Costwads to Chilterns

Overnight, I found myself inexplicably in deepest Gloucestershire in Bibury, home of the iconic Weavers' Cottages. This morning, I pushed the pedals and returned to the smoke through more nooks and crannies of what it one of the hottest 'in' areas to live in the world: The Costwads. An area bereft of cornershops and offies; no sign of a take-away or a curry. No sign of anything at all - except the sandy stone cottages and manor houses and churches of this Knight Frank territory.
The Cotswolds are quite extraordinary in a road crash kind of way.

NCR 57 does most of the navigation work for you but I did deviate here and there for the thrill of an A road.
Selected highlights include Burford High Street; the wee lanes that take you to Leofield; the speedy but quiet B4027; the Thame-Princes Risborough cycle path also known as the Phoenix Way, and a burst of the lung-busting Chilterns.
I'd taken a train to Bicester the previous day - £9 in advance then returned from Amersham - out there on the outer limits of the Oyster Galaxy - for £4.

Jura 2

Great weather and the bike was still up for it after being chucked unceremoniously into the shed for winter. It was a bit moody at first with the rear wheel refusing to sit still and jamming itself against the chainstay.
Couple of eating size fish and 80 miles of training, of which this was the best effort.

The transport

Jura water treatment plant

Jura Hotel with campsite and palm trees

Jura's version of an Easter Island thingummy

a sea trout

The usual suspects of deer, seals and herons from central casting were out and about putting on a grand show. Van loads of paparazzi-style twitchers were also out and about, trampling around to capture a glimpse of some bird or its droppings.

a 4lb Pollock, or Saithe. Not to be confused with a 

40-ton Pollock

Skin

Anyone who has to been to Scotland in the summer will have encountered the midge. On a warm day, the early morning and evening outdoor activities can be blighted by these blighters. Open your mouth at the wrong time and they are straight in there. They aren't bothered by bad breath but if they can't get in your gob they will just divert to the nostrils and ear holes. These attacks on your orifices are of course in addition to the standard cloud of the darned things that descends upon your scalp, eyelids and any exposed flesh they take a fancy to. The midges in Scotland are diabolical and don't taste very nice. But there is a defence. If your standard insect repellent doesn't do the job and you find walking aboot with an ignited mosquito coil balanced on your head a bit awkward, there is a saviour from the swarms that comes from a surprising source. If Avon - the cosmetics company not the tyre manufacturer - were able to gather data on the geographical sales of their products they might be a bit perplexed to find that one sells peculiarly well on the west coast of Scotland. 

Skin So Soft, designed to make skin all soft and lovely, literally keeps the flies off. Spray yourself with Skin So Soft and the midges will return to the wild goats' nether regions from whence they came. Alternatively, you can beat the midges by simply adorning the piece of kit below.

Jura

Once again I am up on Jura enjoying some light training. The attraction is the deserted roads (just the one road in fact). There is also the wilderness and its inhabitants - otters, eagles, seals, deer, pheasants, wild goats etc.

Jura is not easy to get to. You can fly via Glasgow to the neighbouring Islay. From there you have to get to Port Askaig for the Jura Ferry, which transports vehicles over the half-mile stretch to Feolin, eight miles from Craighouse.
Alternatively, you can take the two-hour Calmac ferry from Kennacraig to Islay, or you can leave the car at Tayvallich and avail of the Jura Passenger Ferry. 

You can also get to Tayvallich on public transport. Take the legendary 926 from Glasgow on the spectacular journey along Loch Lomond, Loch Long and Loch Fyne that takes in the stunning Rest and Be Thankful pass. Get off at Lochgilpead for the local bus to Tayvallich. This route does not cater for cycles. If you get a train to Dalmally or Oban from Glasgow, you can cycle down to Tayvallich. If you are nuts, you could cycle to Kennacraig on the highly dangerous and cycle-unfriendly A83. Lastly, get to Adrossan and you can come via Arran.
There's campsite in Craighouse but, being Scotland, you can wild camp virtually anywhere.