Ballachulish to Connel Bridge

Almost 12 months of very little but local activity and I get busy again, this time we’ll head to Argyll and the Ledaig area just north of the Connel Bridge.

Mrs M had asked any cycle rides in the area? Five mins later, ‘Aye, Ballachulish to the Bridge’, ‘Okay’, and ‘A journey through Glencoe to the start’. We never refuse any excuse to venture to Glencoe, see previous blog posts HERE and HERE. We headed across country on well kent roads in glorious sunshine and soon the big Buachaille came into view nary a cloud overhead. The laybys showed empty cars which meant the hills were busy with walkers, glances en route showed many walking NW on the West Highland Way.

Glencoe was its usual magnificent self, I get a shiver every time we pass through past the towering mountain scenery on both sides.

Leaving the glen behind, we soon arrived at the car park at Ballachulish.

Polly was set up and ‘I’ll see you in a few hours’, Mrs M headed S. I wondered what types of surfaces I would meet enroute, it turned out to be well kept exceptional easy ride along 95% tarmac path and tracks. I was started on the ‘shared’ pavement band before long I had crossed the road and was enjoying sea views along an excellent tarmac path. Gentle easy path to start but when preparing the route for my Wahoo I did noticed a few sharp ascents and soon it was the first test Cameron’s Brae, it was a gradual steep climb out of Kentallen before heading back down to and along the converted old railway path, this section is a mix of woodland, open countryside and pavement. A pleasant breeze most times in my face, original forecast was for a NW breeze but oops, it was the opposite which was more welcoming on a such a warm day. I stopped occasionally to enjoy a biccy or two and drink, no need to hurry.

Passing Duror, I was soon on the ‘hairpins’ the highest ascent gain on the trip but an easy paced ascent. At Dalnatrat, it was back to the pavement side of the main A828 road, once again a road crossing and excellent views of the Isle of Shuna where just after, I stopped to view Castle Stalker which sits on a tidal island on Loch Laich, a brief history of the castle HERE, famous as used by Monty Python in a well kent scene ‘the castle aaaargh’ then it was back inland past Appin on the ‘railway’ path to next cross the road bridge at Creagan. I remember many years ago having to travel round the head of Loch Creran as this was once the site of an abandoned railway bridge.

Barcaldine was my next port of call and winding past the village, I knew my destination wasn’t that far away, cycling along an excellent wide roadside path then another shared pavement towards and through the familiar village of Benderloch then a divert down through the caravan park where I spent many weeks in the ’80s. A stop to reminisce and enjoy the view before leaving and cycling up past the airfield, is it Connel Airfield or Oban Airport? Ordnance Survey says ‘Oban Airport’…..

I’d arrived at the bridge, and following the rules, I walked Polly over the bridge and enjoyed a descent to the small car park near the bridge above, ideal for access to watch the Falls of Lora at low tide which are impressive. I stopped my bike computer, 29.4 miles, oh, so off to turn it to 30 mile as you do.

Did I enjoy it? yep, part of the Caledonia Way which I had planned for 2018 but I will cherry pick sections of it. I just have to convince Katie….

The final section Fort William to Inverness already ridden HERE

Where next (after a big birthday) ?

Loch Leven Heritage Trail

By bike, time to head to a trail I have wanted to cycle round since before covid struck, the Loch Leven Heritage Trail.

Just over 12 miles long, a circular track around the loch through fields, woodland and loch side. ‘Polly’ was dismantled (front wheel removed) then placed gently inside our wee Chevy.

My starting point was at RSPB Loch Leven at Vane Farm on the south shore of the loch. We’d been there the previous week with our grandson and enjoyed our walk around the immediate area.

The weather forecast was as I normally would like, cool and sunny, makes for a pleasant ride due to the type of landscape I’d be cycling through.

Bike put back together and set off on a clockwise direction along a path between fields, passing a couple of hides, there are no great climbs or drops on this trail which makes it suitable for all, it was narrow in places so the occasional stop to allow either walkers or fellow cyclists pass by. A mixture of woodland and fields to start and not before long I was coming into the outskirts of Kinross before heading towards Loch Leven pier and its small boat harbour. Many happy memories came flooding back of the excitement of getting to cast a fly on the loch. Best fish was an 8lb 4 oz rainbow trout, not a natural fish but stocked at a very small size and with the rich feeding grew on quickly. I stopped at the boathouse just for old time sake but it was time to head down the eastern side of the loch.

The area was busy in the sunshine and the path was busy with walkers so I just cycled along slowly and enjoyed the odd view of the loch as I passed through a mostly woodland path, the path was in excellent condition (got a bit bumpy on one or two sections), I tried to pick out the areas at the side of the path where the whin dust had washed down to.

I stopped at ‘Factors Pier’ where 100 meters off shore I had my ‘battle’ with the rainbow trout. Funny part was I had travelled through on my motorbike with all my equipment strapped to my bike and a small rucksack, I had to ask a pal to take the fish back home for me.

I could hear the occasional light plane engine as I was heading down the eastern loch side and saw one at a low altitude passing with a glider towing behind. I carried on through woodland and came on a road heading to sluices, not long after I saw I was almost back at the starting point BUT ‘the fairy’ had visited my front tyre, being under half a mile away, I decided to ride on the flat sections and push on the rough parts of the track. I had texted ahead to say I would be a little late LOL.

Arriving back, I just broke the bike down and said I’d repair the p u n c t u r e the next morning at home.

If I had been further out, I’d have just replaced the inner tube, 10 min job the next morning.

My thoughts?

Yep, enjoyed it immensely, a well maintained track which I found to be well used.

I had a coffee and cake the back home via the Queensferry Crossing, next trip out?

Heritage Trail information HERE

RSPB Loch Leven HERE (a small car parking charge applies)

Wot’s ‘appening?

Phew, long time no post..

as the title says..

One side project is TinyGS cubesat..

I started taking part from late ’22 and been active 24/7 since then.

I initially read about it on RTL-SDR.com and looked more into it at TinyGS

I then acquired a couple of TTGO LoRa32 V2 boards, one with GPS for another side project I’m about to look more into, if interested HERE. Two pieces of advice, you can now get the boards already with the screen pre soldered and the supplied antenna is useless for this project.

Just for information, I decoded packets from nine different cubesats in the previous 24 hours, their TX power ranging from 158 mW to 3000mW..

The TinyGS website has all the information and if you still have questions, they have a channel on Telegram called tinyGS community for further information, I have found the regulars very responsive to any questions I have posted.

My set up ?

a 70 cm Turnstile antenna in my loft space, RG6 coax into the board which is presently run off a 5v power bank. I keep threatening to place everything outside, sometime….

There are many various antenna types in use, the tinyGS community have a sub channel for antenna matters and links to various builds are available.

Matt at Tech Minds has this youtube video

For more videos, just go to the YouTube search box and input TinyGS, search throws up antenna videos as well.

I would advise looking more closely at the TinyGS website which will explain everything a lot better and more clearer than I can.

Stock images used…

I’ve a 3d printer ordered watch this space…..

First print……slowly getting there…

Gummer’s How……and Dumyat.

We had decided mid September on a short visit to the Lake District in the middle of Ocotober, grandparent duties on hold due to school holidays.

I was asked the usual silly question ‘Any fells planned?’, ‘Aye, I could have a couple in mind.’

Earlier in the year I had some very minor lower leg problems which had been affecting my cycling and any planned hill walks but I got lazy, I guess and had cut back on my walks and mostly my cycling trips.

I had chosen a couple of what I’d call lower Fells, Gummer’s How with its views south to Morecombe Bay and Dent not that far from our base at Cockermouth.

The rucksack is always ready to go (handhelds charged on a monthly basis). The forecast wasn’t that great for the three days, the middle day looked most promising with threats of sunshine and no showers.

Heading south was into deluge after deluge of rain with the odd sighting of blue sky but as we had time to spare, we decided to head to Ambleside for a replacement ‘slate’ sheep, this was to have been the middle days jaunt as I would walk up Gummer’s How whilst the XYL would hunt out the sheep.

After a stop in Carlisle (and needing tyres replaced (need to up the checking of these), we carried on our way on the country route rather motorway to Penrith and west towards Keswick, first.

We headed past the rising slopes of Helvellyn, had a quick visit to Grasmere then on to Ambleside.

Little ‘slate’ sheep found, next ? ‘We’ll nip down and check the car parking and access point to this fell’..

If the weather had improved I would have nipped up and did a late afternoon SOTA activation but no.

We arrived and took the steep side road up to the car park area which certainly cuts off a fair bit of climbing from the main road, half a mile it said on the signpost for the fell.

I set the sat nav and it said 42 miles back to Cockermouth, oops, and as it was to have been our middle day jaunt, XYL says not a problem, 84 miles for 1 point, eh.

A bright sunny Thursday morning and we left back down the same road, being regulars in the Lakes we had hoped a jet could fly overhead, later we saw one but 15 secs after the camera had been packed away, typical.

I got kitted up and headed through the gate and as normal this one had a cracking path before heading up some ‘stone steps’, at the top of these, right for an easy walk round to the summit but I took to light scrambling towards the summit and its trig point.

I was met at the top by 360 degree views which with the cool air was superb for such a lower fell.

I took some photos and the usual panorama before setting my station up, I had alerted for 10.30 UTC and had arrived in plenty of time.

2m FM was tried first and I had nine contacts, as far S as North Wales (120kms), Merseyside (100kms), quite pleased for that. The fell had a stream of others out for the views. I headed back down to the left and the ‘stone stairs’ and back to the waiting car.

The above, summit is obvious and the locations worked.

Weather wasn’t looking too good for Friday and I’ll catch Dent on my next short visit south.

Great to be in the Lakes again

, could make this a regular occurrence.

Arrived back home and emptied the rucksack, charged batteries and packed it away for the next time which turned out to be 5 days later, this time a return journey just outside Stirling to Dumyat, the second nearest Marilyn to me. This would be my third activation of the hill but like the previous time I would take the well maintained path on a country road between Bridge of Allan and Sheriffmuir, I did the ‘directissimo’ from Blairlogie on my first ascent but the ‘tourist’ path is definably the easy way.

Car parking is usually busy but today it was quiet (until I arrived back). I set off and an hour later I arrived at the summit, the views to the west to north on a clear day are excellent and I could make out many familiar hills but I tweaked something in my ankle on the last push but just slowed down (age really). Photos taken then it was down to radio, I had 14 contacts on 2m FM which in midweek is excellent, furthest was a contact in Maryport, Cumbria (170 kms,) others ranged from Wolfhill to the NE and Skelmorlie in the SW and Edinburgh. I’ll take that especially after the initial calls had no response.

I caught with some contacts I hadn’t spoke with in years, between Gummer’s How and Dumyat, enjoyable. Covid has killed the last couple of years.

The hill started to get busy so I packed everything away and headed down the hill to meet Katie who had walked up to meet me (but not offering to carry my rucksack). I met a constant stream of families out enjoying the ascent and the excellent weather, a hill worth a visit if you are in the area, Stirling also has lots of touristy spots to visit, check out yourStirling

Two hills in a week, excellent. I hadn’t being doing much walking since Scald Law last year and it showed, 2023 will see a revised walk and cycle regime with more walking. (early resolution?)

The tweaked ankle just has to repair and I think maybe a Pentland or Fife hill next, oh boy it didn’t work out, as putting up a picture frame at home, I naturally stepped off a chair, ouch.. More rest required.