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Our New Year’s Eve plan was to attend the Céilidh at Portavadie Marina on Loch Fyne and I decided a training ride out there would be a good precursor to the end of year festivities. I have not ridden down the west side of the Cowal peninsula before, but from driving and sailing in the region I know this coastline is beautiful. The route was 106km round the head of Loch Long and over the Rest to Strachur, then by back roads to Portavadie itself.
The weather called for heavy-duty gear, so I set out suitably clad and with two spare pairs of gloves packed. The familiar roads to Loch Long were peaceful under the veil of rain and it was a gentle ride until I turned south and headed into the wind. My dad was driving to the event and as he came past at Ardgarten he enquired whether I might prefer a lift. My answer was a definitive no.
I stopped at the Post Office in Strachur to buy a Coke and two Mars bars. Not the most sophisticated nutrition, but I had burnt through my breakfast getting over the Rest. Tired legs aside, I was pleased to have done more than half the distance in less than two hours.
Initially the road out of Strachur cleaves to the shore of Loch Fyne, but after 10km it begins to weave in land and gain height. After a short climb and slippy descent I found myself returned to sea level for a time. Then the road jagged sharply upwards and to the left out of Otter Ferry, signaling the last section of the ride.
The final run consisted of a series of sapping ascents and technical descents on a poorly surfaced road. My cadence and speed fell and my efforts became ragged. The second Mars gave me a brief rush that quickly flushed through my legs as I came to a grinding halt on the final climb of the day. Shoulders slumped and head rested on the bars, I took a minute to slow my heart before resuming. The sign reading 2m to Portavadie at the crest of the hill came as sweet relief.
Showered, rested and after a few recovery drinks I found the legs to enjoy a reel or two before we turned the corner into 2012.