In Dogs in the summer of 2016 I rode from Taynuilt in Loch Etive to Findhorn in Moray Firth and biked in the wildest and lonely way. Logging and real estate tracks, stalker's roads, drovers and 18th century military roads and abandoned railways, as well as modern bike roads and runways, took me from one coast of Scotland to another. The adventure at the time was simply taking care of myself after a few months from what I had to drive while cycling. I was sad and weak when I was wasting my time on the highway and realized about the Brexit referendum results that arose on June 24.
If you ride a bike on a rough road, it's fun to walk and stop. If you spend a few days in Scotland, the weight of food, fuel, camping kits and bad weather can be a barrier to your enjoyment. As I was riding my bike, the wheels loaded my luggage and put my energy on the pedals, so I felt the dignity of moving myself and essentials through the landscape. It leaves time and energy for another pursuit. Packed wetsuits in the past for swimming in distant rivers.
That's why so many people have come to bicycle, electronics, bags and camping kits now in space age design at astronomical prices. And some of the stuff is lovely, but it's not essential for a satisfactory and safe bike packed trip into the wild. Means of carrying solid bikes with rigid tires and ordinary camping equipment: only a single wheel trailer for pannier or longer trips. One constant is a decent map. It's so easy to follow the wrong forest path.
The route from the coast to the coast will go on a bike trip one night, but what stands out from the versatile castle is the first part, from Loch Etive to Glen Kinglass. After the A85 bridge, starting on the right bank of the Awe River is the easiest way. Here I soon ran from the runway to the forest path, leaving no trace of civilization. The track is twisted, folded, and soars along the east coast of the east coast. It never rises above 50 meters, but is often steep and has a loose surface. I worked hard and found it going slower than expected. But what?
When I looked around I saw something more noticeable than in the saddle. After the first climb, you can see the entire sea lake extending northwest. Looking down, you can see that Loch Etive is a proper Nordic fjord with a steep side at the edge of Grampians. Lowland meadows have only sandy oaks covered with tranquil oaks and ocher irises.
At Ardmaddy I turned the Kinglass River inland, a deep dark channel with a magnificent conical mountain far away. Heading inland, I descended to a wooden bridge, looked down and hypnotized by peaty water and was scrubbing the bed for Atlantic salmon rest.
In Scotland, you can camp responsibly in most open lands. The perfect location is abundant with Kinglass's lower stretched dense grass and the last remnants of the Atlantic temperate rainforest clinging to the foothills of Ben Starav. Stretch before you hit the tent, feel the stones and potholes and orient them to see the best morning. The bike goes to the pasture, the stove continues, and the lid gently rings as the water of the pasta boils.
But in Scotland there is another possibility. If you take a light and do not care who shares the roof, then this basic shelter is free for all passers-by. When I arrived at the guy in the broken hut Glen Kinglass, it was devastated, I put my sleeping mat on the floor barefoot and effectively camped, and away from the ridge. This alliance returned to the track between the wide leafy forests. The cliff above is cut into two by the canyon of Allt Narrachan and reminds me of Chinese silk paintings. The diagonal of the stream flickered from side to side, jumping into the waterfall with trees on the crazy railings on both sides.
The next day, you can take the train to Oki Bridge and Tindrum and the train to Tuiuilt. The best river and sketch track with no bridge is the best. But the problem with bike packaging is that you go to where you fancy and take risks and risks on your chin. It's your choice and there are no rules. There are options that don't make sense to walk. You are free.
Alan Brown is the author of Overlander. Along the bike-packed coast, it spans the heart of the plateau (Saraband, £ 9.99). To buy a copy of £ 8.79 with free UK p & p, go to guardianbookshop.com.
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