Lovely long languorous (liquid) lunch at friends Dot and Bill in Bridge of Allan via Auchenlay

The “old gal” with good friends Dot and Bill in their beautifully manicured garden in Bridge of Allan.

This blog is the story of how my dynamic crew had lots of fun on a lovely long languorous (liquid) lunch at friends Dot and Bill in Bridge of Allan with a sun-kissed tandem ride via Auchenlay.

Lets get the excuses out of the way for the mileage as Strava “operator error” – aka the “old git” forgetting to press start!!! – meant there was no recording of the route till the Gleneagles-Braco junction after nearly 7 miles. And as always happens when no official record – Team Matilda were flying along but no new personal bests on the section were recorded for posterity. So just for the record the actual distance travelled was 38.4 miles and not the 31.6 recorded by Strava!

You can check out the details of our route by clicking on the Strava map below.

The purpose of the trip was a lunch invite from my dynamic crew’s old friends Dot and Bill in Bridge of Allan – where the “old git” and “old gal” enjoyed the most wonderful hospitality over a six hour lunch while absorbing the sun (and other things!) on the decking of their gorgeous garden!

But first Team Matilda had to get there! … never mind getting home! A highlight on the outward leg was when my dynamic crew caught up with the #Auchterarder amateur weatherman legend that is Windy Wilson Weather and Road Reports.

Windy was out on his mountain bike but managed to say my dynamic crew were “cheating as there’s two of you on the one bike” as we pedalled past! He also found breath to shout that comment so loved by tandemers: “She’s not pedalling on the back!”

But he caught up with us as we discovered the Strava error at the Gleneagles-Braco junction – and happily posed for a selfie! Maybe Windy should try a #tandem on of his fabulous charity fundraising efforts! Oh, and it was a “scorcher” as he so accurately predicted!

Posing for a selfie with the Auchterarder amateur weatherman legend that is Windy Wilson.

It was a glorious day to be out in tandem in our rural Perth and Kinross Cycle Campaign, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust, Auchterarder Community Cycling and Love Perthshire area. After skirting the edge of Braco our route took us to Kinbuck Bridge where the “old gal” tried her hand at an action selfie, while we pedalled along.

Selfie of my dynamic crew in action at Kinbuck Bridge. Best watch that weight limit now!

Then it was the excitement of a new route for my dynamic crew – turning right at Kinbuck Bridge and pedalling to Dunblane via the quiet farm roads thru Auchenlay. This was a totally stunning tandem ride – and a revelation to Team Matilda – so a big thanks to Strava friend and fellow tandemer Victoria Peters for the recommendation!

The “old gal” enjoying the views on a new way into Dunblane for my dynamic crew – via Auchenlay.

The section over the Faery Bridge and beside the River Allan – on The National Cycle Network NCN Rt 765 – is beautifully scenic and is highly recommended.

Selfie time for the “old gal” and “old git” on the Faery Bridge at Dunblane.

The footbridge was built by the owners of Springbank Mill in 1911 to allow their workers easier access to the Mill from the east side of Dunblane. The bridge, built of ferro-concrete was at first called the Ferro Bridge then locally corrupted to the Faery Bridge!

The “old git” along the picturesque River Allan in Dunblane on NCN Rt 765 with Faery Bridge.

The “old gal” on the section of NCN Rt 765 along the River Allan heading into Dunblane.

The route passes Dunblane Cathedral before my dynamic crew headed on from Dunblane to Bridge of Allan, arriving around noon to a wonderful warm welcome from Dot and Bill, who we hadn’t seen for almost exactly a year.

My dynamic crew on arrival at old friends Dot and Bills for what turned out to be an epic six hour lunch!

It was great for the “old git” and “old gal” to be in their company again and immediately the first bottle of prosecco was popped for a celebration drink and toast to good friends, followed by a tour of the magnificent beautifully manicured garden which naturally is their pride and joy.

The conversation flowed – as did the food and drink – during a very hospitable and leisurely lunch on their decking! The time just flew past and it was fast approaching 6pm by the time my dynamic crew realised the time!

Last man standing! Nearly six hours later just before departure from a fabulous long lunch!

Oooops! – only the small matter – or quite large matter as it turned out! – of a 19 mile pedal home in the warm sunshine to be negotiated!

Fortunately the new route via Auchenlay took Team Matilda past the Tappit Hen, Dunblane on the way home – and it would have been rude not to go in for a refreshment and loo stop! Wonderfully welcoming pub! And it was a good excuse to get out of the sun!

A much needed refreshment and loo stop at the Tappit Hen in Dunblane on the homeward pedal!

All smiles at the Tappit Hen – a good excuse to get out of the heat!

Let’s just say the remainder of the journey was certainly an “interesting” pedal home in the warm evening sunshine after the excesses of the relaxing long lunch!

After what was a bit of a torturous (albeit self-inflicted) return tandem journey it was certainly a big relief to be back at Matildas Rest enjoying a cool drink (of water!!) on the decking. The “old git” checked Strava which officially recorded the ride as being worthy of nine gongs – made up of four personal bests and five 2nd bests – which given the slower than normal pace on the homebound leg was a satisfactory achievement!

The detailed Strava figures showed my dynamic crew tandemed a distance of 31.6 miles with a moving time of 3 hours 06 minutes. (My trusty milometer did however record the full journey as 38.4 miles!) The average speed was a healthy 11.3 despite the heat and the long lunch! Elevation was 1,891 feet. The maximum speed was 32.2 mph and Team Matilda managed to burn up 2,373 calories and produce an average power output of 190 W.

As always the route is brought to life in our Relive 3D mapping video – so click here to view or on the image below.

All in all a fabulous day out – visiting fantastic friends – on a bicycle made for two!