Day 1 - Mon 14th June 2010
This was day 1 of my planned tour of the Angus Glens, plan is:
Day 1 Home (Kinellar, Aberdeen) - Braemar (54 miles) - Camp at Braemar
Day 2 Braemar - Kirriemuir campsite via Glen Prossen (61 miles) - camp at Kirriemuir
Day 3 Kirriemuir - Glen Esk campsite via Glen Clova (51 miles) - camp at Glen Esk (nr Edzell)
Day 4 Glen Esk - Home (66 miles) via Glen Esk and Cairn O Mount - home to my own bed.
Day 1 set off at 9:10am, was ready to set off at 08:00 but rain came on and waited for it to go off. Cycled to Ballater for lunch via Dunecht, Midmar,Tarland,Burn O'vat, this is quite a hilly route but roads are quiet and a very scenic route as I expect my whole tour will be. Everyone has to stop at the "Queen's view", 2 miles this side of Tarland as the view is always amazing, the queen always picks a good spot for a view.
This was my first cycle tour where I actually was camping as well so carrying a tent, sleeping mat and bag as well as clothes took a bit getting used to but my Hewitt touring bike is great for carrying loads. I managed to pack everything into 2 medium panniers and a bar bag but it was a bit of a cram.
After a brief stop at the royal's viewpoint its a freewheel down to Tarland and then straight through to Burn O'vat, didn't stop there as had visited a couple of weeks before. It was then down onto the N Deeside Rd to Ballater. I noticed a disused railway line which was cyclable as I got closer to Ballater, I enjoyed cycling on it. I had done around 36 miles by this point so stopped for some lunch, I got there around 11:45 so looked round the village and found a pub that looked like it would be showing the world cup, Holland was playing Denmark at 12:30. Just when I went into the almost deserted Barmoral Bar, 3 other customers arrived and they asked for the TV to be switched to the football, they were Dutch and were desperate to see their team in action. I had a baked tattie and watched the 1st (goal-less) half of a boring game so I got back on my bike and continued my journey, this time on the S. Deeside Rd. I believe game finished 2-0 to Holland so the Ballater Dutch contigent would have been happy.
When I had done about 4 miles after lunch along the quiet and scenic S. Deeside Rd towards Barmoral another cyclist came up along side me he was on a racing bike but seemed quite content to go along at my "fully-loaded touring pace" so we chatted about bikes and weather but at Barmoral he headed up towards Corgarff and I carried on towards Braemar, back on the N Deeside Rd.
I got to Braemar at around 14:50, had a look round the tourist shops, a cup of tea and a scone at the old bakery, the standard CTC cycling snack. I went to Fife Arms and watched the second half of the Japan - Cameroon game which wasn't that great but that has been the norm for the world cup so far, too many mediocre teams that only can defend, 1-0 Japan.
After the game went to pitch my tent at the campsite. Braemar campsite was very nice and not too bad at £9 for pitching my wee 2/1.5 man tent. I got my bearings and settled in, ate my packed "lunch" for my tea and then headed into the village to watch the Italy - Paraguay game, again not a great game but not as bad as some, 1-1.
Back at the campsite, not sure if I got that much sleep not convinced my 3/4 length sleeping mat is comfy enough but I did get some sleep.
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