Day 5! Welcome to hell!
Day 5 began much better than day 4. I diddnt feel as sick, and could eat my breakfast okay, which was great. We packed everything into the car and van, and set off for the start point, which was yesterday's finish point, as always. Guiness rules!
It began rather pleasant. Sea level, and with a stunning Loch to the left. A nice surface across Bonner Bridge and a little downhill too. It was fantastic. I was really loving wheeling at that point! This suddenly changed when I arrived at yet another monster of a hill. In my mind, it couldn't possibly be worse than the other days, so I started pushing away. 5 miles later, I was still pushing as hard as I could. It was getting steeper and steeper by the second.
Then came the camber. I'd wheeled up some cambers by now, but this one was not only immensely difficult, but dangerous as well. I was pushing as hard as I could with my left arm, and trying to negotiate the camber as well. It was pushing with everything I had and the front end kept on kicking up. I was leaning as far forward as I could, which would normally stop that from happening, but it diddnt on this occasion. Every push, even tiny ones, caused the front end to lift up. I couldn't wheel on the opposite side of the road into oncoming fast traffic, but I was struggling to get up the super steep hill. I ended up having to put on my breaks, and sit on the middle of the road. I couldn't move at all. There was nothing I could do. I was so angry with myself that I couldn't get up it. We think that section was a category 7 climb. Not for long, but enough to be impossible. I sat, put me head in my hands and shouted out in frustration. I didn't know what to do? 🤯 I wasn't second guessing myself, but this would be almost impossible for most cyclists. (So I was told by a cyclist!).
Eventually I sat back, leant forward and gave it everything I could. Every tiny inch hurt so much, and was more effort than I'd ever put in. It was like executing a 1 rep max over and over again. I've never shouted out in pain and effort before. No matter what I've done, but this was involuntary. It just came out, and at that point I diddnt care.
I kept pushing with everything I had. Every bit of strength, and determination. Every bit of anger and frustration, and tiny bit, by bit, I made it to a part of the hill that I could manage. This then went on for another few km, and I caught sight of Neil and the van in a lay by. I said to myself, I just have to make it there and I can rest. So I took a deep breath, and pushed until I couldn't do any more. I finally came to the lay by (not yet the top of the hill), pulled in and threw myself out of my chair onto the grass. My hands and arms were shaking uncontrollably. There were other people around, but in that moment, I diddnt notice.
After 10 minutes of stretching and hydration and another of Pams amazing flapjacks, I got back into my chair, and carried on for thr last part of the hill. It was not as bad as the rest, but it was still tough. Eventually I got to a downhill section, which was incredibly steep. This is also dangerous when using an everyday wheelchair. I have no breaks, so I'm reliant on my hands to stop me from hurtling down a mountain, and flying off a cliff edge. So a bit scary. I can't really go beyond 10 kmph on a very steep hill, or I wouldn't be able to stop myself. I ended up wearing through a new pair of gloves and burning my palms on that downhill.
After that, there was a large section of 'cake road' which is so bumpy, if you talk you make that same noise you do if you talk when riding a bike over cobbles. This went on for a long time. Eventually I spotted in the distance, a heavenly sight! It was Neil and the Focus Van! (This is where Neil would laughter at me calling him heavenly!🤣).
I was finally done for the day! I was so relieved! I loved at my Garmin and it said, 'congratulations, today was your biggest climb yet'. The funny thing is, it's said this every day so far! 🤣
After I was done, we drove to our accommodation at Cuillich Mill. It was beautiful. Set in a stunning location with mountain ranges through trees in a landscaped garden. Cat and I had a sheep's hut with a hot tub! I've never been in a hot tub before. 😁 The Inside of the sheep's hut was so beautifully done. They had 2 gorgeous dogs too, which were so cute, Archie and Flo! Flo wondered into the hut and immediately ran off with my sock! 🤣 This was a trend which lasted the whole time we were there. It was so adorable though.
While I sorted myself out, Cat & Neil went shopping for what was a spectacular tea. Neil cooked on BBQ, and we all ate outside in the stunning garden. It's the 1st BBQ we've been to in years. Strange that we go all the way to the Highlands of Scotland and end up having a summers day 😁
Day 6 was a day off in the same place. Lots to do and a bit of rehab!
Share this post
- Mountains
- End2End-therugbyrelay
- Tilite
- Wheelchair
- Endurance challenge
- Veteran
- Invergordon
- Invershin
Lexi Chambers