We were up very early to check the Avanti train hadn’t been cancelled then cycled to Bangor station to try the bike spaces on the new class 805 Evero trains. There are four per train, as on the Voyagers they have replaced, but split between coaches B and D, which isn’t too good with three in the group. I wrestled my bike into the hook, luckily the other slot wasn’t taken. I’d be interested to know if anyone has succeeded in fitting two bikes.
Over in coach B, Rowan had installed his but Christine’s had to be parked half out of the tiny cupboard. The train manager had a chunter about it being a trip hazard, to which I pointed out it was a shockingly bad design, she didn’t reply. At Chester we switched to a TfW class 197, mercifully without hooks, and at Warrington onto an Avanti pendolino to Penrith.
We’d chosen to break our journey here, rather than risk travelling all the way to Oban, after our experience in the spring, even without delays and cancellations we’d have arrived late. We stayed at the excellent Wayfarers hostel where we’d rested on our 2021 end to end and cooked for ourselves after visiting Booths supermarket. In the evening we looked round this lovely ancient town.
Our onward train was due at 09:45, allowing a more leisurely start, but on entering the station a southbound transpennine express was waiting with “delayed” on the departure board. A points failure at Carnforth had stopped trains in both directions so we were concerned about our one hour connection time in Glasgow. Eventually the fault was fixed and the station staff established that there were bike spaces on the 09:31 which would give us a chance of making our connection, which we did with about five minutes to spare. The next train to Oban was six hours later.
On arrival, we booked for tomorrow’s ferry then climbed the hill out of town to our night’s accommodation. The owner told us a 93 year old from Maine was also staying, travelling by public transport and (presumably folding) bike. Unfortunately we didn’t meet him, we walked back to the town in search of dinner after showering, settling for an Italian restaurant. Then to bed in good time, mindful of tomorrow’s early start.