On the eve of adventure

I’m at Southampton airport sitting on a FlyBe Dash 8, waiting to take off for Edinburgh on my first of two trips to Scotland this week. This is a )(excuse me, won’t you?) flying visit for work, in and out with no shaking about. The second trip is altogether more exciting.
In my living room back in Weardale are my front pack saddle pack, both loaded and ready to go. The Synapse is back from its visit to Inspiral Cycles in Bishop Auckland in full touring set up. And the eagle-eyed among you wil have spotted the train tickets on the mantelpiece. Adventure awaits!
On Thursday I have 14 hours’ travelling planned, 10 and a half of those northward by train to Thurso. The rest westward, 23 miles by bike to Strathy. Strathy Point is the spikey bit right in the middle of the north coast of Scotland. On Friday I’ll leave Strathy Point lighthouse, heading for St Catherine’ lighthouse on the southern tip of the isle of Wight.
“Heading for”, because I’m not sure I can squeeze enough days away from my desk to comfortably get all the way there, but fingers crossed…
I’m aiming for a leisurely trip roughly down the middle of our great island from, exploring the landscape, people and communities that form the backbone of Britain.
Before then I have two more packed days of work and a lot more travelling to do.
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