bicyclenomad

UK 2014: beginnings, meetings and family

We’re spending some important family time this week, before heading north for a potentially over-ambitious bike trip in the west of Scotland.

There's been a laminated map of Scotland sitting on our kitchen table for weeks, with a scrawled route. Some last minute wheel building and attempts to minimise airline-induced frame damage crowd my final days at home.
There’s been a laminated map of Scotland sitting on our kitchen table for weeks with an increasing route scrawled across it. There was also some last minute wheel building and attempts to minimise airline-induced frame damage crowd my final days at home.
We arrive in the UK in the middle of heavy rain. Much to Dad's surprise we fit both bike bags in the back of the car and wrap ourselves around the remainder in our seats.
We arrive in the UK in the middle of standard British rain. Much to Dad’s surprise we fit both bike bags in the back of the car and wrap ourselves around the remainder in our seats.
Getting everything out again is slightly nerve racking - wondering what you'll find
Getting everything out again is slightly nerve racking – wondering what you’ll find (or not)
The centre of the house - a place of warmth, coffee and food
The centre of the house – a place of warmth, coffee and food
There are a few really quite early mornings spent wondering down the road to the harbour
There are a few really quite early mornings spent wandering down the road to the harbour
Mostly spent allowing a certain jet-lagged small person to explore to his heart's content
Mostly to allow a certain jet-lagged small person to explore to his heart’s content
There are some windy days, with others out to build the team. We're quite content to align ourselves with the time-zone and discover that being on holiday from 'work' has coincided with the predictable viral bug.
There are some blustery days, with others out to build their team. We’re quite content to align ourselves with the time-zone and discover that being on holiday from ‘work’ has coincided with the predictable viral bug.
There's some beach riding. Actually not something we've done much of despite plenty of inland sand experience. We've been leant a Tout Terrain Singletrailer for this UK trip. We use a trip to Traeth Harlech to give it some testing
There’s some beach riding. Actually not something we’ve done much of despite plenty of inland sand experience. We’ve been leant a Tout Terrain Singletrailer for this UK trip. We use a trip to Traeth Harlech to give it some testing
Bryn pick his own patch of beach to occupy
Bryn picks his own patch of beach to occupy
and my brother Ben and I (with Bryn in tow) make it all the way out to the Bar and the notoriously treacherous estuary mouth before turning back with the incoming tide
and my brother Ben and I (with Bryn in tow) make it all the way out to the Bar and the notoriously treacherous estuary mouth before turning back with the incoming tide
Dad's got a full house with my niece Martha (only 2 weeks old) meeting some of us for the first time.
Dad’s got a full house, with my niece Martha (only 2 weeks old) meeting some of us for the first time.
With my lurgy abating, and Sarah and Bryn's worsening we head out to Coed y Brenin for some trail riding. The bike's sporting a new chainring (the only damage in transport), and rattling the bike over the rocky singletrack gives the wheel-builds a good testing
With my lurgy abating, and Sarah and Bryn’s worsening we head out to Coed y Brenin for some trail riding. The bike’s sporting a new chainring (the only damage in transport), and rattling the bike over the rocky singletrack gives the wheel-builds a good testing
Josh keeps me company while Sarah's taking life a bit easier in an attempt to encourage a more rapid recovery.
Josh keeps me company while Sarah’s taking life a bit easier in an attempt to encourage a more rapid recovery.
Emerging onto the final fire-road and not too far from a well deserved cafe stop
and Josh emerges onto the final fire-road and not too far from a well deserved cafe stop
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One comment

  1. Hello mate,
    hope all goes well in Scootland…!!!! Lovely place.
    be prepared for glorious views in the western regions and lovely flat expanses in the east.
    I am off into Perth in early 2015 for a bike packing ride either “up north” or across the Nullabor…?? maybe catch ya for a chin-wag in Freo..???
    best wishes
    Peter Mac.

    Reply

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