" Find a city, find myself a city to live in".......

So three days of kayaking, running and cycling through the glorious scenery of the highlands.....I'm fairly sure there was scenery: we even spotted some of it through the clag from time to time.....is left a distant memory as the four forty five alarm kicks me out on to the mean streets of Glasgow. I didn't spot a " murrrderrrr" or any murrrderrrerrrrs, but even the quiet early morning comings and goings seemed so strange after the peace of the days afore. I know that Joanne and I live in a " local" community....every day a bit like an episode of The Archers....but this was a really strange experience. Unfortunately every traffic light was agin us and between that and getting slightly lost for a couple of miles the cross city traverse took a bit longer than anticipated. Even at that unearthly hour I was engulfed in clouds of cigarette smoke as I passed each bus stop and with many a passing car. We toured past signs for many a low ranking Scottish football teams: East Kilbride, Motherwell, Hamilton and eventually reached our B road heading south. So southbound and bumping along a lumpy road. No huge excitement unless you count my misnavigation up and on to the motorway......not my fault: Joanne and Roger also misinterpreted the same sign. Gretna: time for a photo stop and to finally shed a long sleeved layer. Find the sunnies which by now are buried very, very deep in the boot ...somewhere. Off to Carlisle and upwards into the Lakes. I'd forgotten what a long climb it is from Carlisle to Bothel. Then down to Bassenthwaite and up behind Skiddaw to where John starts (or rather, by now, "started") his run across Skiddaw, Scaffell, Scaffell Pike and Helvellyn. Day done! 137 miles with a lesser headwind. Grateful for small mercies. So far, then, 497 miles of biking with 37 000 feet of climbing; Cairngorm and Nevis range 4 000 ft peaks in the bag along with a 27 plus mile kayak up Loch Awe. Not too bad for a bunch of oldies!!!