Day 19, to Alexandria

The Sustrans route looked easy to follow all the way from Glasgow to Loch Lomond. To reach it we went through the elegant gates of the park opposite the SYHA hostel where I slept last night, and then down such a steep slope that I bottled out and pushed my bike. After that we had to negotiate a network of streets where, despite Paul and his Garmin, we had to constantly ask for directions until the start of the Sustrans route was located.

Paul left and I continued on my own, but almost immediately I encountered a huge area of roadworks. I had to leave my planned route and I couldn’t find my way back onto it. I was advised by my Garmin to return to the start.

I asked for directions again and a helpful local drew a complicated map on the road with a piece of stone, and kept telling me to just turn back on myself. I certainly wasn’t going to follow any of that advice! Meanwhile, the Garmin cheeped plaintively – and then went to sleep.

I got better advice from a couple of cyclists on Bromptons and, with the faithful compass, I was back on route. It was slow going, however, because I was constantly being waylaid by interesting sights along the pretty Sustrans route. I particularly liked some intriguing looking constructions which turned out to be pigeon roosts. Two of the owners were as pleased to explain them to me as I was to listen. I was invited to look inside. As it was a short day today I had made up my mind to enjoy as much sightseeing as possible.

The weather was lovely all day, and the cycle path was easy and pretty all the way to the B&B (well, once I found it that is!), not far from which I met up with Paul again. I had an ideal lunch stop by the river Leven – chips and beans from a chip shop.

Tomorrow I must take the A82 to Crianlarich – there’s only one road, there’s no choice, so I’m going to make the most of the rest of today.

Stats

16.7 miles (639.11 miles total), 325ft ascent, 425ft descent