Chris G’s cycling blogs. They’re for me, not you!

 Stats : 21.4 miles 1,138 feet climbing, 1 ferry, 335 mile drive home, 8 hours 15 mins, 1 wife’s birthday! Stats total : 421.2 miles and 23,366 feet climbing, 36 hours 16 minutes in the saddle, 7 ferries ( none missed!) 9 Islands! So it’s done, and I’m sat writing this on my settee, which seems slightly bizarre given I was in Tobermory this time last night! After a great nights sleep, I was down for an early breakfast at 7.30. The original plan was to catch the 11.30 ferry from Craignure, but there was one at 10am if I could get a wiggle on. After a quick scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, it was time to rescue the bike from the beer garden which apparently was the only place they had for the bike, strap the bags on as I’d had to take them all off last night as it was a bit exposed and then open the bags back up to get the rain gear out because it was RAINING! Once again, it was the super steep climb out of the harbour (Eig, Castlebay, et all…) and by the time I’d climbed 600 feet out,

  Stats: 59.5 miles 4,564 feet climbing (! the biggest day so far!) 1 ferry (all to myself!) 1 Triathlon 1 bowl of Tobermory Langoustines… Well I said yesterday I was feeling pretty good and pretty strong. Scrap that! I’d had a quick look at the elevation a couple of nights ago and it didn’t seem that dissimilar to the day through Skye. I should, however, have looked at the scale on the y-axis. Instead of being 500 ft it was 1,000… Anyway, it wasn’t going to change no matter what I thought, and firmly putting the thought of getting the train back to Oban, (it would have taken all day as well) it was bags packed and on the bike, which was easy as it was parked in my room, and down the 2 flights of stairs into the chill morning air. I think I put a photo of the room on yesterday’s blog, but for the £20 it cost for the night the Mission bunk house was clean and comfortable if somewhat basic and run down. Downside was there was no breakfast, but with the Co-Op next door, a couple of Chelse

Stats : 59.9 miles, 2998 feet climbing, 1 ferry, the best weather you’ve ever seen… As I hadn’t drawn the curtains at the air B&B last night, when the alarm went off at 6.30 the sunrise was just starting to appear from behind the hills as I got up. Sitting on the porch I was able to watch it majestically appear while I waffled down toast, home made marmalade and a cup of tea. Days don’t start much better, I’ll tell you! In a portent of what was to come weather wise, there was not a cloud in the sky as I gave the bike a quick once over ( I thought the clanking may been the seat being loose, but it’s definitely the pedal) strapped the bags on and was puffing up the big hill out of Uig by 8 a.m. I think it’s definitely the other 3 that have been holding me back! I would be on the A87 for most of the day and it was pretty quiet for the 17 miles into Portree meandering down the coast line with a few lumps and bumps, but very pleasant. With me losing the headphone jack, I wasn’t able to