Cairngorm

Day 4, Duthil, Grantown on Spey

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Today was the last long day for biking. It was almost a false start, but Scott from Scotland (shout out to Ravenscraig of Aviemore) really saved the day by dropping the biking shoes after the ‘oh shit, I forgot my shoes’ moment. He raced up the hill , a good 15 minute trek to deliver the goods. After that, all was well.

Cairngorm Heather
Lochindorb castle ruins
Random castle, Grant castle and farm.
Tim about to tunnel Grant’s bridge.
Grantown on Spey

We stopped in Granton on Spey for lunch. And then road across the Spey Bridge outside Grantown on Spey

View from the top
Big horned shaggy sheep.

Next we stopped for a beverage in Boat of Garten and another highland coo before our delicious dinner with the girls. I was starving.

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Day 3 Aviemore biking tour to

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Started today with better than expected weather. And the rainy weather we had, was short and came with a whisky shots from locals. (More on those nice Scots later).

George woke up at 3:15 because the light was shining in the window and we both wondered,when does the sun rise (maybe it never really sets in Scotland on the summer solstice). I fought through the sunlight and managed to sleep again till 830. We had more eggs and local salmon/ lox for breakfast. After bfast we wandered through town and started day three of the cycling tour around 10:30.

Walk about in Aviemore
Lumpy ground
The ground is very lumpy & squishy.
Foxglove
Digitalis, foxglove
Pole hole
So far. This is my favorite stretch of road
It just gets prettier and prettier
Old schoolyard
Wild Heather and lumpy ground

At this point in our trip, I needed to pee and ventured off to look at the bridge and find a nice quiet spot while George and Tim (our riding companion) went ahead.

I turned on the turbo to catch up. But Tim was waiting for me in the road and said we were taking a pit stop for the rain. Wherein the 90 year old Scottish local not only gave us shelter from the rain, but also whisky.

Tim sipping whisky from the locals
Look at this rain behind me.

The rain subsided and we ventured towards kingussie for lunch stopping at the ruthven barracks and pics of more highland coos.

Last fun of the evening was fish and chips and cupcakes from the girls. Great day today! Cheers mate.

Day 2 biking Aviemore

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Today we almost slept through bfast. The sun goes to sleep late and gets up early. You have to get it dark to sleep and if you get it dark you might just continue sleeping. We made it to bfast with 2 minutes to spare, then packed up our gear for a great bike ride. We are in the Cairngorm national park. All these pictures following are from around Aviemore.

First Highlands coo’s
Pityoulish loch There was a kid with snorkling gear about to get in
Nethy Bridge
Rams?
Wildflowers with scotch broom
Scottish Highlands
Loch Garten
I saw a red squirrel here but didn’t get a picture of it.
At the top of the ascent, via turbo assist
Tim took this picture, he took the hill without assist.
Second highland coo’s sans horns
We got passed by about 15 old time cars in the backroads
My soup and tea.. how cute is that yes cup?

At this point we were hungry and thirsty and the girls saved us a spot while we got showered. I had my first sticky toffee pudding.

Old bridge inn, brewski
Waiting for a table Cairngorm hotel
Dining room
Traditional Scottish house mullet!, Business in the front, party in the back.
Silly tractor pic for gramps.
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Aviemore trek bicycle tour

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Mostly a travel day, but we did get a great first rainy ride in. The train ride was about 3 hours through the Scottish Highlands. We arrived a we bit early, but grabbed a pint got some lunch and went for a beautiful ride.

Train ride
The balavoulin

After check in we got outfitted for a ride and took one. Look at this beautiful scenery (in the rain no less).

Feshie bridge