Another solar trailer tall tale

[matthewslack]

It started with a hiss...

There I was, just finishing my third mug of tea last evening, when my front tyre gently crumpled into a floppy useless zero air configuration.

It had been fine for days, but the hot sun seems to do funny things to patches. An old one had unstuck, and down it went.

I mended it this morning, and it lasted all of four miles. Try as I might, with two tubes, two types of patch and two tubes of rubber solution, I could not get a repair to hold. So on the hunt for a new 700c tube in Gairloch.

After a false start trying to force a 26" tube to fit, all that the farm and garden shop had, the postman delivering by chance at that time knew of another place, the Bike Shack down at the harbour. A quick call to confirm and then I retired to the cafe in the community building for tea and cake.

Then a mile or so each way walking had me in possession of three tubes and a repair kit, the only combination that fitted with the cash denominations I had to hand.

In with a new tube only to find that the tyre had mysteriously changed size on one side, and would not stay on the rim. Failure of the bead I think, either from my over zealous tyre levering or being rolled almost a mile whilst flat.

So rolling back to the harbour with a little air in and the tube visible like an intestine. Steve at the Bike Shack had a suitable get me home tyre, so finally underway just before 14:00.

I was after a rest day, but did not envisage it happening like this! I have enough days to get home, so no harm done.

Torridon mountains, across Gairloch bay.



Looking out to sea and Skye on Gairloch.



Unsuccessful attempt.



The right stuff.



Friday lunchtime and three pipers, at least one of them also a bicycle repair man.



Inner part of the harbour.



A fine white lone foxglove.



Slioch on the run down into Kinlochewe.

 

[matthewslack]

I've landed in the midst of the CELTMAN extreme triathlon in Sheildaig, and no room at the official campsite, so forced to wild camp on the sea front. I can think of worse places to be...

I may be up early to see the swimmers emerge from the sea just before 6am...

Shady lunch stop in Kinlochewe.



More views from Kinlochewe through Torridon to Sheildaig.





Sheildaig camp and sunset.







And so to bed, with just under 150 miles to go and four days available.

 

[matthewslack]

Yesterday was the transition from 'holiday' roads and traffic behaviour from Sheildaig via Kishorn, Lochcarron and Strathcarron back to the altogether harsher world of drivers focused on A to B in minimum time on the unavoidable main A87 trunk road from the Skye bridge to Morriston bridge and beyond.

I'll pick out some of my favourite moments in a future post, for now suffice to say it was a long day in a pleasant riding temperature with just adequate sunshine to allow easy riding on level 2 mostly with short bursts of level 3 on long gentle hills and when into a headwind.

I wanted to reach my regular Loch Lochy layby to had a good chance of getting home today, and so took the main road shortcut, missing out Kyle of Lochalsh and the main shopping chance of the day. Then 32 miles to the right turn at Morriston bridge, 14 more to Invergarry and a last 8 down the A82.

Just over 80 miles, and dinner was saved by the fuel station in Invergarry, a very worthwhile 200m the wrong way from the junction.

Voltage was down to 37.1 on arrival, but I had been watching both it and the remains range in the Shimano battery which didn't budge from 36km all day. I am relying on the reasonably bright morning forecast today to get through the remaining 70 miles, and after sleeping in not expecting to make it quite.

The waterproofs came out for the first time for a heavy shower, but only needed for a few minutes, and then last night there was a single landslide grade clap of thunder and an hour or so on moderate rain.

Currently breakfasting and getting some charge, varying from 3 to 6 amps as the clouds come and go.

Leaving Sheildaig



Kishorn drydock from near the Bealach na Ba turning. The road is visible, sowing how tall that rig is.





Lochcarron is very long.





South Glen Shiel mountains.



Underneath the arch of the Morriston bridge.



Weather changing over Glen Garry.

 

[WheezyRider]

Do you know what caused the punctures? I've done around 3k miles this year over all sorts of broken glass, pot holes etc and had nothing. I cycle typically 12 miles or more each way each day and I generally don't bother carrying a pump or a repair kit. Haven't had a puncture for years on the Schwalbe puncture resistant tyres.

If you are worried about punctures and getting tubes repaired, super glue is your friend. Always carry a tube with you. It is far better than the rubber cement for repairing a puncture and getting it permanently repaired.

 

[guerney]

Do you know what caused the punctures? I've done around 3k miles this year over all sorts of broken glass, pot holes etc and had nothing. I cycle typically 12 miles or more each way each day and I generally don't bother carrying a pump or a repair kit. Haven't had a puncture for years on the Schwalbe puncture resistant tyres.

If you are worried about punctures and getting tubes repaired, super glue is your friend. Always carry a tube with you. It is far better than the rubber cement for repairing a puncture and getting it permanently repaired.

I've stopped carrying around a puncture repair kit: 3,800+km and no punctures with Schwalbe Marathon Plus, they're not even showing much wear. This "flexible" superglue looks interesting for sticking on inner tube patches:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loctite-1621077-Ultra-Control-Gel/dp/B001C42J9I/

 

[matthewslack]

Well, I'm home safe with a few missing days to describe and another great adventure to look back on when the wheels stop turning.

Only one actual puncture at 960km, all the others were patches detaching spontaneously, always at a standstill and always on a hot day. I'll have a play with super glue, and after a fettle and the odd replacement spoke, the marathon pluses will likely go on.

1968km in total, and an unknown amount of up and down. Leaving aside the short first evening and yesterday's 8km, 18 full days, no rest days, 107km / 66.5 miles average per day.

The bike is now up to 18500km, and the trailer 9300km.

Only one significantly grey day, and even that became a blue sky evening, so no energy issues. My Shimano battery needed no charging this year, arriving home having just tipped from 36km remaining, which is just into the second bar, to 34 which is one bar.

Two panels would have been sufficient given the excellent weather, and the 1000Wh solar battery was only three times taken below 39V, so far larger than needed in these conditions.

Only two mechanical issues, the loose cassette up in Scourie and a loose trailer axle nut a day later in Ullapool. One tools issue, air leakage from my pump, traced to the valve that automatically shuts off the Presta outlet when Schrader is in use, and vice versa. I bought a conventional pump in Ullapool as backup.

I found bike related assistance everywhere I needed it, and talking to people I met on hired bikes, there is support in most of the villages. Doesn't hurt to aim for self-sufficiency though!

Now two days rest, five work shifts and then I have another 21 day break. I hope to have my Scorpion ready by then.

The final morning.



Final mileage.



Remaining Shimano range.

 

[egroover]

Got any jobs going at your place Matthew ?, same shifts pattern please, 20 days off, 5 days on I can dream....

Always enjoy reading your write ups. I can see from your pictures what draws you back again and again. One day will get up there, still hope to do the LEJOG one day albeit most likely ebike ridden

 

[matthewslack]

Got any jobs going at your place Matthew ?, same shifts pattern please, 20 days off, 5 days on I can dream....

Always enjoy reading your write ups. I can see from your pictures what draws you back again and again. One day will get up there, still hope to do the LEJOG one day albeit most likely ebike ridden

7 days on, 7 days off most of the time. Then 21 days each time I get a shift off, which averages three times a year. So 5 shifts of 7 days before the next big trip. Time for a couple of shorter ones before then, whenever the weather coincides with my off time.

Can't complain!

 

[flecc]

Can't complain!

Should think not!

Though having retired a very long time ago, I can beat it:

11,099 continuous days off so far.
.

 

[matthewslack]

Filling in the first of three fairly short days after the longest: Scourie to Achmelvich.

I had plenty of days left, regardless of the southward route I chose, it was very hot again and my legs were telling me not to take the hilly north part of the mad little road. There was also the possibility of thundery showers later, so a shortish day seemed a good idea.

The main road south made sense, over Kylesku bridge and then the big but gentle climb past Quinag, then down to the junction and right for Lochinver and more pies.

I had a very pleasant lunch in the shade of large trees just behind the pie shop by the sea, remarkably cooler in the shade. Then a choice of beach side campsites at Clachtoll or Achmelvich. I wanted to visit a well preserved Broch on the coast at Clachtoll, and on the way I passed another small shop, with resident friendly sheep.

The Broch was very impressive, walls up to 3m high, triple entrance walls and even a stone flour grinding artefact in situ.

Legs were up to the hills and few miles back to Achmelvich, which shortened the following day, and the showers stayed away. There was no room in the main Achmelvich campsite, but a field very close by is there as a reserve, and has the better sites for a small tent on a ridge with the best breeze and chance of minimising midges.

Dramatic light and skies, but the thundery rain stayed away.

This is one of the classic west coast beaches, always worth a visit.

Historical sign by Kylesku bridge.



Views in the opposite direction of the extraordinary Assynt mountains.



Waterlilies are common in the many lochans along the mad little road.



Another impressive Broch on the coast at Clachtoll.







By special request, tame sheep at the little blue shop, Clachtoll.



Threatening clouds at Achmelvich beach and campsite.





Dinner with Lochinver pies.

 

[matthewslack]

Wednesday 14th marked the beginning of my last week. Seven days available if needed, but a preference for at least two complete rest days before work, so ideally home in four or five. No rush, but 40 to 50 miles a day needed.

I was leaning towards a really short day, just back to Ullapool via the southern part of the mad little road and a night in the main campsite. The next known good campsite is a long, long way beyond, and I didn't really want such a long day. Ullapool also allows for comprehensive restocking of supplies, and the best chance of resolving any bike issues.

As it turned out, events defined the day, and short fitted well!

From quite early on, bunches of old, noisy, Dutch registered cars started coming on the opposite direction, most with three or four youthful occupants and advanced air horns and sound systems. And then there was a lengthy quiet gap, until in the twistiest, narrowest section of the mad little road there was a logjam in both directions!

A classic VW camper in green from 1998 had tripped over a boulder just off the edge of the tarmac trying to conjure a passing place out of nothing and become stuck. Some of the Dutch crews had recovery gear and managed to drag the poor thing to a passing place, by which time there were several broken suspension joints, a mangled wheel and tyre and metalwork damage inside and outside the wheel arch.

It then became possible to shuffle cars past each other until a friendly helpful couple in a hired VW, the broken one and I were left to drink tea, offer moral support and check we all had no phone signal on all our networks.

I carried on to the Stac Pollaidh carpark for lunch, where the mishapped and the helpful pairs also turned up, with the all too common news these days of a standoff between recovery company saying it wasn't a breakdown and insurers saying it wasn't an accident, so neither stepping up to help their customer in their time of need.

I do hope the VW gets fixed, apart from the missing corner it was in lovely order, far too good to write off.

One of the Dutch cars handed out stickers which identified their event as the Rust and Dust rally, a tour for cars and similar vehicles at least 20 years old. They are promised challenges along the way, which explains the equipment most had strapped to their roofs. More often needed for Africa than Scotland, but some of it got used!

View from my campsite in Achmelvich.



Another red tin roof.



Calm views before the mayhem to come.



Mayhem!



Looking back towards Suilven, Stac Pollaidh and all between.



More rust and dust participants.



Stac Pollaidh, Cul Mor and Cul Beag from the main road. More threatening clouds that left me alone.



Looking down into Ullapool.



Sunset at Ullapool campsite. I was just early enough to get a beach site plot.

 

[WheezyRider]

Should think not!

Though having retired a very long time ago, I can beat it:

11,099 continuous days off so far.
.

I've heard it said that the trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off

 

[flecc]

I've heard it said that the trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off

I made sure that wouldn't happen to me. Well over thirty years of doing only the very varied things I wanted to do, when I wanted to do them, steadfastly rejecting every attempt by others to get committments from me.

My excuse for not committing to anything? I'm retired !
.

 

[Nealh]

Time to add a spare folding tyre and tubes to the kit carried .

 

[matthewslack]

Time to add a spare folding tyre and tubes to the kit carried .

At least two rather than one new tubes, and new unpatched tubes fitted at the start.

The Scorpion already has marathon plus, and it's trailer will get the same.

 

[WheezyRider]

Trouble is these days, when you retire you are then looking after frail elderly parents and also child minding the grand children so your kids can make ends meet.