Epilogue : Full Photo Album and a Paper Trail

I've been home a week or so, and I must say I had a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend this, or a similar itinerary to Scotland. Go for it!

I placed all my photos in a Google Photos Album, and I am pleased to offer them here for all to view. While some are in this blog, all are here, in time order sequence, with most photos annotated and with geolocation coordinates for Google Maps.

All my GPX tracks, generated by Strava (except the first half of my Pitlochry to Stirling segment) may be accessed at this link. From Pitlochry to Aberdalgie (where I had my freehub failure), I neglected to start my Strava recording, so I used Komoot to create the GPX track.

I also reassembled my Philip's Navigator Scotland - Philip's Road Atlas spiral bound book with the pages that I removed that compromised my journey.  I then highlighted, in black Sharpie, the actual route I rode. Additionally, I printed about 150 photos in an approximate 2" x 3" format, and pasted most of them along the Sharpie route. Here are a few examples ... it's nice to have a paper record.

Also, a note about the structure of this blog. You're viewing this in a "newest entry first" order. You may want to navigate in an oldest entry first manner to see how the trip was organized and how I experienced it.

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Day 11: Bonus Track, Going Home

Wait, it ain't over yet! Arrived in Boston at about 12:30 PM on Sunday the 28th --- no problems with the LHR to BOS flight segment. After clearing customs (no wait, no hassle), I found my 1969 Phillips 3 Speed still waiting for me at Terminal E's secure bike rack. Now for the ride home to Gloucester.

A nice day, temperature in the 70's. The way to the Northern Strand in Revere is flat and safe, through East Boston, Chelsea, and Everett. Then, I took the Northern Strand and my usual biking route through Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Manchester (-By-The-Sea , if you must), and Gloucester.

Going up the Salem - Beverly Bridge, was no issue with my 30 pounds of gear (it weighed in at 14 kgs at a scale I found at LHR), but I inadvertently stuck the heal of my right cycling shoe between the pedal and crank arm and the bike's chain guard.. No damage to me, but I totally mangled the old steel chain guard into a contorted shape which wrapped itself around the chain and chainwheel gear. Some guard. Anyway, it took me about 30 minutes to remove the chain guard that was fitted with 2 nuts and bolts that were fully rusted and last turned by a screwdriver in Nottingham, England in 1969. I needed to remove the rear wheel, and I managed to twist and turn the guard back and forth until it snapped off at the fixing clamps. I think I'll need to find another one if I want to refit a guard in the future . But I was fully operable and back on the road cycling having crossed to the Beverly side of the bridge.

I stopped at a lemonade stand run by local kids in on the Marblehead Rail Trail. Good to see industrious kids!

I was bridged in Gloucester for about 10 minutes at the Cut Bridge (perfect!) , and got to Pavilion Beach just as the last 3 contestants where vying for the greasy pole championship. What a roaring crowd at Fiesta!

Home by 7PM, bike unpacked, laundry done, pizza eaten, and that's the end of my journey.

My 1969 Phillips 3 Speed packed up at Logan Terminal E

Damaged chain guard

After prying the chain guard off the bicycle

Coned at Black Beach, Manchester-By-The-Sea

Heavy fog at the Greasy Pole finals

Gloucester Fiesta Scene at St. Peter's Square

Day 10: Final Day in Glasgow, and a twist

A walking tour at 10:30 with Johnny of https://www.glasgowgander.com/ which was an action packed 3 hours. Johnny is great, and I highly recommend him if you journey to Glasgow.

While having my final lunch in in Scotland (fried haggis and chips at the Johnny recommended Merchant Chippie on the corner of Ingram Street and High Street near Cathedral Square), I received notice that my Glasgow to LHR flight was cancelled, with no new option provided. Air traffic in Europe was a mess due to the heat wave and thunderstorms in London, with over 400 flight cancellations across Europe. So, I was able to assure that my LHR to BOS flight segment would still be honored if I got myself to LHR another way. I booked the train to Edinburgh with transfer to London's King's Cross Station (LGX) on the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) for only 68 quid.

First, I returned my bicycle to Gear Bikes (it was raining during that ride, of course) and the mechanic swapped my pedals off with the originals. The tool kit and bag they supplied was nicked when I locked up the bike for the walking tour at Royal Exchange Square, but they said that happens often, no worries. Glad I didn't have any of my personal kit on the bike at the time. They liked the new wheel I procured in at The Bike Station - Perth

I hung out at my previous night's lodging lounge for a bit and repacked my gear and rested. Took the bus to Queen Street Station in Glasgow, and began my journey to London at 6PM, finally arriving at KGX a few minutes past midnight. London was abuzz --- a Bad Bunny concert has just let out, and England had just beat Panama 2-0 in World Cup action. Tons of people on the Tube. The best way to LHR was the Underground Metropolitan Line to the Harrow-on-the-Hill Underground Station, the night N140 double decker bus to LHR Main Bus Station, a total trip time of about an hour and half plus some wait time for the N140. Anyway, got to Terminal 3 by 2:30 AM or so and was able to check in for my 10 AM flight by 5 AM. Caught a few winks. Not so bad. Many thanks to the Underground worker at KGX who advised me on the best route to take at that hour of the night.

Start of walking tour ... outside the Gallery of Modern Art

The equestrian statue of Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Scotty Coned

Johnny leads the tour

Holding things up

Path of the tour

Day 9: Tak Ma Doon!

That's right, Take Me Down (Tak Ma Doon) to Glasgow. But first, I must climb. 

Leaving Stirling, and viewing the orange traffic coning of Rob Roy, I took a most meandering route south towards Tak Ma Doon Road. A lot of climbing even before formally hitting the intersection.

North side beginning of Tak Ma Doon Road

The ford along Tak Ma Doon

But then, a famous climb up to the summit.

And what a view.

I also stopped by Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge. My recent readings of Shuggie Bain, a novel by Douglas Stuart. Definitely a worthwhile visit and an important connection to Scotland's historic past.

Day 8: Mechanical failure lead to a great experience

Today's total miles : 68.5 on a warm sunny day.

First Pitlochry to Perth:

For some reason Strava didn't record. So, here's my manual entry based on my odometer. Mostly NRN 77.  About 2 miles after leaving Perth, I experienced total rear wheel failure. The free hub pawls gave out, and I had no drive with severe crunching. No way to fix this one. I called the bike coop in Perth, and they said they could sell me a used rear wheel and swap the tire/tube/brake disc from my original. Perfect! A dog walker near me offered to give me a ride back into Perth. Paul at The Bike Station  https://share.google/XVN7VswiyVXQ8qLAP did the swap quickly. I chatted with the team while I waited. I'd love to volunteer at this place. Anyway, the whole cost, including 2 tubes (one extra because all they had were presta rims). was 35 BPS. I took a taxi back to my disabled spot, with a chatty cabbie. Refitted the wheel to my bike, and all was well! What fun!!!

About to leave Pitlochry

Once more on the Pitlochry Suspension Bridge

Yes, it was

Then, from my disabled point to the Stirling Youth Hostel.

Smooth sailing. Thanks to Eddie the meteorologist who guided me to the Stirling Castle which is next to the Scottish Youth Hostel

"New" rear wheel on, ready to ride

Artists working on a mural in a tunnel under a roadway

Near Braco

Near Braco

Gateway to the Sterling Youth Hostel

Entrance: Sterling Youth Hostel

Sterling road

Day 7: Whitefield Castle Hunt, Dam, and Culture

Day 7: Pitlochry to Whitefield Castle and return, along with a stroll at the Pitlochry Dam and Fish ladder.

Intense climbs and descents... Descending was more difficult than climbing, but stayed in the saddle throughout. Stopped at the excellent general store in Kirkmichael both ways for snacks and more oatcakes to supplement my hunk of cheddar 🧀. Nice picnic tables in their front garden.

Hard to find the path to Whitefield Castle... Just navigate to 56.7409140, -3.4773670 , park your bike, and walk on the farm road directly west for 1/2 mile or so. You'll find it (I did!). Watch for sheep poop, and remember to close and latch the gate. I couldn't get right next to or inside the ruin, from where I approached it, it was enclosed by barbed wire. Close enough.

On the way back, once in Pitlochry, I visited the Pitlochry Dam, Fish Ladder, and visitor's center. Impressive. The salmon, however, we're not jumping today. 

Dinner and a musical at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Excellent production of "Once". It was over at 10PM, plenty of daylight to ride the mile back to my B&B .

Unfortunately, the evening ended with Scotland's 0-3 defeat to Brazil in World Cup action played Miami.