Planned engineering work for July is now published. Surprisingly Lewisham station will be completely closed - not a major problem as I can start from Ladywell. However, Ramsgate to Dover will have replacement buses so I must think my way around this problem. The work-around results in a key journey of just one station, Yeovil Pen Mill to Yeovil Junction, now being possible! Three cheers! Updated plan for days 1, 2 and 11 to 14 (days 4 and 8 I'm "resting"): [Not part of the tour] Ladywell to London Bridge and Ashford, arriving three hours earlier than the original plan via Ramsgate. [The tour starts here] Day 1: To Eastbourne, Brighton (cancel the hotel), Southampton and Weymouth (book new hotel) Day 2: Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Junction, Exeter, (cancel Taunton hotel) and Cardiff (book new hotel). I might have a chance to meet a couple of university friends here. Day 3: Continue Bridgend, Swansea and Shrewsbury as original plan all the way up to Day 10 when I arriv...
Problems on the trains today. This one is only 2 coaches and should be 4. It's packed but I have got a window seat facing travel! Here we're passing the southern end of the Caledonian Canal with Neptune's Staircase - 7 locks. Approaching the Glenfinnan viaduct: Everybody rushed to my side of the train at this point! This is looking back at the viaduct and the station is just around the next bend. The purpose of this trip: Arisaig Train conductor advised me which train door would be nearest to the Most Westerly sign. Why aren't there similar signs on the other three stations? I never spotted one. You can tell what the weather is like - typical west coast summer Stayed on the train to cold, wet Mallaig where I had a good lunch starting with expensive local langustines followed by haddock and chips all washed down with unusually low-priced beer The haddock was superb with exceedingly thin batter. There was over an hour to wait for the train back to Fort Willi...
I'm not the only person who decided to return to the station early, there are no seats left. Strange... three times now I've felt the station shudder as though there's a mini earthquake. No train moving, no kids jumping. Maybe it's just my reaction to the cold! Just spent the coldest 20 minutes of my life huddled on Mallaig station with some 50 others failing to avoid the Arctic gale. Eventually we were allowed on the equally cold but relatively draught-free train. I don't think I'll return in a huŕry. A reminder of why I subjected myself to this permafrost: Looks warmer here We sat at Glenfinnan station for a few minutes the were informed that, because this is the last passing place before Fort William, we'll have to wait for the north-bound train which is running about half-an-hour late. I should still easily catch the sleeper. The 7 locks again NEXT: fort-william-to-euston