Let the train take the strain 3

Setting off on the great adventure Thursday June 9th

D day dawned at 0600. We left Dykeside at 06.45 unable to see East Lomond for the mist and drizzle. Pauline had put out the bunting (obviously glad to be waving me off)  Mo was in her garden waving like crazy and sending me off with copious good wishes for a succesful trip. 

Marie surprised me by making an 0700 appearance at ladybank station complete with warm good wishes and a poster GO BRIAN The bike was installed on Scotrail's 07.09 train from Dundee to Edinburgh and I took a seat beside two lovely young ladies who had thought that Pauline and Marie running alongside the train waving the GO BRIAN poster was "sweet" They sent me on my way with Good Luck messages ringing in my ear. The young lady on the right is American from Idaho.

At the Costa stand in Edinburgh Waverley who should I meet but Peel who had received middle of the night news that his Birmingham flight was cancelled. He had got a last minute place on the London train to Euston. The joys of travel. My bike is travelling in a broom cupboard in carriage K whilst I am comfortably installed in a half empty carriage B. The wifi is abysmal so I am typing this with my chromebook tethered to my phone which is acting as a wifi hotspot (the wonders of technology)

After my train adventures of earlier in the week my three train journeys were remarkably uneventful, ( thank goodness) They were all on time, clean and comfortable. The nearest to an adventure was at Paddington where the allocation of which platform the train would depart from was left toll 10 minutes before departure. Fortunately the platforn was nearby but that was a little scary.

The 3 mile journey accross Central London was not nearly as scary as I feared and my worrying machine (Pauline) expected. Euston Rd, Tottenham Court Rd, Marlebone High St,Edgware Rd all sound busy and difficult, but bikes are allowed in the bus lanes and can go faster than the buses - only the taxis and the traffic lights to worry about.

After a brisk 10 miler uphill against the wind from Penzance to Land'sEnd I am comfortably ensconced in a charming B&B / hostel run by a charming German guy called Nico. The room is really well equipped and the system is that you make your own breakfast at whatever hour you choose from a vast array of really nice ingredients. Superb