A cold and blustery hello from Edinburgh. Its been a solid couple of weeks since our days off in Bath and Oxford. From there we headed north to Stratford-upon-Avon - the birth, and final resting place, of the Bard. Had a very atmospheric time at his grave which is in a church, and in a town full of tourists, we were the only ones there.
From here we got into moor territory. Through the Peaks District, which was surprisingly unpeaky, but certainly more rolly, then over more and more moors of increasing bleakness towards the Yorkshire Dales. It felt like we didn't see a tree for days on end, and with a cold wind harassing us from the East, it has been a cold and temper testing experience.
On the plus side, we have managed to survive the bank holiday without becoming homeless. Apparently the correct way to secure accommodation for this period is to book some 8 years in advance, and hand over the deeds to your house as a deposit. So thank you to some kind campsites who took us in. Other exciting events include cycling past Banbury Cross, seeing Dolly the cloned sheep (stuffed now), eating haggis, and buying Wensleydale Cheese of Wallace and Grommit fame.
In the north of England we stopped in a Hadrian's Wall to see the northern border of the Roman Empire. Many Asterix history lessons were fondly remembered. Then it was on to Scotland but with no border marker whatsoever, we are not quite sure when we entered. We are now in Edinburgh, so it must have happened at some point. Today is a day exploring the city. Its a fantastic place with huge stone buildings crowding the streets and tiny alleys squeezing between them. We did a really interesting tour of the Scottish National Museum, which included the first edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. For nerds like us, that was pretty exciting.
Along the way we have been passing the time on the bikes by marveling at the oddity of English place names. They range from the absurdly normal such as Simon's Bath, Box, Choppingknife Lane, and Mousehole, to the straight absurd, like Nempnett Thrubwell, Wigglesworth, and Giggleswick. We had a telling warning just before reaching Scotland and whiskey country, when we spotted Booze, and just a short trip up the road - Crackpot. Perhaps we can start a new pseudoscience divining meaning from the associated experience of place names.
From here we shall battle our way north, into the Highlands and the ever present wind. We note that today is 29 degrees in Rome so are blocking out reality with visions of us there in a couple of weeks!
With a hearty cheer
C&D
5 comments:
Gosh you've travelled a lot of country so quickly! Edinburgh already! Speaking of names don't miss Fleshmarket Close and the underground tour through the old streets. Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes had trouble with his bike too Claudia - it was quite mean to him I recall. And there were a few spats and sulks... Love the photos - hope the ride north takes in Stirling Castle - worth a visit. I've just checked my Crawford tea towel and can tell you the Crawfords came from Auchinames in Lanarkshire which I suspect you've bypassed already. The clan motto is 'I will give you safety by strength' which could probably apply to a bikie gang come to think of it. Anyway - if you see a stag's head erased gules, between the attires a cross crosslet fitchee sable - that the Crawford Clan crest!! Perhaps actually it's safer to be a Mercier and Steel-Baker. Happy cycling. Lots and lots of love and hugs - Mum / Barbara
Hi there,
Great to see you made it to England - young Alec did wonder from time to time about your progress to Beijing and now I have found your blog (bit slow with technology) - he can look at all the pictures! as can I - have to travel vicariously these days! Rhonda
Hello there kids. You amuse me with your tales of the UK :) I am super jealous I really want to do lands end to John O'Groats but Mr Bacchus feels he has already conquered this part of the world so maybe I need to take it on myself mwa ha. Anyways Claudia I love your bike with its leopard print it really gives it some identity have you found names for the bikes yet and do your calves still fit in your trouser legs?
Kisses
Anna
Hey guys, awesome progress. Love the leopard skin bike Cluadia. I hope Scotland treats you well and you don't get too sick of the whiskey. It was unrelenting with us, everybody seemed to think we craved bottles of the stuff after a hard days biking.
Cheers
Mike
Hi kids
In case you get near Glasgow, there is a place called Strathaven where Damien's great great great grandfather John Steel was born on 17th November 1822.
Great pics. You capture the moods of the country you are going through and you always give us a good read.
Cheers
Des
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