Caledonia Wahey

One of the best things about my job is that I get to ride routes all around Scotland. In 2015 and 2016, I joined groups of volunteers to ride Oban-Fort William, and Fort William-Inverness...two legs of the Caledonia Way (NCN78). A solo dash through Glen Lonan last year, and all that was left to complete the route for me was Campbeltown to Taynuilt, and this week I was lucky enough to be invited to join David Reilly for three days to cycle just that, as he started a challenge ride to complete the whole route in 10 days with our Tourism Officer, Mike. David is a journalist who was born with cerebral palsy but is passionate about access to outdoor activities...and great company to boot - funny, interesting and intrepid. The weather was not on our side, but the people of Argyll were, and we were encouraged on our way with hearty breakfasts, Kintyre gin and many supportive tweets, while Storm Ali raged around us and our waterproofs were put to the test. But, as is always the way in Scotland, as well as plenty rain, we also got blue skies and rainbows, and weather doesn't stop the wildlife....bullfinches & goldfinches in the hedgerows, a brave toad & a brave-but-squashed newt on the road, wildflowers & brambles on the verges. And with three pairs of eyes spread out on bikes we made some fantastic sightings - David spotted a young otter head into the water at Loch Caolisport then flop out on a rock with his dinner; I slammed on the brakes when a huge eagle flew over not long after that, straining to see a white tail; and Mike says 20 deer ran in front of us just as we tucked into a downhill run (noone else saw them, but I can vouch for the bottle of gin still being sealed at this point, so we believe him). David is still on his way to Inverness - one day to go. I look forward to reading his writings about the trip....and, as I told him about the John Muir Award, maybe the eRecord blogs too....? :)