JOGLE Day 4 – Aviemore to Pitlochry

16 June 2015 Andy

JOGLE Day 4 was a day of two distinct halves. It was in theory meant to be our easiest day so far with just 56 miles. However this proved to be far from the case.

It was another overcast day, but thankfully dry and there wasn’t really any wind to speak of. Upon leaving Aviemore we picked up NCN Route 7 which essentially ran alongside the A9 all day. It started on the B5192 passing Loch Alvie.

And then after Kincraig, Loch Insh.

We met our Support Team, Nic and Sarah, in Newtonmore for our morning break. They had found this wonderful little cafe called The Wild Flour. This time Tracey joined Neil with the special chocolate drinks!

Leaving Newtonmore gradually we began climbing.

The Support Vehicle went straight up the A9.

20150616_123055 — View from the Support Vehicle on the A9

Thankfully the cyclists were able to use a much quieter road which ran alongside the A9.

We were also now cycling into a headwind and this made the cycling somewhat tougher.

By the time we reached Dalwhinnie we were now over 1000 feet above sea level …and still climbing. We took a few minutes rest from the relentless headwind.

At just over 1400 feet we spotted our Support Vehicle. It was a welcome sight! A chance for a break, some lunch, and a hot drink.

After lunch we continued climbing a little further.

Finally we reached the highest point of our JOGLE route at 1530 feet.

Now it was downhill all the way!

We took another short break at the House of Bruar retail outlet on the edge of Blair Atholl.

Here we also took a quick look at the Blair Falls.

And then continued on our way through Killecrankie to Pitlochary.

In the meantime Sarah and Nic had set off and arrived early in Pitlochary – so they took themselves off for a coffee.

We are staying Pitlochary SYHA tonight and typically (with youth hostels) it is up a hill overlooking the town. So there was a sting in the tail right at the end of this ride with a steep final climb.