We’re Back

1896 miles (3,051km)

278 litres of diesel fuel

10.9ltrs of fuel per 100km

Average fuel cost = 1pound, 54pence/litre ($2.69/ltr)

Total fuel cost from the trip – CDN$747.82

Okay enough is enough – we had such a good time despite the gray skies, scotch mist, narrow roads, harrowing roundabouts (I’m still a promoter for more roundabouts here in Canada), dense hedgerows and too many cathedrals!

Before leaving Scotland we had one more visit with cousins. Heading south we ended up for a night in Oban, a major departure point for ferries leaving for the west coast islands of Mull, Jura etc and the ports with names like Castlebay, Coll, Colonsay, Kennacraig etc. None of these can I pronounce properly and if I were to take a ferry I probably wouldn’t end up where I wanted to go as my pronounciation of Scottish dialects is so bad. However, they all look beautiful and I could wander for years through these islands  but would rather do it on my 100 foot private sailboat which I don’t have.

We were headed for Tayvallich and a cousin’s cottage (where the heart is). It’s east of the island of Jura, another island I could easily spend some time on. The west coast of Scotland would easily be a great cruising ground for a sailboat. The only drawback would you need a lot of time if you want to see it in sunshine!!

It was too short a stay, but time was running out. Mike and Pally were kind enough to put us up for a couple of nights and provided great meals, hot showers and a place to do laundry. Even though the pictures show sunshine it took 2 days to dry our laundry!! ie. wasn’t exactly sunny for too long.

Tayvallich was the last stop in Scotland, and the long trek south  started. We still had a few more stops to make and Lincoln was the first. It has one of the most amazing cathedrals I’ve ever seen and that includes many I’ve seen in Europe.

Next stop – Cambridge. My father had graduated from Cambridge and I had never been so here was a great opportunity. Thinking we were headed to a university town like we see in North America with expansive park like setting we were shocked to  see the circus like environment of  Cambridge.

Tour buses, market stalls, tourist shops all mingled with spectacular university buildings. Hundreds of people mingling on the streets, tourist hawkers selling everything from tea towels to walking tours. We took it all in stride, enjoyed the food stalls, wandered the narrow streets crowded with protestors in support of the Palestinians,  and left.

Our last stop was in Peterborough to visit an old cycling friend. Unfortunately, I lost my pictures on this section so have nothing to show for the stop but I do have my memories, at least for a short while longer (age takes it’s toll).

Last stop before heading home – Warsash. Time to take the van home and say our goodbyes.

My cousin, Jill, lives with David who worked with my uncle in the yachting hardware business and later went out to manage a company called Polycast. It was David and Jill’s van that took us to Scotland.

A few extra photos:

Time to leave. First the car journey from Southampton then on the painful 10 hour flight over the Arctic to Vancouver.

Arrival back home was late Wednesday. One day to recover and then on Friday it’s the beginnin of the June Victoria Classic Pickleball tournament. An attempt to win a medal failed but we but did come 4th!!