When your brand new toy sends you miles out of your way because that’s the nicest, quietest route… and you’re trying to make a train. But I am all packed up and on my way to begin what should be a tough training week! Look how awesome my dry bags are at sorting all my things. I love dry bags.
Wednesday morning started pretty intensely after four hours’ kip and lots of final preparation for the big trip. I am usually a real gadget geek but I just didn’t find the Garmin particularly intuitive. I spent about an hour carrying it round, pointing it at the sky whilst it found the satellites for the first time and I sourced tea for my mum.
The result was me running full throttle down the platform at Euston and making the train with about 10 seconds to spare.
Needless to say, I sat in my seat quite red faced and with only a little breath. It was a fantastic conversation starter and I began chatting with the amazing Doreen about her daughter’s wedding and my ride. She was so lovely and even bought me a hot chocolate from the café carriage because we were all freezing under the overzealous central heating. I was completely bowled over by the gesture and felt rather disappointed that my stop was so soon. THANK YOU!!
Hanging around on train number two
A bit more of a train journey and then I was on my way to my Mum and Dad’s. The journey was gorgeous and I loved that Garmin took me an alternative route, through Irongray, where my parents lived when they first moved to Scotland. The scenery was wonderful and I only wish that I had taken more pictures for you. I was a little anxious to get to my family, my dogs and my dinner!!
On the Thursday night, I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to upload my route into the Garmin. It was not fun. At least I know how now! Key tips for anyone trying – you can save your google maps route as a KML file, which you can convert to a GPX file using an online service such as this one. THEN, you have to copy it into the ‘New Files’ folder, NOT the ‘Routes’ folder – obviously!!
Sorry if this blog is a bit sparse… When you see ‘Part 3’ you’ll see why as that is the day I am actually writing this. Also WiFi is unhappy with the task in hand.
Irongray Church
Sunny Scotland! Amazing
NZ by Bicycle 