Debrief on Scotland

All the precise day-to-day planning of hotels and transport paid dividends in anxiety reduction, as did the wisdom of carrying an e-copy of the spreadsheet to mark up. Trips like this have many moving parts and this helps catch oversights, like forgetting to reserve the Berneray to Leverburgh CalMac. Each day required review and adjustment to plan B (no ride, public transport) based on weather. Losing my glasses cloth and the lid of the thermos were minor. As always, I learn that having to rush (make a bus with such limited schedules and being unfamiliar with landmarks so not being sure what the bus looks like and where the stop is), well this is where you can make oversights. But nothing fatal. Allowing extra time to navigate the train and the tube, without stepfree access noted on every map as it should be, and downloading and using mode of transport specialty apps? Like CalMac helped avoid schedule time change snafus. Next time, remember the all purpose liquid soap and nail clippers. The extra river straps, padding from cardboard, full sized canvas duffel that fit the folded up travel case, plus prior practice in fixing rear flats were genius moves. Next time along with correct tools bring 2 unused tubes, extra bolts, washers and nuts. Neither the kryptonite lock nor IPad were used. And remember to always bring snacks and emergency food in food desert areas. With a full sized touring bike, it would have been full rain gear with booties, camping gear, kitchen equipment. Maybe bother to download the RidewithGPS route to get elevation info, or perhaps buy the Hebridean way official map when at the tourist information center at ride start. But it went so well! Any and all pre-ride conditioning plus lifting weights were key.
It was an adventure cycle in all senses of the word, both with the bike and the all-too-real rider.
Now sorting out home chores, and onto planning the next!