Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Dears
It's a long long time since I've done any serious touring and I've never toured alone in 40 years cycling, so in some ways I'm a bit of a newbie that also thinks he knows it all.
Due to circumstances I find myself in the somewhat enviable position to have 2 weeks hols to myself and it's about time I made that long overdue visit to my old mate Brighton Bob. Thing is he now lives in the Outer Hebridies. So the plan is as below (or a variation) as an initial 'scouting trip'. Expecting to have most meals at pubs/cafes/hostelries with basic cooking kit for camping duties. Accomodation will be a mix of wild camping or YHA weather etc. depending.
Drive and abandon car in Mallaig
Ferry to Lochboisdale
2 Day Ride up to Bernesay = 55 miles
Get Ferry to Harris - Leverburgh
Spend 2 days riding to Butt of Lewis = 90 miles
1Day chilling
1 Day hard ride back to Leverburgh = 90 miles
Ferry back to Berneray for 2 or 3 days chillin
Cycle to Brighton Bob's = 25 miles
Chill for a few days
Ferry from LochMaddy to Uig on Skye
1 Day Cycle to Portree = 30 miles
1 Day Cycle to Mallaig via Ferry
Drive back to Abingdon
I'm going to be on the faithful Rourkie with dynamo lighting (More Audax than) load-lugger (see overloaded first trial in photo below), Large rear panniers and a small bar bag. Hope not to need additional Saddle baggage:
Tent Vango Banshee 200
2 season light down bag
Inflatable 3/4 mat
Maybe bivvy bag too ... just in case I need to sleep 'Audax Stylee'!
Sit mat
Cooking kit (600ml Titanium cup and pocket stove + Spirit burner + Spork + Meths, Swiss Army Knife). .
Small bottle detergent
1/2 scourer
Tea bags, sugar, emergency rations
Minimal clothing ( Fleece, couple of Tees, longs, shorts, socks, pants, Vans, wool beanie hat, sun hat).
Cycle clothing (1x shorts, 1 x 3/4 bibs, 1 LS Merino, 1 vest base layer, 2 SS Jerseys cap(s) mitts, Gilet)
1 Paramo Velez Light Smock (Dry-bag on Rack)
OS maps
Smartphone .... wondering about an e-werks USB charger or similar.
Basic toiletries + Midge Cream and Sun Cream. Savlon.
Head Torch
Book
Locks
Tools
Tubes + spare tyre
Hip Flask
For those who know the terrain and what's there, is this reasonable or not?
Mods to basic kit list?
It's a long long time since I've done any serious touring and I've never toured alone in 40 years cycling, so in some ways I'm a bit of a newbie that also thinks he knows it all.
Due to circumstances I find myself in the somewhat enviable position to have 2 weeks hols to myself and it's about time I made that long overdue visit to my old mate Brighton Bob. Thing is he now lives in the Outer Hebridies. So the plan is as below (or a variation) as an initial 'scouting trip'. Expecting to have most meals at pubs/cafes/hostelries with basic cooking kit for camping duties. Accomodation will be a mix of wild camping or YHA weather etc. depending.
Drive and abandon car in Mallaig
Ferry to Lochboisdale
2 Day Ride up to Bernesay = 55 miles
Get Ferry to Harris - Leverburgh
Spend 2 days riding to Butt of Lewis = 90 miles
1Day chilling
1 Day hard ride back to Leverburgh = 90 miles
Ferry back to Berneray for 2 or 3 days chillin
Cycle to Brighton Bob's = 25 miles
Chill for a few days
Ferry from LochMaddy to Uig on Skye
1 Day Cycle to Portree = 30 miles
1 Day Cycle to Mallaig via Ferry
Drive back to Abingdon
I'm going to be on the faithful Rourkie with dynamo lighting (More Audax than) load-lugger (see overloaded first trial in photo below), Large rear panniers and a small bar bag. Hope not to need additional Saddle baggage:
Tent Vango Banshee 200
2 season light down bag
Inflatable 3/4 mat
Maybe bivvy bag too ... just in case I need to sleep 'Audax Stylee'!
Sit mat
Cooking kit (600ml Titanium cup and pocket stove + Spirit burner + Spork + Meths, Swiss Army Knife). .
Small bottle detergent
1/2 scourer
Tea bags, sugar, emergency rations
Minimal clothing ( Fleece, couple of Tees, longs, shorts, socks, pants, Vans, wool beanie hat, sun hat).
Cycle clothing (1x shorts, 1 x 3/4 bibs, 1 LS Merino, 1 vest base layer, 2 SS Jerseys cap(s) mitts, Gilet)
1 Paramo Velez Light Smock (Dry-bag on Rack)
OS maps
Smartphone .... wondering about an e-werks USB charger or similar.
Basic toiletries + Midge Cream and Sun Cream. Savlon.
Head Torch
Book
Locks
Tools
Tubes + spare tyre
Hip Flask
For those who know the terrain and what's there, is this reasonable or not?
Mods to basic kit list?