Being where you are

Today my daughter Eleanor and I will set out to cycle the Great Glen Way.

This is part of our family project to learn where we live, to understand this fermenting adopted country of ours. We have checked the bicycles: she’s riding her wonderful Frog and I have my ancient Dawes Sardar (from when they were still made from steel), improved over many iterations. New stuff: Sputnik rims and a new Shimano LX rear hub for me. After well over a decade of carrying children and things (bricks, boards, wiring, plants) on various trailers and such, I finally have Carradice Super C panniers all my own. The kind folks at the local Edinburgh Bike Coop have become very used to us darting in and out for one more thing (yesterday was a Presta-to-Schrader pump adapter).

And today we set out. Oh, it’s only a short expedition, and we’re taking it easy. This is Eleanor’s first long ride of any kind, and my first for many years…but today we set out. I’ll keep you posted.