Are We There Yet Mum…?

After long journeys to Scotland with two bickering children my parents knew exactly how best to shut me up: get my bike out of the caravan. When I was little there was nothing more exciting to me than riding my bike in a new place – the swooping grassy lumps around a campsite, the crunch of gravel under my BMX tyres, swerving around potholes and pulling skids where I shouldn’t. The sense of adventure seemed to be heightened just by pedaling, by rolling. My bike magnified my tiny legs and opened up a whole new world for discovery. Even back at home the size of my world increased in increments governed by the landmarks I was told not to ride beyond: the holly bush at the end of the lane, the triangle by the farm and…eventually…the motorway bridge.

Now as a grown up – in body at least – I am rediscovering that feeling of an expanding world. Buying panniers and getting myself kitted out for touring feels like a pilgrimage to that boyhood sense of adventure. Out of all the travelling I have done – far and near – I have never felt so free as the day I rode away from the ferry with my panniers on the Isle or Arran.

On the swings where my sister and I played in the pouring rain on one of our Scottish family holidays

I recently spent 10 days cycling around the Hebridian Islands in Scotland including the full length of the Outer Hebridies. The trip was phenomenal in a number of ways and has ignited a passion for cycle touring. I intend many more adventures on two wheels to follow and already have plans in the pipeline – cycle touring does give a lot of time for thinking which inevitably gets channeled into planning more trips!

I have decided to write a blog about some of my experiences. It will serve as a personal journal, a record for the odd person who may be interested in what I’ve been up to (hi Mum and Dad!) and hopefully a source of inspiration to anyone looking to shake up their normal life and go on an adventure. I have found writing encourages me to think more carefully about experiences and possibly engage with life and adventures in a more ‘intentional’ way.

It would be great to hear feedback and to share experiences and thoughts on places, people and culture so please get in touch, ask questions, share ideas.

So here it is: the adventures and musings of some guy on a bike. Enjoy!

Part 1 of Island Hopscotch to follow.

Dave Sproston