Day 2: Loch Katrine Loop

On the 19th I woke to heavy rains ... which persisted all day, until 5PM when the day's ride completed. However, it was a fabulous ride, with very little road traffic, that toile through sheep grazing lands, forest, and views of Loch Katrine, among other lochs. The Trossachs Trail along Loch Katrine is paved and a pleasure to cycle. Not flat, mind you, but very manageable on the Ridgeback. Rushing water from the sounding hills channeled through creeks and streams could be heard all day, along with bird calls. It all felt very remote, especially since the weather kept other explorers and day trippers away. I did run into a few drenched hikers. Making use of the electric towel rack in my hotel to dry out my kit.

At the Loch Katrine Trossachs Trail 

Haggis now legal in Massachusetts

Seems like I need to acknowledge this milestone. Also in the new this morning is that Glasgow and Boston are now sister cities due to World Cup fever.

Day 1: Glasgow to Callander

After arriving at Glasgow airport late on Wednesday the 17th, I grabbed the last bus (#77) to the city center and stopped just a couple of blocks in Charing Cross from the Safe Stay hostel, a stop for bicyclists and Highlands hikers on their journey. Clean, welcoming staff, and very well priced. Not for everyone, but it did remind me of youth hostels of my earlier travels. Enough said about that. 

On the bus, I met a chap in his late 40s going home with his young teenage son from their visit to NYC and Boston for World Cup action. He was very complementary about his time in Boston.Among other topics, he recommended to that I have my breakfast at the Ottoman Coffeehouse, along my walk from my lodging to Gear Bikes to get my bicycle hire. Which I did, for excellent strong coffee, pastries,  Indian jazz soundtrack, and  a leather couch to lounge and read until the bike shop opened at 10AM. With sunrise at 4:45 AM, I needed a place to hang for a bit.

Then, a 20 minute walk through Kelvin Grove Park, until I found Gear Bikes on Gibson Street. Old style local bicycle  store packed with bikes for repair, for sale, and for hire. Along with a workshop area with every imaginable tool. Smelled like grease and rubber. Loved it. The mechanic gladly swapped the stock pedals on the Ridgeback Element hybrid with my MKS Touring pedals with toe clips and straps. On the sidewalk, I spent about a half hour affixing my panniers, a wired odometer, a bell, my lights,  and my larger drybag and daypack to the rear rack. Word of caution (from me to me) ... Hand brakes in the UK are reversed from the US ... the left lever activates the rear brakes. Also, keep left (roundabouts will require extra concentration).

Then I was off. Google Maps and Strava activated, Blue Tooth ear bud inserted, off I started for Callander, about 40 road miles to the north. 

Without going into to much detail on the route here (see https://maps.app.goo.gl/pbgcNdTKmQFJStiz7 if you must) the way was picturesque, hilly along the Crow Road, and rainy for a couple of hours. Late lunch in Kippen of sausage rolls, Eccles cakes, and a zero calorie Irn-Bru. All energizing. Some photos along the way. 

Arrived in Callander around 4:30 PM , still raining. Checked in at the Waverly put on some dry clothes and checked out the town. Details can be found at Callander Heritage Trail: Stories in the Stones - Here. Now. All of us. - Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park https://share.google/9Iyi5oTTq2zWAK43k 

Dinner of roasted chicken with haggis stuffing, and a couple of stout beers while watching World Cup action at the Riverside Inn. 

Today's ride:

Sunrise upon departure

Sunrise at Logan...

World Cup fever for incoming international passangers

Prepared for the ride home

Today is the day before I depart for Glasgow... 

One last preparation is to park my 1969 Phillips 3 speed bicycle at Logan Airport's Terminal E since I intend to ride home to Gloucester upon arrival in Boston. 

I transported the bike to the Wonderland T station parking lot , and rode the few miles to Terminal, E's secure bike rack. Well, we'll see how secure it really is. 

I'll fit my kit to the bike's rear rack, and pedal back to Gloucester where the final day of St. Peter's Fiesta will be in full swing.

Combining an interest in "Shuggie Bain"

I have been reading Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. Great book, I recommend it to all. No book report here by me. Get it, borrow it, and read it!

Given the various settings described in the book, I want to learn a bit more about Scotland’s heavy industrial past, coal mining, iron, steel, and engineering.

So, if I survive the Tak Ma Doon up and down, I'll divert to the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge, I'll have to plan my departure time in Sterling to have a couple of hours at the Summerlee before it closes at 4PM.

Here's the suggested bike route from Sterling:

With a follow on to central Glasgow via NCR Route 75 (about 12 more miles)

I used my GenAI buddy to suggest a time to depart Stirling so that I can absorb all I intend to explore on this day. 

Suggested Timeline for Friday, June 26

• 08:30 AM – Depart Stirling: Getting an early start allows you to tackle the climb while your legs are fresh.

• 10:30 AM – Tak-Ma-Doon Summit: This allows for a 2-hour transit and climb from Stirling. You’ll have a solid 30 minutes to "ponder the view" across the Kelvin Valley toward the area that inspired Shuggie Bain.

• 11:00 AM – Descend to Kilsyth/Coatbridge: The descent and the flatter miles toward Coatbridge should take about 1.5 to 2 hours.

• 01:00 PM – Arrive at Summerlee Museum: Arriving by 1:00 PM gives you 3 full hours before the 4:00 PM closing time.

• 04:00 PM – Depart for Glasgow: The final 11-mile leg into Glasgow along the canal and NCN 75 will take about an hour, getting you to your destination by 5:00 PM or 5:30 PM.

Why 3 Hours at Summerlee?

Given your interest in the "Pithead" world of Shuggie Bain, you will want ample time for:

• The Cardowan Winding Wheel: Located outdoors, this is your primary "source of truth" for the colliery’s scale.

• The Miners' Row: Walking through the 1980s-era house will provide a vivid domestic parallel to the book’s setting.

• The Steam Winder: Seeing the inner workings of the mine’s machinery.

Touring Attire

I'll be looking more like the guy on the left. It's all about the socks.