Tag Archives: cycle

A cycle ride across the US (Rousse)

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I cycled miles and miles across the US. The most terrifying part was on the inside lane on the freeways; the most adventurous through dense forests, where the trees and the sky were my only company.

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Solo bikes, tandems, and trandems shelter from heavy Hebridean traffic (Rousse)

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Dreamaticus

The Isle of Harris was now such a popular holiday destination that hundreds of cars and camper vans surged through Tarbert and up into the hills whenever the CalMac ferry docked. The traffic was so heavy that all cyclists knew … Continue reading →

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Suing CalMac for ruining ‘holiday of a lifetime’ (Rousse)

Posted on August 21, 2022 by Dreamaticus

We disembarked the CalMac ferry in Stornoway and stood on the dock to wait for the staff to bring our bikes up from the car deck. It soon became evident that the bikes were no longer stowed below. Eventually we … Continue reading →

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David Beckham in disguise (Rousse)

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Dreamaticus

I spent the day cycling with David Beckham, his wife Victoria, and their young son. At no point were we recognised, even at a busy London railway station. This was thanks to the clever way that David wore wraparound sunglasses, … Continue reading →

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Free-riding on the Granton ferry (Rousse)

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Dreamaticus

I cycled back from town along the Forth estuary. When I reached Granton I had two options: to cross the water by ferry or to cycle inland to avoid the crossing. A little old lady advised me that the ferry … Continue reading →

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A coronavirus lockdown bike ride to Luce (Rousse)

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Dreamaticus

The building work at the St James Centre finally complete, our flat on the ground floor of John Lewis now had a big picture window that looked out on to a massive plaza. Of course, a corollary of this was … Continue reading →

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Uncomfortable beds and cold porridge (Rousse)

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Dreamaticus

I was a terrible hostess. I forced my overnight guests to sleep on spin cycles, then made them wait for hours for the cold porridge that I served at breakfast.

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Lost cycle panniers, and Japanese water tanks (Rousse)

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Dreamaticus

How would I admit to TPR that I had lost both of my fully-packed cycle panniers, one of which included our soap bag? I had no idea where I had left them along my solo route in the Scottish borders. … Continue reading →

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A cycling cheat in Cumbria (Rousse)

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Dreamaticus

The blue tandem split as we were cycling through Cumbria, just moments after I mentioned to TPR that it would be interesting to call in on locations along the route that were associated with my Lancastrian ancestors. TPR didn’t appear … Continue reading →

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Smart graduate cycles to the Belgium via the Channel Tunnel (Rousse)

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Dreamaticus

The best way to avoid the job of painting the new staff common room was to arrive on campus dressed in a suit. I also had a good excuse that would get me out of this unconventional academic duty: I … Continue reading →

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