Tried too much?

19C, showers, some heavy.
Break camp at Oban and head towards Glen Coe. The road along Glen Orchy is single-track through Caledonian temperate rainforest. Each tree is decorated with feathery lichens, any rocks were coated in thick velvety moss. These places are rare now, but still, the magic is there.

I was looking for a hike, the rain wasn’t so bad, more drizzle by now. But I failed after making friends with some pigs. So, drove on to The Bridge Of Orchy and decided on the climb on the opposite side- Beinn Dorian. At 1076m, it is about the same height as Snowdon. The top was in cloud and so was the approach along a ridge. It’s a shame because the view would get been stunning.

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You have to watch out for the false summit. The real one is at the second cairn.
Rain has been the big problem today, I took the tent down is rain and later, put it back up in an even heavier downpour, and it was dark.
Everything ran too late today, I got back to the car at about 8.45.
That screwed the plan to have a pub meal near the campsite, view stopped serving at 9.00.
So I cooked in rain too.

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Lille Ecosse

19C sunny, SW2.
Arrived in Scotland, after a drive of 300 miles. The last 50 with a couple of young hitchhikers I picked up near Loch Lomond. They were delightful companions to share the journey with. Originally, they wanted Fort William, but later decided to travel with me to Oban.
I called this post Lille Ecosse because their guide book gave that name to Arran.

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Loch Lomond

There may be heavy rain showers tomorrow but I can’t check now with no signal in the tent. It it supposed to be the remnants of hurricane Berthe. But then it may veer away.

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This should work.

Heavy rain, then humid sun.
Upgrade wheels for the fixed gear. For £99 you can get a trendy pair of wheels with painted, deep aero rims. Mine are orange but like others of the breed- they are heavy.
After the success of those Aksium wheels, I looked at the single-speed bike.

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Nothing ready-made in the catalogues, so I ordered a pair built. Though they look nice, but the spokes are different front and rear. They have not been pre-tensioned and not laced with the pattern I asked for. I still expect a considerable improvement in their handling.
It’s going to be more than a week before I find out.

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A week in the Algarve.

28C, sunny, west wind.
Last day in Portugal. The flight is late so we will take our time and absorb the atmosphere.

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Martinhal is very plush, facilities are the best and four swimming pools was the least of it. I have to admit, some prices were excessive.

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Everything is very new, the cobbles are clean-cut. I was very taken with the grasses.

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Lakes, hills and Aljezur

Cloud, then bright sun, 27C.
GPS MapMyRide! Distance: 78.31mi, time: 05:19:18, pace: 4:05min/mi, speed: 14.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/670187733
Rode many hills and a few dead ends, but the hire bike makes big hills likable. It was not until near the cafe stop at Aljezur that the sun came out.
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So most of the big climbs were under white cloud.
One of the rear spokes worked loose, I can blame the climbs for that. I hit no potholes all day- the roads are pretty good here. Traffic was very light too.
I am going to be famous! on the ride back, the Google Streetview car passed the other way. I will give them six months to post then have a look on Google Earth. I know my face will be blurred, but I will know it is me. That gives me six months to prepare for the rigours of fame on the World Wide Wonder Web.

That was a very satisfying day.

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