19/09/2012

(Seems we're back in civilization as it's the first time we have reception in 3 days)

Day 19 Ullapool to Loch Maree

Originally it was meant to be Applecross, but due to the extreme mountain pass cycling yesterday I only made it to Loch Maree.

As you can tell from the photo (first thing in the morning), I was drained from the 94 mile of mountain cycling and had hardly any energy to start the day, let alone to do 118 miles.

Today's cycling was less of short steep inclines but of more soul destroying long uphill's. Today was the most mentally taxing day I have had so far.

It was beautiful but the fatigue killed all the joy. The first 25 miles was the toughest, having nearly no energy with already rain falling and my legs feeling very, very heavy. Just before my pit stop with Tricia one last outburst of rain, which felt like someone just emptied 2million tons of ice cold fridge water on my head. I was destroyed.

Thankfully as I stopped for lunch and a coffee I felt like packing up for the day, but Tricia got me going again by knowing just what to say at the right time and on I went.

As the day went on my energy levels went down again, at mile 60 my calf's gave out, at mile 63 my quads gave in, at mile 65 my glutes started working erratically, at mile 67 my forearms and hands went numb, at mile 69 I started having mile hallucination's and at mile 70 I called it a day.   

We spent an early night at Loch Maree, ate a lot and had a 10 hour sleep to continue again first thing in the morning!