Irn-Bru and other on trail delights

 I intend to forgo all American drinks for Irn-Bru when I need a little pick me up on the trail.

As seen in these TV commercials ... this 1988 advert

Irn-Bru Commercial Lyrics

Gosh, you know it, it's one of those ads, Lots of kids with white teeth and giant shoulder pads!

It’s not a drink from those crazy Yanks, Because it’s made right here, you know it’s tougher than tanks!

Made in Scotland from girders! Unpronounceable too!

Made in Scotland from girders! Barr's Irn-Bru!

Still this ad is really quite fun! It gives me a hint of a go to number one!

The only fly in the oil- I’m a loose cannon!

Made in Scotland from girders!

There goes my chance of fame... It's a bit of a shame.

A Little Bird Watching

I just finished reading Helen Macdonald's "H is for Hawk", and now I'm somewhat inspired to try some lightweight bird watching while cycling. Maybe I can catch a view of a Goshawk?

After a little research, and the purchase of a used copy of "Birds of Britain and Europe", I found that if I keep my eyes open, I have a good chance at some good sightings.

I created this sighting log and refer to the colour plates in the field guide. As I make sightings, I'll fill in the log.

Here's an example of one of the colour plates (with the Goshawk).

Listening Entertainment

I can tune into local Gaelic broadcasts on the stream at  Radio nan Gàidheal, which might be fun for music, and to listen to local presenters (without much comprehension on my part).

Also, I can tune into the live stream at BBC Radio Scotland 

I have captured some previous BBC over the air recordings, plus some albums and mixes (all for my own personal use) that I can enjoy from my mobile with earbuds (I don't want to disturb others at my rest stops):

• Amy MacDonald  -This Is The Life 
• Angle's Share
• BBC Scotland Saturday Show 
• Dick Gaughan Handful of Earth
• Flower of Scotland - The Corries 
• Ian Smith and his Scottish Dance Band
• Jim Moray - Gallants
• Julie Fowlis - Gach Sgeul (Every Story)
• Peat Fire Flame - The Corries  
• Radio nan Gàidheal (several programs, such as A' Mire ri Mòir, hosted by hosted by broadcaster Morag MacDonald)
• Roddy Hart on BBC Scotland (several Mixtape A ad B programs)  
• Scots Wha Hae
• Scottish Folk - Border Lands
• Scottish Love Stories
• The Corries - Shuffle   
• GaberLunzie: The Definitive Collection
• The Quay Sessions BBC Scotland (several programs)
• Traditional Scottish Instrumentals 
• Travelling Folk with Wayward Jane 

Can't take a train? Cycle Instead!

Updated plan ... 

I tried to book a ScotRail trip from Pitlochry to Sterling, but learned that there are only 2 or 3 berths for bicycles on each train, and no more bicycle reservations are available on any train on the day I planned to travel. So, I will ride back from Pitlochry to Sterling in one day, and then on to Glasgow the next. 

Overnight in Sterling at the Scottish Youth Hostel (for which being young is not a requirement). Last time I stayed in a youth hostel while biking was on my 1979 cross country (USA) tour.

I thought taking the train would be as easy as this:

Cycling Tourists, 1950's

or this

Cyclists Special, a short film about cycle touring in the UK, 1955

Here's the updated itinerary as of June 16, 2026:

Trip Day	Activity	Biking Miles
0	Fly from BOS to GLA BA238 7:25am	0
1	Bike to Callander from GearBikes Rental in Glasgow. Hotel in Callander	38
2	Loop - Callander to Loch Katrine. Hotel in Callander	48
3	Bike from Callander to Killin. Hotel in Killin.	25
4	Bike from Killin to Aberfeldy. Hotel in Aberfeldy	25
5	Bike from Aberfeldy to Pitlochry. Hotel in Pitlochry	16
6	Loop - Loch Tummel Circuit & River Garry to Blaire Castle, Hotel in Pitlochry	45
7	Loop - Whitefield Castle. Hotel in Pitlochry	33
8	Cycle to Stirling. Stay at the Sterling Youth Hostel.	62
9	Cycle to Glasgow via Tak-Ma-Doon Rd and the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life. Stay at hotel in  Glasgow	40
10	Day in Glascow (wee short ride?) Fly GLA to Boston 7:45pm BA1491	30
11	Arrive Boston 12:35 pm, cycle home from Logan (leave 3 Speed Phillips bicycle at Terminal A at Logan). Enter Gloucester during the last day of St Peter's Fiesta	40
	Total Miles	402

Paper Maps

I purchased a 20 year old road atlas on eBay ...  Philip's Navigator Scotland. I'm thinking not much has changed in 20 years for the kind of orientation I would benefit from using a paper map. 

I marked up my intended routes in yellow highlighter and will bring just the pages I need in a waterproof map case. Should be a good backup to the GPS and maps  on my Android Pixel.

The pages I will using are:

Here's an example of Map 65:

I'll have to read maps and keep my tires properly inflated all by myself:

I will have my maps read to consult ... but won't be riding Reynolds 531 on this ride 

Change of intended bicycle

I was beginning to think that life would be simpler if I rented a bicycle in Glasgow to use on this adventure. The logistics of packing and shipping, as luggage, a boxed bicycle (which I have done several times in the past) seemed a bit daunting.

So, for a mere 200 quid, I have reserved a very nicely equipped Ridgeback Vanteo from https://gearbikes.com/ . It'll have a rack for my panniers and a toolkit.

While I would have rather brought and used my Raleigh, I think this will be a bit more stress free.

J Arthur Dixon's Loch Lomand and the Trossards

 Found this tourist guide from the 1950s or 1960's ... now scanned.

I especially like this description and photo of the Duke's Road, which I plan to cycle: