very welcoming hostelry run by Liz and Geoff who are following the riders in their mobile home from where yesterday they were serving refreshments on the A833 near Armulee.
***Yesterday's roadside lunch stop was on the A833 near Armulee,
where Liz and Geoff were serving refreshments and encouragement from "The Challenge Arms".
Of course, there were still quite a few, hilly miles to ride and after the early amendments the 65 miles scheduled for the day inevitably climbed to 80, making for another long day in the saddle. The riders finally reached Blair Athol, near Pitagowen, a little weary but in good shape and checked into their accommodation (a spacious bungalow, which the Team had to themselves) at 19h30. Just time to clean up a little before heading to the local, The Atholl Arms, for supper, which last night culminated in... treacle sponge. Fodder for the mountains!
The riders will be climbing (and presumably descending) again today as they continue northwards, over the Caingorms to Inverness. It promises to be a "massive" day!
*Angus Robertson, massage therapist. Click here to find out more:
**Parkinson's UK Pedal for Parkinson's Fun Ride.
To find out more about these events, click here:
or click on the link in the right hand column.
*** The marvels of the Internet. There are lots of wonderful old cycling photographs on the Internet. Here's one site that is worth viewing:
As reported yesterday, Friday 24th June was a rest day for the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Team. After a full week's riding (all too often in the rain), the day off in Stirling was a welcome and much needed opportunity to catch up with bike maintenance and the laundry. Even the sun came out for the occasion! Happily, in addition to the chores and bike fettling, there was also time for a therapeutic sports massage from local masseur Angus Robertson* who was ready to lend his healing hands, to help set the lads up for their next day's riding, and the day's riding after that, and again after that...
Needless to say, if the rest day in Stirling was gloriously sunny, the 10th stage of the Pedal for Parkinson's Cycle Challenge started under (in Les' words) "leaden skies and in drizzle" and... slightly later than usual. There was of course good reason for this delayed start: before hitting the road, the Team were again pleased to see off the local riders taking part in the second of this year's three Parkinson's UK Fun Rides**, which it is hoped will become an annual fund-raising fixture on the cycling calendar. The Fun Rides have been organised to coincide with the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge route. So last Sunday (19th June) the Team were able to see the start of the first Fun Ride in Stratford whilst yesterday the second Fun Ride took place on a circuit setting out from Stirling and the third Fun Ride is scheduled to take place in Swansea on 17th July. Although the Team will have finished their own Challenge by then, they expect to be in Wales for the event.
The Fun Riders on their way, the 6 Challenge Riders left Stirling at 10h30. According to the Roadbook, there were 65 miles to cover but the planned route north out of Stirling on the A9 soon became very tedious and it was decided to revise the route in favour of much quieter roads. It was a good decision: even the weather brightened and, as Les says, the Team soon found itself "enjoying the best day yet in every respect". The kinder weather provided a welcome opportunity to take in some beautiful highland scenery: rivers, lochs and pine forests. So if the hills were indeed long and testing, the views offered ample reward and a fine backdrop for a picnic lunch. As it happens, the Team stopped for lunch at The Challenge Arms, a very welcoming hostelry run by Liz and Geoff who are following the riders in their mobile home from where yesterday they were serving refreshments on the A833 near Armulee.
***Yesterday's roadside lunch stop was on the A833 near Armulee,
where Liz and Geoff were serving refreshments and encouragement from "The Challenge Arms".
Of course, there were still quite a few, hilly miles to ride and after the early amendments the 65 miles scheduled for the day inevitably climbed to 80, making for another long day in the saddle. The riders finally reached Blair Athol, near Pitagowen, a little weary but in good shape and checked into their accommodation (a spacious bungalow, which the Team had to themselves) at 19h30. Just time to clean up a little before heading to the local, The Atholl Arms, for supper, which last night culminated in... treacle sponge. Fodder for the mountains!
The riders will be climbing (and presumably descending) again today as they continue northwards, over the Caingorms to Inverness. It promises to be a "massive" day!
*Angus Robertson, massage therapist. Click here to find out more:
http://www.natural-healing-clinic.co.uk/about-the-therapists
**Parkinson's UK Pedal for Parkinson's Fun Ride.
To find out more about these events, click here:
or click on the link in the right hand column.
*** The marvels of the Internet. There are lots of wonderful old cycling photographs on the Internet. Here's one site that is worth viewing:
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