Category Archives: Europe Tours

Slainte… the Gaelic word for “health” or wishing a person good health when sharing a beverage. Similar to “cheers”. The four of us had several slainte moments in the last 12 days. It certainly is a good thing to have the health (and wealth) to travel abroad or anywhere in the USA and explore byContinue reading “Slainte”

Day 11 July 24, 2025 Stats: 19 miles, AIS: 1:37, Elev. 531 ft, Speed: 11.6 mph A 6:30 am start out of the hostel in Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay to the ferry terminal in Port Ellen. Our fastest 19 miles of the trip. The guys finally had a good nights sleep in their fullContinue reading “A ferry then Glasgow”

Day 10 July 23, 2025 Stats: 29 mi, AIS: 2:48 Elev. 1023 ft, Speed: 10.5 mph This is our last day to take our time… pedal and stop for pictures. Go wherever we want and not be in a hurry. Are we ever in a hurry? The first stop today was a tour of aContinue reading “Pedals and Whisky”

Day 9 July 22, 2025 Stats: 19 miles, AIS: 2:05, Elev. 1092 ft, Speed: 8.8 mph Port Charlotte to Portnahaven to Port Charlotte loop. The hostel has a “wee” breakfast (continental) so we had that for breakfast. Then Jim and I had to move out of our nice single room to join the bunkhouses…men’s andContinue reading “We saw the North Atlantic Ocean”

Day 8 July 21, 2025 Stats: 16 miles, AIS:1:33, Elev. 485 ft. Speed: 10.1mph Today we had a big commute to Islay (eye-la) island on the west coast of Scotland. It is part of an area called the inner Hebrides. We needed to leave the hotel about 8am for a long drive (2.5 hrs) toContinue reading “Islay Island… big commute”

Last Day in the Borders Countryside Day 7 July 20, 2025 Stats: 20 miles, AIS: 1:41, Elev. 537 ft., Speed: 12mph The three of us took a nice simple easy-peasy ride this morning following the River Tweed along the Scotland/England border. Up one side of the river passing into England then crossing the bridge backContinue reading “Cycling the River Tweed”

Day 6 July 19, 2025 Stats: 27 miles, AIS:2:44, Elev. 1554 ft, Speed 9.8mph Today Jim, Curt and I were on our own as Sandy is busy with Civic Week and the Kelso Pipe Band. He’s piping the horse parade out of town as they ride horses to another village for celebrations and they willContinue reading “Back in the Borders”

Day 5 July 18, 2025 Stats: 29 mi. AIS: 3:10, Elev. 790 ft. Speed: 9.1mph We were traveling in the van by 9am this morning to Berwick-Upon-Tweed, England. We needed to time our 15 mile ride from there to Holy Island to cross the causeway to the island when the tide was out. Today weContinue reading “Timing the tide to ride”

Day 4 July 17, 2025 Stats: 28 miles, AIS: 2:29 Elev. 1587 ft. Speed: 11.1mph We started our morning with breakfast at Sandy’s. He did some shopping early and came back with food for the week. My favorite was the Muesli (cereal)! The muesli cereal you can get in the states does not even compareContinue reading “Big Beautiful Borders…countryside ride”

Day 3 July 15, 2025 Isle of Aaran, Lochranza, ferry, drive, Kelso (on the east side of Scotland) Stats: 14,miles, AIS: 1:27, Elev. 836 ft, Speed: 9.9 mph We needed a much earlier start today to arrive at the ferry by 10:30am. The hostel had a simple continental breakfast… toast, cereal, yogurt, juice, coffee andContinue reading “From Isle of Aaran to Kelso”