Latest News from the Charity Cycle
Bryony Hope, one of The Gathering 2009 team and her friend Vanessa Fraser have just completed a journey of nearly 400 miles in support of The Anthony Nolan Trust, the official charity of The Gathering 2009.
Their journey started on Friday 20th June 2008 and they cycled from the Scottish/English border right up to the north coast of Scotland. The bike ride included some of the most hilly, remote and windy areas of the UK. The girls are unsupported and are carrying all of their equipment with them, including tents and cooking equipment.
The route started at Berwick and is taking in the Moorfoot Hills, Edinburgh, Creiff, Aberfeldy, the Drumochter Pass, Dalwhinnie, Aviemore, Inverness, Ullapool, Assynt and finished at Smoo Cave near Durness. The route took 6.5 days in total.
To look at the route they travelled click on the link below:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2013544
Bryony's Diary
Day 1, Friday 20th June: Berwick to Edinburgh
Amazing weather, got burnt shoulders, climbed constantly for what seemed like hours into a headwind up the Lammermuir hills but amazing weather and even better scenery!
Day 2, Saturday 21st June : Edinburgh to Comrie
Joined the Edinburgh - St Andrews bike ride for the first 10 miles of the journey over the forth road bridge, then cycled over lots of beautiful Perthshire hills, past Gleneagles and up Glen Devon into Comrie. Rain poured all night but that didn't stop us walking to the pub!
Day 3, Sunday 22nd June: Comrie to Pitlochry
Again amazing scenery as we headed north from Crieff through the very dramatic Sma Glen to Pitlochry. Tomorrow is the big scary day over Drumochter pass, 60 miles and one massive hill in the way
It has all been very remote, 2 out of 3 of us have fallen off our bikes so far... Lots of interest from passers-by, not used to seeing a bunch of girls on touring bikes! Midge count = very low (so far...).
Day 4, Monday 23rd June: Pitlochry to Aviemore
Vanessa and I made it up and over Drumochter Summit along with our friend Hazel who has joined us for part of the ride. We had a 12 mile warm-up past Blair Atholl, followed by an 18-mile climb, followed by another 32 miles to reach our home for the night, Aviemore.
We arrived at our destination with beautiful evening sunshine on the Cairngorm mountains and a lovely man from the Aviemore Bunk House very kindly let us stay for free in the hostel as we were cycling for a charity. We spent the evening in the nice dry hostel playing Jenga with other guests.
Day 5, Tuesday 24th June: Aviemore to Contin
Left Aviemore and got a little lost around a giant golf course. We eventually headed off in the right direction only to find an unexpected massive climb up over 'Slochdt' - a very relevant name!
After finally making it up the hill we cycled on to Inverness where our friend Hazel left us to catch the train back to Edinburgh. We carried on cycling in the evening for another 17 miles to a campsite near a beautiful river. It was a very wet night but 4 lovely motorcyclists let us share their campfire, which helped us dry out and kept the midges at bay!
Day 6, Wednesday 25th June - Contin to Ullapool
We are in Ullapool at the moment after a VERY wet night on a gorgeous but damp campsite in Contin (Black Isle). We had to hide in the campsite kitchen this morning until it stopped bucketing down, but then had a very fast 38 miles to Ullapool over an incredible road with virtually no traffic. Visited an award-winning fish and chip shop for dinner.
Day 7, Thursday 26th June - Ullapool to Scourie
The most amazing day yet - after a steep climb out of Ullapool we rounded a corner to find Stac Polly, Canisp and Suilven mountains looming over us. Every corner seemed to bring a new and even more fantastic view. I'm definitely coming back here! Unfortunately in the evening we dipped down into Scourie and it started raining so we set up our tent then took refuge in the Scourie Hotel with several wet fishermen!
Day 8, Friday 27th June - Scourie to Durness
After being rained on for the first few miles the weather brightened up and we quickly finished off the last 28 miles, bumping into another tourer we'd last seen on the Forth Road Bridge out of Edinburgh! We arrived in a relatively warm and bright Durness, cycled down to the beach and immediately ran in for a (very quick) swim! The evening was spent celebrating with champagne and local smoked salmon, and we nipped to see Smoo Cave in the morning before catching the bus home, exhausted.
If you've already sponsored us then thanks very much indeed - the total is shooting up every day! If you would still like to sponsor us, in aid of The Anthony Nolan Trust, then you can do so on www.justgiving.com/gatheringspeed
If you would like to find out more about the work that The Anthony Nolan Trust does please click on the link below.
Charity No: 803716/SC038827
