Here are some more photos from my Scotland, October 2012 visit. Big thanks to my friend Neil for taken these photos!
Myself at Falkirk Wheel
Myself at Falkirk Wheel
Thieves Pot, Stirling
Falkirk Wheel 2012 visit
Here are some photos taken of the Falkirk Wheel during my October 2012 visit. To find out more about the Falkirk Wheel visit their website at www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk.
The full set of these photos can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/falkirk-wheel/
In my hotel room after Craig and Alison’s Wedding
Here are two photos of myself taken at The National Piping Centre, in my hotel room. After Craig and Alison’s Wedding. More photos from the Wedding to follow at some point.
More photos from my walk around Glasgow
Here are some more photos from my walk around Glasgow the other day. When I get back to England, I will try to post a map of the walk.
Kingston Bridge
Clyde Arc and Finnieston Crane
Clyde Arc
BBC Scotland headquarters
More photos from this set be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/scotland/glasgow/
Nice walk around Glasgow
Today Neil (life long friend) and myself went a nice walk around Glasgow. Here are some photos taken during the walk :).
Gay marriage to be introduced in Scotland!!!!
Great news!!! About time, just hope the rest of the UK follows and soon!!
Related articles:-
First ever suit, great meal and sailing
Today has been a fantastic to say the least! Got my first ever suit, no not a wetsuit, have lots of them! Went out for a great meal, followed by an evening sailing on Loch Lomond.
Right after that introduction, I will got back to the start of the day. The day started around 9:30am, when I got out of bed to have a shower, feed Ghille, had a bit to eat.
Then it was off to meet up with my oldish brother Douglas and his wife-to-be Lisa. Once I met up with them. We all got the train from Dalmuir to Glasgow Queen Station. We then walked down to Slaters, to get ourselves suits ready for there wedding in September. Believe it or not, I have never owned a suit in my whole life, up till now that is! Normally I really hate clothes shopping, it’s like my idea of hell. But I really liked Slaters. So if I ever need a suit again, I will be for sure using them.
Then after all that hard work of getting suits. We then went to O’Neill’s in the Merchant Square area of Glasgow. Where we had a very nice meal indeed. Never been to that pub before, I would sure go around. Great food, maybe the service has a bit slow. But the food more than make up for that.
After the meal we then got the train back to there flat, but this time from High Street Railway Station. We both then doubled checked the suits filled OK. Which I am pleased to say they did. I will try to get photos of myself wearing it on-line at some point.
Then Douglas and myself set off to Loch Lomond for a evening of sailing on this boat. Which great fun, only the second time, I been out on this boat. Even better this time, since we had great weather. The last time, I was wet. This time the sun was out, just about the whole time.
So it was a great day! But still I was glad when it was over and I was chilling out in front of the TV.
I will now leave you, with some photos from sailing on Loch Lomond.
Killearn to Loch Arklet cycle
Another day, another cycle blog. Think this will be the last cycle I get to do in Scotland, before going back to home to England on Monday. I am well pleased with myself, I got in four cycles this trip. Done the most miles I have done in Scotland, since August 2009. Been on lots of roads, I have never cycled on before in my life.
So now on with today’s cycle. For the first section of the cycle, I followed much of the same route as the Duke’s Pass cycle, that I did on Sunday 11th October. But instead of following the National Cycle Network (route 7), I turned onto the B829 (Lochard Road).
Then I followed that road, all the way up to Loch Arklet. When I set off I was hoping to make it all the way to Inversnaid, but I had to turn around at Loch Arklet, if I had kept on going. There was no way, I would have made it home before it got dark.
I don’t think I could have picked, a better place to turn around. Check out the view yourself using Google Steetview to see what I mean! Here is the URL for the the view to save yourself for having to find it: g.co/maps/fnt4h.
And before I leave you will the normal stuff. Here are some interesting statistics for you. In just four cycles, my elevation gain stands at 2,196 metres or 1.36 miles. It’s also like cycling one and a half times the height of Ben Nevis.
Photos from the cycle:-
Sorry I only got three photos during the cycle. It was pissing it down most of the time. I did not want to get the camera any wetter than I had to.
Route map:-
Elevation graph:-
Route statistics:-
- Distance: 44.79 miles
- Time: 3:37:15 (h:m:s)
- Avg Speed: 12.4 mph
- Max Speed: 26 mph
- Elevation Gain: 563 meters
Data from: Garmin Connect.
Duke’s Pass cycle
I am well happy, since when I first come to Scotland last week the weather was a not very good at all. But lucky since then we have had two OK days, weather wise. When I mean OK, it did not rain. So I really wanted to make the most of it. So I made it out on the bike again. This time I cycled from Killearn to Aberfoyle then up and over the Duke’s Pass.
Just to give you an idea of what it’s like here is a video of someone else doing it, but using a motorbike.
While you watch the video. I will tell you a bit more about the route. I set off from Killearn at 12:44pm, following the A875 towards Balfron, turning left just before Boquhan, where the road goes down hill very fast then over the River Endrick. Where I stopped to take the first photos (Old road bridge near Boquhan and New road bridge near Boquhan) during the cycle. Then I stayed on that road till it meets up with the A81 at Balfron Station. Then I tuned left, towards the Ballat Crossroads where I stopped to take more photos.
I stayed on that road, till Cobleland, yes that’s really a place name. Not really much there, just a Caravan & Camping site, some houses and the bit I cared about. The access to the National Cycle Network, route number 7. It was time to stop, yes again and take some more photos. I stayed one this very, nice flat section to Aberfoyle.
This is where the fun really started. Since I had the fun of cycling from around sea level (Well if the Garmin connect website is to be believed. I need to look out a local OS map and double check that one). To 238 metres, which does sound about right. This section of the route was not only hard doing since it meant a lot of cycling, it was also off all road using Forestry Commission tracks, which also doubles up has the National Cycle Network, route number 7.
I following this route till it joined the A821 at the exit of 3 Lochs Forest Drive. Then I turned left and had the great fun of cycling over the Duke’s Pass. You get some great views from that road. And also the 10% down hill section all the way into Aberfoyle to look forward to.
Then I just about followed the same route I took to Aberfoyle, all the way back to Killearn.
Now I will leave you some photos, route map and statistics from the cycle.
Photos from the Duke’s Pass cycle:-
Route map:-
Elevation graph:-
Route statistics:-
- Distance: 36.39 miles
- Time: 3:03:48 (h:m:s)
- Avg Speed: 11.9 mph
- Max Speed: 26.9 mph
- Elevation Gain: 697 meters
- Max Elevation: 238 meters
Data from: Garmin Connect.
Happy days, I got out a cycle
Happy days, I got out a cycle for the first time, since getting to Scotland last Sunday. Till today, the weather has been to rain and windy most days. Also since the bike I use here is off the road right now. I had to wait for a new GPS holder to turn up, so I could fit my Garmin Edge 705 to my Dad’s bike.
It felt weird using my Dad’s bike. Since it does not have clip-less pedals or toe-clips. Like I am use to. I was hoping I could fit the toe-clips off my bike, onto my Dad’s bike, but they did not fit his bikes pedals. It was weird, it was like learning to ride a bike all over again. I could not work out where to put my feet at all.
So now on with the main event. The cycle it’s self. It was a great cycle. Went on roads I have not been on, since 2000. If not before and also covered roads, I have never cycled on before in my life. Plus lucky the rain stayed off. It was a bit on the cold side at times, then I did climb to 336 metres at one point.
I must say, I did really feel the hills today. In Scotland I can do 50 miles and not even feel it when I got home. I only did 26.34 miles. And my legs really did notice it. Then lots of that could be, riding a bike I am not use to at all.
So now here are some photos from the cycle, then will follow the map. And the cycling statistics, that I know make your day when I post them :).
Route map:-
Not the best map in the world. Makes the route look really boring when it’s anything but. If you have the time, I would look at the route using Google Street View.
Elevation graph:-
Route statistics:-
- Distance: 26.34 miles
- Time: 2:19:51 (h:m:s)
- Avg Speed: 11.3 mph
- Max Speed: 21.1 mph
- Elevation Gain: 491 meters
Data from: Garmin Connect.