Arran is Excellent!

Here we are on the island of Arran. We got here on Tuesday and the weather was perfect -- sunny, a breeze (to keep these horrible beasties called midgies off), but not at all hot. We rode up the island to our B&B -- Castlekirk. This B&B is an ancient church. Also, it looks out over a 13th century castle (and the food is great).

Yesterday we hiked up Goatfell (874 metres) in the most stunning weather. I wish I had an internet connection that would let me show pictures. For now you will just have to picture it -- pink and purple heather, alpine flowers, huge hunks of granite, and a view all the way to Ireland on the west and Ben Lomond on the east.

At the top the weather set in and although we had a great ridge walk, the cold and damp of a misty cloud set in. We went down a different route and ended the day in a Scottish pub. What a great day!

Check out: our route on Arran
Our pictures from Arran

Scotland ho!

Mike and I made it to the Vancouver Airport.
We had a bit of rain in the
morning, but then the sun came out. The route into the Vancouver Airport
is an easy one -- cruising along the dyke in Richmond. However, there are some strange dipsy doodles when you get close to the airport itself.

We had a great night in Ladner at Paton Place B&B -- it was great to see
Peggy, Mark, and Spirit the dog.

Now for the stats:
Mike - weight 225 with boots and all
Mike's bike - 82 lbs
Mary - 158 lbs
Mary's bike - 90 lbs (you all see that Mary's bike is the heaviest).
(Mike says he weighed 215 at Vancouver Airport naked.)

We are getting good at stripping down the bikes -- 35 mins to get the
bikes ready.

Our next report will be from Scotland.
ttfn
Mary

Check out our Victoria to Vancouver Route
Pictures from Victoria to Vancouver, and landing in Scotland

Update -- we met up with Jan and Alan in Seamill:

Training rides

Lisa and John joined us for a 110 km training ride last week. It was great, but Mike's back tire came out of the stays and he took a nasty tumble. Then he snapped the brake cable to the front brake. Even with these problems it was a good check out ride for the bikes.

We have been planning and packing and are now ready to go -- but I am coming down with a cold. I have been popping the Cold-FX pills, and I hope this will stop the cold in its tracks.

Mike got some new rear panniers and a new day-pack (for the "bagging" part of our trip -- a.k.a. the "hiking"). Since we are not taking camping gear we have light bags and plenty of room.

7 Sleeps to go!

Here we are -- one week out from this year's bike tour. Mike and I head off to Vancouver next Saturday. We are going to spend the night at Paton Place B&B in Ladner. Then it will be off on Zoom airlines to Glasgow. We'll meet up with Jan and Alan in the Scottish seaside town of Seamill and then the adventure will be on.

Mike and I are a bit plump this year, so an extended bike ride is just the ticket to get us back into fighting form.