The Schedule

Well here was the planned schedule for those of you who were keen to know where we went, and when. We travelled by car, with the two bikes and all the other items we required for our journey, down to Plymouth, and then by train to Lands End.

We caught the North Link Ferry off Shetland on the evening of the 29th July 09. That means meant that we arrived in Aberdeen on the morning of the 30th July, around 7am. There was then a long drive to Sheffield where we stayed over night. The plan was then a drive down to Plymouth, and a train to Lands End, the following day on the 31st July 09, where we would rest and prepare for what lies ahead. What actually happened was that we decided to start the cycle on the evening of the 31st July so we got off to a good start the following morning. Therefore:

The cycle began on

 Friday 31st July 09

The route is on the page named 'The Route', obviously.

The plan after arriving at John O'Groats, some 13 days later and a few pounds lighter, was to catch the 'short sea ferry crossing' over to South Ronaldsay in Orkney. This ferry crossing is only about 40 minutes long. It was then hoped that we would cycle to Kirkwall and catch the North Link Ferry back to Shetland. This is an over-night crossing, which arrives in Lerwick around 7am. Believe it or not, this actually went to plan, except for the few pounds lighter. I seem to have 'bulked up' on my legs rather than 'slimmed down' on my waist.

The journey didn't end there, because once arriving at Lerwick in Shetland, we had about a 22 mile cycle north to another ferry at a place called Laxo. There was then a short 30 minute ferry crossing to the Bonnie Isle of Whalsay.

Okay, this isn't Whalsay or even Shetland, but the views can be just as breathtaking as this one.

I snapped this photo on a waterbus in Venice, in the early hours of the morning.

I accompanied my mother to the Venice Carnival in February 09, and I would highly recommend it. It's one of those things you should do, just once, sometime in your life.