My second mistake was forgetting to bring my Senior Railcard. Not too many more 'Senior Moments' on this trip, I hope.
Some hope!
(In the event all today's conductors were very kind.)
It was too early for trams, so a taxi to Piccadilly got us onto the 6.14 Trans Pennine Express to Edinburgh. A lovely sunny day slowly revealed itself on this beautifully scenic route through the Southern Uplands. Then a commuter train took us over the Firth of Forth, where a new bridge is under construction, and on next to a snoring Scotsman to Perth, where we picked up the ScotRail service to Inverness, arriving there by 1.30 pm. Timperley to Inverness in a morning - not bad going.
It's election day, though you couldn't guess that.
No evidence of any Challengers, either, before Perth. Then David Wishart appeared, plus a number of both stalwarts and unknown faces, with Jamie and Emma in the former group.
It's another lovely journey over Drumochter, beyond where a violent shower reminded us that the weather can be changeable in these parts. Outside, on the station platforms, a cold wind emphasised that we had moved somewhat north of Timperley.
The Kyle train was waiting for us in Inverness, and for the onward journey the weather stayed fair and the countryside fairer as we trundled across to the west coast and a final short but inordinately expensive* bus ride to reach our destination by about 4.45 pm.
That gives us plenty of time to enjoy a sociable pre-challenge evening with the election continuing in a parallel universe.
I've just nipped out to admire the views and take a few snaps - from top to bottom, our hotel, Loch Alsh and Eilean Donan castle.
* almost £1 a mile, whereas the cost of our two tickets from Manchester to Kyle totalled £84.
There's a short slideshow for the day (10 images) - here. Click on the first image, then click 'slideshow'.
Next Day - Day 1
* almost £1 a mile, whereas the cost of our two tickets from Manchester to Kyle totalled £84.
There's a short slideshow for the day (10 images) - here. Click on the first image, then click 'slideshow'.
Next Day - Day 1
5 comments:
You need to book the bus in advance to get it cheap. I remember some Japanese tourists paying a ridiculous amount last time i was on it.
Weather looks wonderful, lets hope it continues.
Good luck. Have just waved Ali-O off after a lovely evening with her.
Enjoy your walk and you can have a days rest on the canal in a couple of weeks time.
Have fun :-). Hope you have an enjoyable crossing.
Thanks everyone. We are having fun - as at the end of Day 3.
Those who had advance tickets still seemed to be paying about £1 per mile Alan, so maybe it's short trips in general that are extortionately priced!
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