Highland 550 crikey it's less than a week off!

Where has the last few months gone?
Sat at home on a glorious day trying to rest!  It's hard when the sun is shining and the trails from your doorstep are dry but it must be done with less than a week to the start of the Highland 550.  How do I feel at the mo?  Not sure!  Have I done enough biking?  Will I be fit enough?  Am I mentally ready to suffer?  Will the weather be glorious and let me battle through the leg ache as the amazing scenery of Scotland whizzes past?  Can I cope with 5 hours sleep a night or the thought of not having enough food? (I love my food)  Could my shoes cripple me on the hike a bike sections?  At least they will give my bum a rest!

I've spent the last few days constantly changing my mind of what I should or should not take, packed bags, unpacked bags, searched the internet for last minute panic buys.  Phew one decision has been made the bike I will take. My lovely Carver Gnarvester with plus wheels, it rode amazingly last week on the Jennride softening many bumps and technical sections.
Good luck to everyone else who is also trying to decide what to take, I'll probably decide and change my mind 10 minutes before the start.

Now  for a week of early nights, plenty of pasta and rest whilst following Howard with my fingers crossed for him on the trackleader.  I've been given some tips, read other people's blogs and the general banter on bearbones so now it's time to look closely at the maps and mark on FOOD.

One thing I know is I love Scotland and I can't wait to tackle old and new trails.  I just hope those midges are still sleeping.

Fi

BB200

So the first test for the new bikes was the Bearbones 200.  This is a 200km ride around mid wales. The original plan was  to head down and spend the night in the van, then do half the route sleep in a bothy then do the other half the day after.  As always the ride never goes to plan, that's why we love bikepacking due to the freedom and opportunity to change plans at the drop of an allen key!    Nearly half way round we came across dolgoch-bunkhouse  luckily for us they were having a work party and said we could stay the night.  The afternoon got even better when they also said we could join them for tea.  Homemade curry and crumble or a freeze dried meal!  No competition here.

After a good night sleep (ish), plenty of hot drinks and freeze dried porridge for breakfast we were off. The weather was very friendly to us as we headed over bogs with some pushing until we reached Rhayader.  10.55 and the cafe opened at 11 definitely worth the wait for a mega breakfast baguette, more food from the the Spar (excessive amount) before we continued on.(Handy tip from Fi - if there is a shop buy as much food as possible you never know if there will be another one!)   Many more hours followed observing landscapes never seen before (to us) as we trundled our way back avoiding shortcuts.  Oooh they were tempting but the sun had come out and was enticing us to keep going. Finally after two fun days and winter boots that kept our feet toasty we arrived back at the van dry!   Loving the new bikes and this bikepacking malarkey!

Getting Ready for the off

First road since the van 

Wales looking like Scotland 

Very happy with the new bike 

Lunch stop 

Long road stretch 

Fi loving her new bike too

Needing the GPS with the mist coming in

Getting closer to the end 

Last Gate 

New Bike

So the fat bug has hit Fi and I  Fi got a Carver Gnarvester and I got myself a Surly Wednesday

Wednesday

Carver