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.

Day 6: Around Loch Tummel and to Old Blair

Day 6: Summer is here, warm, dry, and mostly sunny. Rode a round trip from Pitlochry today.  Clockwise around Loch Tummel, over the old Tummel Bridge (walkers and cyclists only), a stop for an ice cold Irn-Bru at the Loch Tummel Inn on the north side (while sitting in their garden talking to a couple from Inverness), a stop at the Queen's View, and on to the hamlet of Old Blair (ran out of time to visit the castle), and back to Pitlochry. A full day capped off with a pint of ice cream from the local Coop. Tonight I'll relax in the garden of my B&B with takeaway from the local chippie. 

Oh yeah, at the Tummel Bridge I met my new mates from Yorkshire. Too funny!

Day 5: Aberfeldy to Pitlochry

Day 5: First a hike in the Birks of Aberfeldy, then cycling along mostly single lane country roads  (NRN routes 7 & 77) to Dunkeld and then on to Pitlochry. Met other cyclists from Yorkshire and bicycled with them and joined them for lunch in Dunkeld. New Strava friends!

After dinner in Pitlochry, I learned that in a mere 30 minutes the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, along with Highland and Scottish Country Dancers, were performing in the Pitlochry Town Hall in celebration of the 60th year of "Pitlochry Highland Nights". How perfect, with a charming and humourous compere and ultra talented singer / guitarist and accordionists. 

Day 4: Killin to Aberfeldy via Glen Lyon

Day 4: Upon the recommendation of a local, I switched my ride to Aberfeldy from Killin. First, along Glen Lochay westward, then north through the pass (ouch) to Pubil, then eastward along the "longest, loneliness, and loveliest" glen in Scotland, Glen Lyon. An amazing day in the saddle. Photos will describe it better than words.