Month: September 2016

Inverness and over the border

Managed to get to my hotel booking.

Here’s a couple of pictures I took along the way.

Adam SmithAdam Smith

The inventor of modern economics has a statue here on the Golden Mile.

He said – “Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.” That make any sense? No? Well never mind, a lot of what he said did.

Stopped in Deacon Brodies Tavern, gave some money to a tramp then moved on down to the station which took me to Inverness.

City Hostel

Didn’t fancy a dorm on my first night. Also didn’t want to pay over the odds.

Staff are friendly. Did a review of it on Google, it’s central. Continue reading “Inverness and over the border”

Travelling by train with a bike

Today, I discovered this was no longer a case of simply throwing your bike into the right carriage, taking the tear off stub and going to your seat.

Bookings for bicycles have to be made at the time of booking for all major routes, otherwise you, like me face disappointment.

Preston to Edinburgh

Luckily, Pete the Virgin counter guy decided that he was in a position to make a change to my booking to go on a later train.

This is not always the case.

I’m sure if I had known more, and been trying to blag it, he wouldn’t have bothered. But it was obvious it was going to fuck up my whole journey, so he decided to change it, which at least meant I could cover the majority of the journey without incurring any additional expense.

Edinburgh to Inverness

This is operated by Scotrail. Couldn’t make the connection, so had to book it again, £45. But my bike is on there.

I guess you can expect these eventualities and I won’t be making the same mistake again.

Here’s a picture from my present location, in the ‘Hero’s Bar’ in Preston Station.

Hero's bar - Preston Station

Day 11 – Tarleton to St. Mary’s Marina, Rufford

Only a very short journey today.

Due to time constraints on travel over the Ribble, I’ve decided not to wait 10 days for the next crossing, and make my way to Scotland tomorrow.

From there I will be Bonnyless.

St. Mary’s Marina, Rufford

I’m parked at St. Mary’s Marina with Mark Ball who seems like an affable fellow.

It’s got a few mod-cons like electric, which means I can watch more telly and use the microwave.

The trip is only a very simple one. From Tarleton, you have to negotiate the 3 swing bridges, follow the river. That’s about it.

The marina is directly before the lock, opposite to another, competing marina.

I did get a look in both. I know my locking partner on the way up planned to leave her boat here. Also, it was the first one I visited. I know the other is slightly more upmarket, if that’s what you’re after.

Trip to Scotland

Today has been busy booking accommodation for my first few days in Scotland.

The weather up there is over 15 for the duration of my stay, even rising to around 20.

I’m quite looking forward to it, because I’ve got no idea what to expect.

The road to Inverness

I know the first few days will be fairly easy.

From now on, I’m going to be using Strava to track my progress and making timelapse video.

From now on, my maps will look like this.

It’s roughly a 500 mile journey back down to the boat.

Day 10 – Tarleton lock

Moored this morning at the lock visitor mooring, expecting to take the next high-tide to Savick Brook.

After doing some shopping in the morning, I got back to my boat, had my lunch and prepared for the journey ahead.

Someone from the pinkpigalternative facebook page had mentioned needing to book in with the lock keeper, ‘Harry’.

I sought out this lock-keeper and after not finding him, or anyone at Mayor’s boatyard, I went back finished my cup of tea, grabbed my bike and went back again.

This time I found someone, he said Harry was ill and he was the lock-keeper for now.

Ribble link

He explained getting out onto the River Douglas was fine, great if you want to go into Preston. Getting onto the Ribble Link and up onto the Lancaster canal was a different matter.

That required a booking.

A booking takes time. Continue reading “Day 10 – Tarleton lock”