Blogs from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 9

Tag 65: Portsoy - Ellon, 79.34 km, Fahrzeit 5:17, Durchschn. 14.97 km/h, Höhenmeter: 712, Gesamtstrecke 3538 km Ich kann mein Zelt noch im Trockenen einpacken, aber als ich losfahre, fängt es leicht an zu regnen. Im Laufe des Vormittags verstärt sich der Regen immer mehr, so dass ich irgendwann auf Regenzeug umrüste. Die Gegend ist hügelig und duchgehend landwirtschaftlich genutzt. Das letzte Drittel der Strecke führt über eine ehemalige Eisenbahntrasse (Formatine & Buchan Way). Wenig Steigung, aber vom Belag her nicht ideal zu Radfahren. Irgendwo auf dieser Strecke erwischt mich der erste Platten dieser Tour: ein leichter Knall, ein kurzes Zischen, und der Hinterreifen ist platt. Zuerst befürchte ich, dass der Mantel einen Schaden hat, oder das Ventil kaputt ist, aber da ist nichts zu sehen. Zum Glück hat der Regen etwas nachgelassen. Also Gepäck runter, ... read more

Hi Friends and Family! After a refreshing sleep in which “The Small Young Gentleman” fell out of bed and I got up at 6 a.m. Again! We had an early breakfast at 7:30 and booked a taxi for 8:40 as our train was to leave at 9:10. We paid an extravagant 7.00 pounds. Gulp! I had pre-booked and pre-paid our reserved train seats for the 2.5 hour trip to Aberdeen - ₤10.00 for me and ₤5.00 for “The Small Young Gentleman”. We received free cans of Coca Cola Zero which they were promoting and used the journey to play “Happy Feet” and various other games on my Notebook until the battery ran out and I fell asleep. Going on holiday is exhausting don't you know! We arrived slighty before 12:00 and according to the station staff, ... read more

"It will all be ok in the end. If it's not ok, it's not the end." For sometime now, I couldn't stop my gut from wanting to see the castles along the coast of Scotland. This gut decision wasn't the most "logical idea" (as if any of them have been). It came with a pretty pricey plane ticket and an ungodly transit from Vietnam: 4 planes, 2 taxis, 1 bus, and some gold old fashioned time and patience got me here in about 2 days. Still say this is not a bad deal, going across the globe in a weekend. It was the 3 mile hike along the edge of the Scottish coast to Dunnottar Castle, when I realize, it wasn't so much the castles that my gut was after, but what was around them. There ... read more

Do you watch the winter Olympics on television, and aren't you amazed at the curling matches?! Well, it's our new favorite sport. I was made for curling! Except that the 'sweeping' part is too much like housekeeping, and I don't know my anti-clockwise from my clockwise. And a strategy, as in chess is applied to the stones position. But it is a bit like pool, and I have played that. If you have followed our blogs til now you know that these regional meetings Keith goes to, usually have 'fun' event for the guys to relax and get to know each other. In Italy it was 'karting'. The guys at Inverurie has curling planned for the evening. (I get to go to this one) In Aberdeen, about 30 minutes drive, there is a curling club, a ... read more

I am First Mate Hawkswan, travelling under the leadership and guide of Captain Jones Smitherington. The Captain had been sailing the skies for some time already, but this had been my first venture out under his tutilege. I am eager and I am excited, but am also ready. And this is my tale... PRELUDE I arrive in Aberdeen, Northern Scotland with a pack on my back, a pack on my chest, and the cool breeze on my face. Glorious. The sky is intermixed with clouds as I overlook the countryside from the entrance of the airport. Perhaps it was the 12 hours flying, the stiffling airports, or the children who kept complaining, "Mummy...mummy my ears mummy, they hurt mummy. Why aren't you helping me mummy? I cahn't mummy, I cahn't" - but that breeze was quite ... read more