I’m researching cycling routes in the Derbyshire Peaks with Mark. His local knowledge proved invaluable – ‘closed roads’ (like the one on Mam Tor, which we didn’t visit today) that are actually open to cyclists (hence car-free) for instance. And pubs, also open to cyclists…
Category: Other
Nottingham: Tunnels and tramlines
Very enjoyable day of route research in Nottingham. The quirky Park Tunnel, underneath Street-View-invisible, gas-lit Park Estate; the delightful long stretches of bike path by the Trent; the Market Square; and the tram system, roamable on a four-quid day pass.
Speyside 3: Straight to mouth
Final day of route research on the Speyside Trail, finishing at the mouth not far from Elgin. Which, incidentally, has a distillery.
Speyside 2: Spirit of cycling
Day of whisk… er, route research in distillery country. I mean, Speyside.
Speyside 1: Takes a lot of bottle
Excellent first day of route research on the Speyside Trail up in the Scottish Highlands.
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro
I hired a bike today, which is almost always the day I enjoy most in a city. So it proved: Rio only has one cycle route, but it’s a cracker. It follows the shore for about 15km alongside the great beaches of Ipanema (pic), Copacabana and Flamengo. It shows the best of the city –…
Brazil: Paraty
I’m now in Paraty, a picture-postcard colonial beach village (pic) between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. So it’s full of damn tourists. Not even proper British ones speaking English in loud middle-class accents, but Brazilians, talking Portuguese very fast and even louder. The town’s pretty cobbled streets are closed off to cars, which means…
Brazil: Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo
I spent the morning in the São Paulo Cultural Centre – a place rather like London’s Barbican, combining library, art galleries, concert venues, free wifi public space and exhibition areas, one of which featured this fine array of wrecked cars (pic). At least I think it was an exhibit. It might have been the overflow…
Peru: Abra Málaga
I’ve signed up for a four-day ‘jungle trek’ to Machu Picchu, which involves a variety of methods of getting from Cuzco to the famous lost Inca city: hiking, zipwiring, and – today, the first day – biking. A minibus whisked our group up into the mountains via the pleasant Inca town of Ollantaytambo (pic). There’s…
Ecuador: Village life, Baños
I’m enjoying my few days in Baños, particularly the famous hot springs and baths. I expect my fellow hostellers are pleased about it, too. But today I struck out into the countryside for a spin on a hire bike. For $7 I got a surprise – an MTB that was actually big enough for me….