Race ya!

Fred and I are on the sleeper train to Rannoch Moor. Our bicycles are in the back of a courier's van zooming up to meet us at the station tea shop in the morning. We have a two-hour headstart since the courier was caught up in traffic and wasn't able to pick up our bikes until 9pm (instead of 7.30). He's going to text us his progress until he runs out of mobile signal. Rannoch might surprise us, but I doubt there's a signal there. Mind you, it's not as if we can stray far - one road, one hotel, one tea shop, a station. I think he'll find us.

It's the first time we've used the sleeper's courier service. It seems odd - part of the reason we travel by train is to avoid using fuel (car or plane) and now our bicycles are being driven exclusively (there were no other bikes in the back) to our destination. Yet, the bicycle compartment in the sleeper is full and the train company courier excess bikes for free. The courier service is partly funded by the Scottish Tourist Board, to encourage cycle tourism.

One real plus point for us is that we don't have to get up at silly o'clock. We're on the Fort William part of the sleeper and when the train splits at Edinburgh at 4am, the bike carriage goes to Inverness. So, all cyclists on the Fort William line have to get up and move their bicycles from Coach A right down to the Fort William part of the train (it's quite a walk - this is a very long train). We've always taken our folding bikes for the Fort William journey as they fit in the cabin, but no need this time - thank you, courier. I feel for the four guys in the carriage next door. They do have to get up at 4am to rescue their bikes and they are not happy about it. That's what you get when you're organised, book way ahead, and get a space in the bike carriage - an early wake-up call!

I've not much of an idea what tomorrow will bring. I hope it brings bicycles in one piece and that the tea shop is open. It would be a bonus if the sun is shining, but I won't push my luck.

Happy Weekend!

PS Skinny fox pulled on the cute this afternoon, playing with the ball and following me about the garden, cocking his head this way and that. Whisky hissed at him from the safety of the picnic table. When I went indoors, Bushy-black came out, curled up on the guinea pig run and fell asleep. I've alerted Bruce, our pet feeder, that he might have a couple of observers.