Ironman Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 The Port Navigation 200km – Saturday 13th April 2013 – wee report. This ride started in Ballachulish at 08:00 in the morning & headed south down the A82 then A828 to Connel Bridge which was a pleasant run using the cycle path & road the surface on the cycle path was far superior to the road. At Connel it was left to Oban on the A85 but we took a detour as the ferry to Mull was not till 11:45. Right into Dunbeg following the cycle track which goes over the high ground before dropping in Ganavan Sands the then the coast road right into Oban. We got there for 10:45 so of to Tesco’s for some early lunch. This stretch is only 40 miles. Then on the ferry to Craignure (Mull) arriving there at 12:30, once of the ferry it was left on the A849 to Pennyghal to the check point by this time the sun was out but the wind was starting to build. Pennyghal reached at 13:45 card stamped & some food from the shop it was rather good considering it is in the middle of nowhere. Then a retraces back to the B8049 were you go north west over a hill then drop down to sea lever were we turn east right into the wind lovely ride along the cliff road but 8 m/hr at times with the head wind and this is a flat road, you get to the main road at Salen right to the Fishnish – Lochaline Ferry over to Morvern. Check point in Jeans café just as you get of the ferry, soup & sandwiches are in the price of the Audax recommend this to. 86 miles covered at this point time 16:45. So from Lochaline to the Corran Ferry at Ardgour it is 31 mile the first 10 uphill so a bit of a slog but you soon get into it & the long hill Is over with a very step descent to loch Sunart at this point your into the wind as travelling east. From the end of Loch Sunart to the ferry it is 13 miles it was 18:15 so you would think to make the ferry at 7.30pm would be easy. The climb to the top of the Glen Tarbert was a bit of a grind speed ranging from 4 to 12 m/hr due to the wind on reaching the top the wind was just unbelievable there was a stretch of about 100m of flat and I was flat out at 6 m/hr then the downhill I was asking myself am I really going downhill pedalling at 10 m/hr then I went behind some tree that sheltered the road the bike shot up to 27 m/hr & a wee breather from pushing the pedals round hard, on reaching the coast the road turns north so a bit of a tall wind, it was time to time trialling the last stretch as I had 15 minute & about 4 mile I thought so here we go, it’s like the return leg on the Georgetown mentality you have to give it your all it did work as I rounded the corner the ferry still there I had made it by 5 minutes 117 miles. I had also caught the front group as they had just missed the 7:00pm ferry. It was then just a wee run round the coast to Ballachulish getting there at 20:02 127 miles in the bag & it just started raining as we went into the hall all the riders that came in after that were like drowned rats. Ride states Miles 127, time riding 9 hour, total climbing 6164 ft., 8242 cal., total time 12 hours. You should try this it was a nice run. I think there was another Johnstone Wheeler on the start sheet but didn’t see them or they didn’t see me. Campbell Darryl Gunson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GEORGE DONNELLY Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 Bonkers/Brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2024 Subscriptions Darryl Gunson Posted April 16, 2013 2024 Subscriptions Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 Great stuff Campbell :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2023 Subscriptions iain couttie Posted April 16, 2013 2023 Subscriptions Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 superb effort iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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