Day 1 - Inverness

The first day of our expedition dawned, the temperature warm but the sky cloudy with a cool breeze blowing. I said my goodbyes to my Grandad with whom I had been staying and easily rode the half mile down the road to Darton station to meet the first train of the day. 

Catching a 10:38 train from a small South Yorkshire village I was unsurprised to find the platform all but empty. The train rolled into view dead on time, a nodding donkey, one of those old diesel railbuses. The guard helped me get my bike aboard and I settled in for the ride to Leeds.

A surprisingly easy 4-minute connection in Leeds and a Transpennine Express ride later found me at York station enjoying a hot chocolate, wondering what is about the ambience of large railway stations that I enjoy so much.

James and Michelle soon joined me and after a brief but unsuccessful search of York for a water bottle for James' bike (he'd forgotten his camelbak) we returned to the station to eat Cornish pasties for lunch and to meet our train to Inverness. We loaded our bikes into the guard's van and then as the train drew out of the station, to the indignation of our fellow passengers, walked the length of about five carriages to our seats in first class. 

Six hours is a long train journey. It was more than enough time for me to rediscover my dislike of travel scrabble. Travelling first class was a real boon; booked two months in advance, our seats were rather reasonably priced. The train crew came by every half hour or so plying us with complimentary tea, juice, sandwiches, scones and cake, to which it was difficult to say no. 

As the train snaked its way through the Grampian mountains the weather closed in, rain rattling against the windows, leaving us hoping for better weather in the coming days of cycling. None of this detracted from our enjoyment of the spectacular views from the train windows and the sheer variety of scenery.

It was still raining as we disembarked at Inverness at about 8pm and quickly rode the half mile to the youth hostel. Spartan accommodation, highlighted especially by James' choice of a top bunk with several screws missing. Still, the holiday really begins tomorrow with the ride to Ullapool.