Dedicated to a wonderful Mother Jean Noble 31/5/1929 - 20/8/2007 - may we never take our mothers for granted. - Goodbye Mum


UNITED KINGDOM PAGE 8 SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 2007

For the moment, the following Sovereign Territories form the U.K.

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Some may say America (and this is probably true of the moment) BUT, historically, no other nation has had an effect on the world greater than the United Kingdom, It's language links billions of people. It's laws form a basis for many nations. It once ruled over 25% of the worlds people. Like it or hate it, the British Empire, the largest formal Empire the world has ever known, will never be equalled, unless the dynamics of the world change dramatically. It is responsible for a disproportionate amount of the worlds innovations in all areas of human endeavour. It's people now inhabit the far corners of the globe.


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Monies in Aussie Dollars

11th September 2007 Lerwick Shetland.

Approx. On Foot today k's Average Speed kph Cycling time Hrs Minutes Max speed kph

Pea Soup'er” today, FOG that is thick and wet... It stayed with us the entire day in varying degrees of thickness and wetness.




All cyclists (at this campsite) have now departed the island, none we have met have cycled.




We will “bus” (Public) the island tomorrow or Thursday, as the weather forecast is abysmal.




Met an Aussie on holiday from Whyalla in South Australia... Quick chat but no real common ground... Complained a lot about prices – know where he is coming from in that regard. Visited tourist attractions as best we could




and uploaded our site, answered e-mail's etc.
Our friend “The Bird” has been with us a couple of days now and even comes in our tent... uninvited of course and if he/she S@#^$s on the floor well!




It can be said the measure of a company is in how they support their product when things go wrong. I purchased an “Exped” sleeping mat and after about 6-8 nights it began to lose air. I figured not worth ringing or trying to get help.. Wrong!! I emailed today:-

[Dear Alistair, Feedback from us re the "Exped" sleeping mat we purchased from you a few weeks ago. The seam along the side "parted" and the mat is no longer airtight despite many attempts to re-seal it. I used it only 8 times before it failed me. I realise there is warranty, however I am in Shetland cycling. I am guessing, but to prevent a warrant claim, they will insist the mat be sent to you or them then I must sleep on the floor until they pontificate over it's repair/replacement. I will be in Norway on Friday the 14th Would appreciate a contact email to your supplier so I may pass on my worthless feedback. I do have over 6,000 readers on my website I guess I should warn them but I will wait and see what happens.. Hope you are well, Kind Regards Mal & Lee ]


Within 30 minutes Alistair telephoned me from Campcraft in Bolton. (AnOn Line” and “In Store”, supplier of good camping gear at truly unbeatable prices) He had organised a replacement mat to be sent to me ANYWHERE in the world; AND after I receive it, I can return the faulty one (which still is far better than not having one) to them. That is the measure of a company that is offended when what they believe is a quality product, lets them down in this way. The company should be commended for their support, but even more so Campcraft in Bolton for the support and after sale service they give their customers. They even offered to replace it with a “Thermarest” at more than double the price – at their expense! Wow!!! For the most part Aussies believe in a “Fair go mate” - I felt it's not their problem, (Campcraft) so I said I was happy to have the original replaced.

Thursday 13th September 2007. Around Town

Approx. 6.13 k's Average Speed 7.12kph Cycling time Hrs 54 Minutes Max speed 18kph

Cycling Around town in freezing rain and gale force winds... We spent our last day in the United Kingdom.



We have arranged insurance to cover basic things for the next 12 months. Sightseeing simply is not possible in this weather..

Friday 14th September 2007.Around Town

Approx. 3.17 k's Average Speed 14.6kph Cycling time Hrs 20 Minutes Max speed 17kph

The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men gang aft awry - Robert Burns (1759-1796) We did not leave today. Mountainous seas and gale force winds prevented our ship the “Norröna” from docking in Lerwick... Sooooo our diary for September UK continues until the next ship on the 21st September... There is nothing to do but just make the best of it.... Catchya after I have had a sleep

Tuesday 18th September 2007.Around Town

Approx. 5.12 k's Average Speed kph Cycling time Hrs Minutes Max speed kph

The Bikes were taken to the Shetland Bike Project. (Address: The Cellar Peterson Kloss, 90 Commercial Street, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0ES. aTherapeutic workshop, repairing and servicing bicycles”). for minor maintenance today.



Lee's bike needed an experienced eye cast over her right brake. Although not affecting performance, the lever would no always return fully after applying the brakes. We replaced the cable and sleeve – not risking “brakes” as they are too important. £5.00 ($AUD12.00) for parts and Labour (New cable and sleeve). Good value, closer to Aussie prices.




Great people and great service. The lady above (Caroline Adamson) was our “Bicycle Engineer” and a very knowledgeable competent person she is. Would not hesitate in asking her to do ANY job on our bikes.

UPDATE: Sleeping mat. This is how good “Campcraft” are....... After we got stranded in Shetland on Friday, I emailed them telling them I had a “Temporary Address” for a week. I received the Mat on SATURDAY the 15th by 1st class mail. I returned the damaged one on Monday the 17thalso by first class mail. One simply CANNOT get better service than that.

20th September 2007 Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland.

This is our last full day in the United Kingdom (hopefully).. The future is now uncertain as to Internet access and communications in general. So please keep checking back to see our updates. It may be days and it could be weeks (Like the Nullarbor in Australia) before we can upload.

Our trip to the north of Shetland (By public bus – because of weather) is catalogued here...




The ferry to Yell sees like overkill, two huge ships for such a minor route.




The village of Toft is very typical of the small settlements that abound..




Well that it... We hope but of course that's what we thought last Friday... then the weather decided otherwise. As most know the “North Sea” is one of the most notorious seas in the world... Bitterly cold water with only a few minutes survival time if one falls in and treacherous weather conditions that form without warning and in minutes. When we get to Norway – Bergen, we are staying with “Helle” a Norwegian guy and a member of the “Warm Showers” organisation... Fantastic organisation for cyclists and non cyclists.

SUMMARY SCOTLAND, England and Wales

Our time cycling in Scotland has been one of the best experiences we have had. NO driver abuse, warm generous people and a beautiful clean environment. Bad points (England, Scotland and Wales) are the “Camping Grounds” - way behind Australia in facilities and absurd prices that don't end when you have paid to set up. The biggest deterrent to anyone coming here for an extended stay is “Prices”.. A High GST (VAT) and a lack of transparency with pricing in general. But hey, the good far outweighs the bad.. Generally speaking the “People” throughout Britain have been terrific.

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