Who was it that was going to cross all the bridges of the Forth? I think it was about the time the Queensferry crossing was opening with hopes to bag that one too.
My lovely ride was an attempt to cross ten bridges over the Forth in a ride to the source of the Forth at Loch Ard.
Turned into a 130miles adventure covering 17 bridges (I know its an odd number - don't ask).
Not much wind today and light cloud made it a glorious ride. A few funnies in the route like crossing the Kincardine bridge and immediately crossing back over the Clackmannanshire bridge and something similar in Stirling's Eastern suburbs.
2nd breakfast was at Buttercup cafe in Doune (would thoroughly recommend), where we upped our planned 10 crossings to 14, but at the cost of a few more miles mainly on the A811.
We won a game of "ride fast, don't ask & don't stop" with a resurfacing gang at the Road Closed section near Nick Nairns place to nab bridge 7.
An unexpected bridge in Milton on the way up to Kinlochard gave us bridge 8. Lots of families enjoying Kinlochard common/beach - its a lovely spot & have put that on a list to return to.
Bridge 9 was in Aberfoyle and then onto the tarmacced old railway heading South. At Cobleland we add 2 more in quick succession and the tarmac continued South so we were optimistic about another bonus bridge a mile down the railway line.
However, the tarmac stopped a 100m off the road and we had 4miles of gravelly path (some of which was overgrown to only shoulder width) on 25mm road bikes. We had everything crossed that we wouldn't get a visit from the P fairy and fortunately she must have been busy elsewhere.
Back on the A811 for a blast along to Gargunnock for bridge 13. Bridge 14 & a bonus old bridge for 15 were by Dobbies outside Stirling where we stopped for lunch.
16 & 17 were in Stirling where we survived the cobbles on the old bridge and the traffic on the new bridge and then the flattish run home along the South Bank.
A glorious ride out and my first Century in over 2 years.
posts
