Waiting......

We're home again.

Our journey south has been mixed. The cabin on the midnight ferry from Kirkwall was most welcome after 14 hours without a place to call our own, and the crossing to Aberdeen was calm- no hint of a swell, just the soothing vibrations of the ship's engine.

However the East Coast train from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, which unfortunately was also the London one, was a complete nightmare.
The powers that be were slow to let us board, and with the bikes having to go in the guard's van: just 3 spaces for 3 bikes with all panniers removed, the train was ready to move off before we had time to find our seats.
We then had to negotiate the busy corridors laden with luggage.

It seemed that the whole of Scotland was on the move south and the train was packed.

In Edinburgh we had 5 minutes to off load the panniers and rack bags and then run along to the guard's van and try and wrestle the bikes out. My toe clip was a casualty of the wrestle and had to be dismantled there and then.

So it's back to the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh and the bills and the general chores that make going on holiday so appealing.

I shall miss the proximity of the sea and the harbours and the boats, and the people- in general, island life.
I have enjoyed it all so much, and so has his Lordship even with his genes for warmer climes.