E P I C

What a weekend. I still can't believe I really cycled 540 kilometres in less than 48hrs, in conditions that were nowhere near perfect. And as I have been knackered, it was still not enough to say I would not try to push further. And that little smile on my face cycling into Fort William just in time for the train ended the day in good fashion. Looking back I didn't expect to get that far when I left Edinburgh for the train to Helensburgh on Friday. I had done one serious weekend of race touring already, cycling from Edinburgh to Fort William in one day, and back to Perth the other day, but I knew that it would be much harder this time with high winds and heavy rain. But I had also booked my ticket back to Edinburgh on Sunday, and hate to waste money. So even the forecast was shit, I was in for the trip, rain or shine. 

Epic Bike Songs Part One

Before I set off to tackle my personal records this weekend, here are some of my most favourite songs to cycle to. Quite a mixture of styles and decades, but all of them stir the big feelings in me everytime I listen to them on my Ipod. For the moment the first top tem here, more stuff to follow soon.

Glen Coe again. This time without scars, but great pictures!

It could have been a scene from Ata Whenua, one of my favourite movies ever. Standing on top of a ridge in Glen Coe, between Stob Coire Raineach and Stob Dubh, which both form Buachaille Etive Beag, the sister or the better known Buachaille Etive Mor, I looked into a massive, green valley, with an helicopter just passing by down in the valley, some deer making their way up the other side and big birds above me, likely to be eagles or crows. Thick clouds moving in and out below me made it even more magic, and much worthwhile the rather strenuous hike and scramble up there, with my big pack not making it any easier. But in magic moments there are no heavy packs, no long days, no unstable ground that makes each step a bit of a gamble, no sweat that is dripping down your eyebrows, no midge bites. And that surely was a magic moment, in which I only felt the sudden satisfaction and joy once I had made it up there. It's the sheer joy of being out in the elements, experiencing an magnificent landscape that takes your breath away every moment you look at it, no matter how often you been up there before already. Glen Coe is one of those places that are unique in the world, and I can't stop myself going back there again and again.

Simply enough.

It's a lovely Sunday morning in Auld Reekie (Edinburgh) and due to my rather unsuccessful attempts to write applications I much more feel like writing something about biking instead, which suits the weekend more than thinking about future work engagements. I just managed to import my road bike into Scotland, after a very long winter break, my first long time off the bike in 4 years. And let me tell you that once I am back on two wheels, I am feeling much better and confident again. It only took 5 minutes till the magic got back to me, being out there, facing the elements (there are quite a few things to face in Scotland) and just have sheer fun. And get the odd look from confused car drivers that can't believe a simple human can accelerate that quickly, a cheer from the odd person in the bus stop and whatever comes with it. Combined with the fact that I will eat much more healthy again and have the chance to socialise with people who share the same passion, I wonder if there ever will be something better than biking to make me happy apart from the obvious things? Possibly not.