Author Topic: Orkney Scotland  (Read 2776 times)

Matt2matt2002

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Orkney Scotland
« on: June 20, 2024, 12:24:57 PM »
Back again for a short tour of 4 days. Looking forward to the longest day-light hours today.

Plan to visit some of the smaller islands this time.

Raven in tip top condition.

Pictures to follow.

Matt

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/25300
Never drink and drive. You may hit a bump  and spill your drink

John Saxby

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2024, 03:47:39 PM »
Great stuff, Matt! 

Gearing set for the Old Man of Hoy?  Looking fwd to fotos from the top. ;)

UKTony

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2024, 04:11:25 PM »
Sooooo lucky to be close enough to get to such interesting places like this relatively easily 🤢
Will be listening to the Shipping Forecast with fingers crossed that your plans for island hopping are not scuppered.

Andre Jute

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2024, 06:44:57 PM »
Plan to visit some of the smaller islands this time.

Lucky you!

Don't forget the photographs for the vicarious tourers.

May all the winds be behind you, and all the hills slope downwards.

RonS

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2024, 08:37:36 PM »
Wishing you four days of sunshine and tailwinds

Danneaux

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2024, 11:25:59 PM »
Safe and happy travels, Matt!

Best, Dan.

in4

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2024, 07:13:50 AM »
Brilliant place, even with the wind blowing a hoolie.
Skara Brae and the house are worth visiting
If you cross to Rousay it takes longer to go round than you might think, especially with a headwind. If you miss the last ferry you can stay in the nearby waiting room/community place overnight.
I stayed at the Point of Ness campsite. Whilst exposed if you hunker down by the wall it’s a great site and the facilities are really good.
Have a fabulous time and fair winds Matt.


Matt2matt2002

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2024, 08:19:29 PM »
Due to the saddle problem ( now fixed & thanks to all who commented ), I didn't do a complete journal but here's the final link.
Some nice pictures and a few maps.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/25300

Cheers folks

Matt
Never drink and drive. You may hit a bump  and spill your drink

PH

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2024, 12:59:24 PM »
Enjoyed the photos Matt, brought back some memories, looks like a good trip despite the saddle issues.

Matt2matt2002

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2024, 10:19:16 PM »
Enjoyed the photos Matt, brought back some memories, looks like a good trip despite the saddle issues.

Thank you. Yes, a great place.

I have a tour 'window' in a few weeks so may pop up to Shetland and then back to Orkney and on to the mainland. I did the end 2 end of Scotland a few years ago so hope to repeat part of that route if this pesky pain in the groin improves.

Cheers


Matt
Never drink and drive. You may hit a bump  and spill your drink

in4

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2024, 01:41:38 PM »
Overnight from Aberdeen, Matt?

Matt2matt2002

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2024, 09:22:10 PM »
Yes, overnight.

Either 5 or 7 pm from Aberdeen. Arrives at 7 am in Lerwick.
https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/booking-info/timetables/

Last time I cycled 52 miles up to a campsite on Unst.
Gardiesfauld Youth Hostel.

From there the next day it was up to Muckle Flugga to tick off the most northerly point in UK.

I'm only 18 miles from home to the Aberdeen ferry so by cycling 70 miles I can reach Muckle Flugga.

Pesky groin injury may scupper my plans....
Never drink and drive. You may hit a bump  and spill your drink

Danneaux

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2024, 09:53:57 PM »
Quote
Pesky groin injury may scupper my plans....
I cycled for 29 years with severe orchialgia, Matt, but sure wish things had been different at the time (mine had a known cause but was treatment resistant and I saw my urologist regularly). Might be best to wait a week till you see your doc for advice. Wouldn't be good for it to develop to a point where it stranded you and other, perhaps urgent  arrangements needed made to get back home again.

I've sometimes had to reschedule a long-planned tour due to unforeseen circumstances. It happens to all of us and can be very disappointing but sometimes better than plowing ahead with/into a known problem.

Best of luck, Dan.

Matt2matt2002

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Re: Orkney Scotland
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2024, 07:55:01 PM »
Quote
Pesky groin injury may scupper my plans....
I cycled for 29 years with severe orchialgia, Matt, but sure wish things had been different at the time (mine had a known cause but was treatment resistant and I saw my urologist regularly). Might be best to wait a week till you see your doc for advice. Wouldn't be good for it to develop to a point where it stranded you and other, perhaps urgent  arrangements needed made to get back home again.

I've sometimes had to reschedule a long-planned tour due to unforeseen circumstances. It happens to all of us and can be very disappointing but sometimes better than plowing ahead with/into a known problem.

Best of luck, Dan.
Thanks Dan; good advice as usual.

Doc appointments are hard to get now here in UK. At least in my area.

Calling in by phone results in long waits.... and then being cut off after 25 mins just as you move up to position 1.

So now folks go to the surgery and wait outside in a line.
Opens at 8 am. I was there at 0745 and 6th in line.
At 8 am when doors opened there were 20+ folks behind me.
( I had spoken to the lady first in line and she had arrived at 0730 )

When I spoke to the receptionist several dates/ times she offered me suddenly disappeared from her screen as the folks who had managed to call in, were given the slots!
I bagged my third choice. Thursday 1745.

This thing comes and goes. Before I made my appointment and for 4 hours afterwards I really thought I'd be wasting the doctors time since I had no pain whatsoever. I thought about cancelling it.
But then it came back! And has been with me on and off all day. So I'll certainly be keeping that appointment.

Re my trip to Shetland - I'll not be doing that at all until certain of improvements.

Matt
Never drink and drive. You may hit a bump  and spill your drink