Monthly Archives: May 2016

Funky Petite Penguin

Year 3,

Without guidebooks for Scotland, and lots of new birds, I get to name all my new feathered friends I see while bike touring in in Scotland! Kind of fun coming up with names! Thus, today I present you with the Funky Petite Penguin which was seen near Cawdor Castle.

What we did not see were the woods marching on the castle, only bikes. Thus Macbeth is safe for another day! Full trip report on Crazy Guy on a Bike.

Take a look at my bike. The panniers hold all my clothes, and anything else needed for 3+ weeks on the road. No extra room for anything.

Funky Petite Penguin – The Bikes of Cawdor – Our Route Through Last Night

(Edited after returning home … real bird names added … Oystercatcher)

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The Yellow Birds of Scotland!

Year 3,

At home, I might ID this bird as a Palm Warbler. While on bike tour in Scotland, I will only call it a “yellow bird”! We are having a great time while cycling around Scotland. The national bike route keeps us on fantastic and beautiful small roads. Cars are unusual.

My daily bike diary may be found on the Crazy Guy on a Bike Portal.

Here is the “yellow bird” and two cycling photos … a great dinner in a pub this evening, and one view while cycling this afternoon. Oh yes, staying in a Youth Hostel tonight for the first time in 40 years. We actually have a private room … with the dorm section full of English college students who are up here surfing … brrrr.

Yellow Bird – Dinner in the 3 Kings Pub – View While Cycling of the North Sea

Post edited after returning home … real bird names added … Yellowhammerd3-yellow-warbler_wm

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Forest Fire Aurora Borealis

Year 3,

We leave for Scotland tomorrow, and the start of our month long tour. I was debating what camera equipment to bring in my bike panniers, and a phenomenal display of Northern Lights two nights ago decided the issue for me.

The Aurora danced across the sky here in northern Minnesota, and in Scotland. I would have been devastated to have been in Scotland and not have been able to photograph the display. Thus, I will bring both my Canon SX-60 Super Zoom and my small Sony NEX-5T mirrorless cameras. The Sony shines for night and landscape photos. The SX60 lets me get close to birds and wildlife (60x optical zoom). As always I will have a monopod strapped to my panniers.

Many folks might consider this amount of camera equipment excessive on a self-supported bicycle tour, but the world is a beautiful place … and I love to record it! I used to also bring a small tripod, but even I decided that was a bit much!

We start riding on Thursday! An area writer will be enjoying our home as she works on a new book and gets ready for some seminars. Finally, It was great to find a friend who would both enjoy our unique spot here in the Northland, and protect our home by house sitting.

To follow our tour:

Forest Fire Aurora … a remote lake in northern Minnesota. The smoke from both the Canadian fires and our local Skibo fire are evident in the sky.
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