​June 29th – REST DAY. Shhhhhhhh…….
8.4 miles – total so far = 784.8
480 feet of climbing – total so far = 49,783
Max elevation 590 feet
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A lie in. I had completely forgotten how lovely that is.
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This was a quiet day.
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After a later than usual breakfast that even had Ruth there what to do? Well, no radio call today, but I was informed by my biking management team sitting in their armchairs back in Lewes that it was really important that I got on the bike today and went for a ride.
Really??
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This is meant to be a rest day, but apparently, and I don’t think they were winding me up, if I didn’t get on the bike and go for a ride, I would feel stiff the next day.
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So, and I should not start a sentence with so, old English would allow me ‘marry’, it could be thus or therefore, but I have chosen to flout rules and use so. So, after breakfast, you find me peeling the lycra on, although it is a touch less tight now, and climbing aboard my trusted steed.
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It does not have to be a long ride, I just need to do some miles to keep the legs ticking over.
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Obviously, as we are at loch level, even a short ride takes me up a bit of a hill. 8 miles later, after coming back down that hill and pootling along the side of the loch, it’s back to the hotel.
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While out riding, Ruth had been swapping rooms as she had been up in the rafters, and that got the benefit of a hotel feature, known as plumbing.
Anyone running water to wash their hands, or flushing the toilet, running a bath or having a shower meant that Ruth had been experiencing a symphony of squeaks, clanks, groans, rattles, knocks…you get the idea. This hadn’t helped her to sleep, so a move was needed and easily facilitated.
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Now, we have the rest of the day to fill.
It is strange and somehow feels wrong. I know that there are plenty of people who do the thing in one go, well, without a rest day and do more miles each day, but for me a rest day seemed prudent.
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Killin is quite a small place, but nice. Bowling green opposite the hotel, not in use, but interestingly also has 18 golf holes cut into it, so it’s a bowling / putting green. I have never seen one of those before. Not in use, but may need investigating later on.
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We three walk up through the village, take pictures at the bridge over the river that flows into the loch, and pop into a couple of the local shops before settling down for a toastie and coffee. Very busy, but we were in no hurry at all.
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Slow walk back, try to go putting, but there isn’t anyone to be found so we have to pass that up.
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Its then a relax, plan tomorrows route, quick doze. The photo on the blog today has me snoozing, with various items of cycling apparel drying out on the four poster and the bike in the background wrapped up in its sheet. Just your run of the mill hotel room.
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On waking, it really is just a case of checking all is ready for tomorrow, and passing the time. Could watch some of the football, as that still seems to be going on, but have lost touch with what is happening. England certainly aren’t.
Early night after dinner and sleep before the final three days of riding. Bang on the average distance tomorrow as we go to Aviemore.
