@annacycles.bsky.social
Narrowdog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington. This has personal resonance with me because I have cycled/sailed a lot of the waterways he talks about, including the Channel (tho not on my own narrowboat - are you mad?)
Took 3 attempts to read but loved it. Unusual style of writing. Wonderful poetry.
Took 3 attempts to read but loved it. Unusual style of writing. Wonderful poetry.
November 1, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Narrowdog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington. This has personal resonance with me because I have cycled/sailed a lot of the waterways he talks about, including the Channel (tho not on my own narrowboat - are you mad?)
Took 3 attempts to read but loved it. Unusual style of writing. Wonderful poetry.
Took 3 attempts to read but loved it. Unusual style of writing. Wonderful poetry.
I'm coming to Bristol next week for the Ride for Tim event. Please rsvp on Facebook if you're coming so I can send updates: fb.me/e/3zPGGTfPA It would be wonderful to see lots of people there to pay tribute to Tim and celebrate our LEJOG ride 💙
October 28, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I'm coming to Bristol next week for the Ride for Tim event. Please rsvp on Facebook if you're coming so I can send updates: fb.me/e/3zPGGTfPA It would be wonderful to see lots of people there to pay tribute to Tim and celebrate our LEJOG ride 💙
Book #6: Lessons in Chemistry, pictured where I finished it: on the train home from Malaga.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
October 27, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Book #6: Lessons in Chemistry, pictured where I finished it: on the train home from Malaga.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
Book #6: Lessons in Chemistry, pictured where I finished it: on the train home from Malaga.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
October 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Book #6: Lessons in Chemistry, pictured where I finished it: on the train home from Malaga.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
Really fun, once I got over the outrageous tragedy the author subjects our heroine to near the start! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending multiple times and thought of little else for days afterwards.
Four trains took us from London to Malaga, with overnight stops in Barcelona and Madrid on the way out, and Girona on the way back. Lon-Paris-Barcelona = 11 hrs, Barc-Malaga = 6.5 hrs. A fabulous way to travel: comfy, great views and much lower carbon than flying #TrainsNotPlanes
October 25, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Four trains took us from London to Malaga, with overnight stops in Barcelona and Madrid on the way out, and Girona on the way back. Lon-Paris-Barcelona = 11 hrs, Barc-Malaga = 6.5 hrs. A fabulous way to travel: comfy, great views and much lower carbon than flying #TrainsNotPlanes
Just been catching the last gasp of summer with a trip (by rail of course) to Malaga. I thought I’d said goodbye to my summer clothes but it was 30 degrees in Malaga! The best part of rail travel is that this was also a holiday in Barcelona, Madrid and Girona 🇪🇸
October 25, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Just been catching the last gasp of summer with a trip (by rail of course) to Malaga. I thought I’d said goodbye to my summer clothes but it was 30 degrees in Malaga! The best part of rail travel is that this was also a holiday in Barcelona, Madrid and Girona 🇪🇸
Book no.5: Zero Altitude by Helen Coffey. I started it ages ago and finally read to the heart-warming end. This one’s a personal one for me: a travel writer I persuaded to quit flying with the @flightfreeuk.bsky.social challenge. Fabulous read from a wonderful travel writer - quite proud really.
October 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Book no.5: Zero Altitude by Helen Coffey. I started it ages ago and finally read to the heart-warming end. This one’s a personal one for me: a travel writer I persuaded to quit flying with the @flightfreeuk.bsky.social challenge. Fabulous read from a wonderful travel writer - quite proud really.
Bam, finished another one! This has been half-read for ages, for no other reason than just busy. So I finally read to the heart-warming end. This one’s a personal one for me: a travel writer I persuaded to quit flying with the @flightfreeuk.bsky.social challenge. Fabulous read - quite proud really.
October 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Bam, finished another one! This has been half-read for ages, for no other reason than just busy. So I finally read to the heart-warming end. This one’s a personal one for me: a travel writer I persuaded to quit flying with the @flightfreeuk.bsky.social challenge. Fabulous read - quite proud really.
Looking forward to being back in Edinburgh at the end of the month to share the story of our Ride for Tim. We're also hearing from @nicklifeafloat.bsky.social and the charity Health in Mind.
If you're coming, details are on FB fb.me/e/6IrqxMFSX - pls click 'attending' or 'interested' for updates.
If you're coming, details are on FB fb.me/e/6IrqxMFSX - pls click 'attending' or 'interested' for updates.
October 12, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Looking forward to being back in Edinburgh at the end of the month to share the story of our Ride for Tim. We're also hearing from @nicklifeafloat.bsky.social and the charity Health in Mind.
If you're coming, details are on FB fb.me/e/6IrqxMFSX - pls click 'attending' or 'interested' for updates.
If you're coming, details are on FB fb.me/e/6IrqxMFSX - pls click 'attending' or 'interested' for updates.
Fourth book so far this year: Still Life by Sarah Winman. After a slow start I was absolutely captivated by the story and the writing. Makes me want to go to Florence at once! (by train of course).
October 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Fourth book so far this year: Still Life by Sarah Winman. After a slow start I was absolutely captivated by the story and the writing. Makes me want to go to Florence at once! (by train of course).
On 29th October we're holding an event in Edinburgh about the Ride for Tim. There will also be talks from mental health charity Health in Mind, and Nick Ray @lifeafloat.bsky.social. All details here – all welcome 💙 fb.me/e/6IrqxMFSX
October 10, 2025 at 11:11 AM
On 29th October we're holding an event in Edinburgh about the Ride for Tim. There will also be talks from mental health charity Health in Mind, and Nick Ray @lifeafloat.bsky.social. All details here – all welcome 💙 fb.me/e/6IrqxMFSX
Still got a few of these left - let me know if you would like one. Yours in return for a donation to the fundraiser! givewheel.com/fundraising/...
August 27, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Still got a few of these left - let me know if you would like one. Yours in return for a donation to the fundraiser! givewheel.com/fundraising/...
We’ve been craving a Sunday roast for the past three weeks, so now I’m back home here it is. And in honour of Tim there’s a full roast garlic bulb in there 🧄
(This is what vegans eat for Sunday roast: all the trimmings, plus a carrot and cashew nut roast)
(This is what vegans eat for Sunday roast: all the trimmings, plus a carrot and cashew nut roast)
August 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
We’ve been craving a Sunday roast for the past three weeks, so now I’m back home here it is. And in honour of Tim there’s a full roast garlic bulb in there 🧄
(This is what vegans eat for Sunday roast: all the trimmings, plus a carrot and cashew nut roast)
(This is what vegans eat for Sunday roast: all the trimmings, plus a carrot and cashew nut roast)
Final leg of the journey home: Glasgow to London. The train line follows almost our exact route as far as Wigan: back through Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme, Lancaster, Preston… all places we rode. Strange to watch our journey flashing by in reverse.
August 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Final leg of the journey home: Glasgow to London. The train line follows almost our exact route as far as Wigan: back through Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme, Lancaster, Preston… all places we rode. Strange to watch our journey flashing by in reverse.
That’s better! On the second train of the day now, Inverness to Glasgow.
August 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
That’s better! On the second train of the day now, Inverness to Glasgow.
Getting home is always the hardest part! I’m on a train to Inverness but there were no bike spaces available on this train, so here’s my bike, in pieces, on the luggage rack. I’ve covered the dirty bits with a bin bag. The train guard was friendly and had no problem with this.
August 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Getting home is always the hardest part! I’m on a train to Inverness but there were no bike spaces available on this train, so here’s my bike, in pieces, on the luggage rack. I’ve covered the dirty bits with a bin bag. The train guard was friendly and had no problem with this.
One of the reasons I’ve spent an extra day in Thurso is to do Parkrun up here. I did Land’s End Parkrun on day 1, so here we are at the other end 🏃♀️➡️
August 23, 2025 at 8:21 AM
One of the reasons I’ve spent an extra day in Thurso is to do Parkrun up here. I did Land’s End Parkrun on day 1, so here we are at the other end 🏃♀️➡️
Thurso Bay looking absolutely magical this morning.
Clear views of Orkney and Old Man of Hoy!
Clear views of Orkney and Old Man of Hoy!
August 23, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Thurso Bay looking absolutely magical this morning.
Clear views of Orkney and Old Man of Hoy!
Clear views of Orkney and Old Man of Hoy!
Too early for a Tennent’s?
August 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Too early for a Tennent’s?
I’m sitting by the Thurso river having my lunch, and this chap is eyeing me up for leftovers. An American couple just stopped by. “What kind of bird is that?” she said. I said it was a juvenile seagull - the kind that will bully you for your lunch. “He’s beautiful, look at those feathers!” …
August 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I’m sitting by the Thurso river having my lunch, and this chap is eyeing me up for leftovers. An American couple just stopped by. “What kind of bird is that?” she said. I said it was a juvenile seagull - the kind that will bully you for your lunch. “He’s beautiful, look at those feathers!” …
Single pole one-man tent: easy to assemble and packs away small
Roll mat for extra warmth (& helps if ground is stony)
Inflatable mat
Sleeping bag
Blow up pillow
Socks, hat, jumper
The pillow, sleeping bag & inflatable mat go in one pannier & the tent & roll mat go on rack.
Roll mat for extra warmth (& helps if ground is stony)
Inflatable mat
Sleeping bag
Blow up pillow
Socks, hat, jumper
The pillow, sleeping bag & inflatable mat go in one pannier & the tent & roll mat go on rack.
August 22, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Single pole one-man tent: easy to assemble and packs away small
Roll mat for extra warmth (& helps if ground is stony)
Inflatable mat
Sleeping bag
Blow up pillow
Socks, hat, jumper
The pillow, sleeping bag & inflatable mat go in one pannier & the tent & roll mat go on rack.
Roll mat for extra warmth (& helps if ground is stony)
Inflatable mat
Sleeping bag
Blow up pillow
Socks, hat, jumper
The pillow, sleeping bag & inflatable mat go in one pannier & the tent & roll mat go on rack.
Told you the food would keep coming!
August 22, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Told you the food would keep coming!
Toasting the end of the ride with a Tennents on Thurso Bay. Cheers all 🍻
We cycled back to Thurso where we are camping. Mark is on the early train home tomorrow, Lorenzo is getting a bus south and picking up a train somewhere, and I’m staying an extra day here.
We cycled back to Thurso where we are camping. Mark is on the early train home tomorrow, Lorenzo is getting a bus south and picking up a train somewhere, and I’m staying an extra day here.
August 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Toasting the end of the ride with a Tennents on Thurso Bay. Cheers all 🍻
We cycled back to Thurso where we are camping. Mark is on the early train home tomorrow, Lorenzo is getting a bus south and picking up a train somewhere, and I’m staying an extra day here.
We cycled back to Thurso where we are camping. Mark is on the early train home tomorrow, Lorenzo is getting a bus south and picking up a train somewhere, and I’m staying an extra day here.
We raised a wee dram to Tim. Here’s to you buddy. Hope you are in a better place 🩵
August 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
We raised a wee dram to Tim. Here’s to you buddy. Hope you are in a better place 🩵