h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm procrastinating right now, instead of packing (though packing seems an awfully grand word for throwing a few t-shirts and the laptop in my rucksack), I'm messing about on here. I've realised that since Ed the Bonobo is hosting me in Glasgow and the Zens are putting me up in Edinburgh, this is a trip that hootoo made.

I'll post updates in this journal, rather than making new ones each time. In less than an hour I'm off to Leeds for my first train - to Carlisle - and in the next 6 days I'll be travelling something like a thousand miles by rail. As luck would have it, there's a cultural festival going on in Glasgow this weekend (and one in Edinburgh at the end of the trip - personally I've never heard of the Edinburgh one) so I'll be checking that out.

I've lived in Yorkshire for nearly 6 years now and I've always had a hankering to travel the Settle-Carlisle line. The first time I got a chance: a) there was no view because of fog and b) I was bricking it over a job interview I was going to. Today is torrential rain in Leeds but at least the visibility seems pretty good. I suspect if I let a little rain put me off, I'd end up having a rubbish week.

Have a safe journey, and give my regards to the Zens and Ed.

Enjoy your tour across the border

lil x

Toodlepip.

How serious was that comment about not having heard of the Edinburgh festival? Or is it another festival?

I'm just being daft TC. My last day in Edinburgh is the first day of the Fringe

to Ed and the Zens from me too, pls.
have a great trip. (we need a train smiley)

Have a lovely time and give my love to Ben, Z and Ed.

Have a great time on your trip. I'll keep my fingers crossed so the weather will be OK. Good luck on your interview as well.

I'm now sat in a little B&B overlooking the Sound of Sleat. It's very pretty. I was very impressed by Glasgow yesterday: the festival they had on was great fun, I managed to wander on to the set of a Bollywood film and the city itself is beautiful, especially when the sun came out in the evening. My hotel room was a little rubbish and over-priced but I really don't care about that - I wasn't in it for long.

Dinner with EtB was lovely and he says hello back to you all. Had an Italian: quality food for cheap which is just how I like it.

Today was the West Highland Line which has won awards for being the most beautiful train journey in the world or, as Mrs Zen described it on facebook, "landscape porn at its finest". I knew it would be pretty but I was totally unprepared for just how pretty, how breathtakingly spectacular the route is. I don't think any amount of words could convey how every few minutes you'll see something that makes your brain stop. I was on the train for over 5 hours and I didn't notice the time flying by.

Got to Mallaig and had a quick wander around, which took me all of about 5 minutes, even with a heavy rucksack on my shoulders. Then I did the rational thing and got some fish and chips, sat and admired the view whilst I waited for my ferry. The weather's not great so I don't think there are any moonlit beach walks in the offing (shame) so I think instead I'll just go the pub, have some dinner and a pint and read. There are worse ways to spend an evening.

what a fab trip we're having vicariously through you!

Yes you could share it with more readers if you sent it to , especially with a picture or two.

Shame the weather chose this week to turn on the rain. I hope you manage to get at least a few hours of sunshine while you are there

lil x

The weather has been surprisingly benign. I'm actually quite sunburnt after a day on a ferry cruise. Yesterday, when the weather was pretty changeable, it was brilliant because on the train ride I had drifting fog, profound shadows and blazing sunshine, making the landscape all the more amazing.

That sounds great!

lil x

Yesterday I spent 7 hours on a ferry, touring the Small Isles. Weather was very sunny, slightly windy and I am *very* sunburnt, to the point small children were laughing me on the train. Oh well. It was a beautiful cruise, saw some dolphins and seals in the harbour of Muck. I also discovered a human-sized warm air blower and once I found it I was pretty hard to move from it. Had some fish and chips overlooking the Sound of Sleat, the best view I've ever eaten with.

Today I travelled across Skye to Kyle of Lochalsh and took the train to Inverness, where I'm currently sat. The train journey was, if anything, more spectacular than the more famous West Highland Line. It was like a symphony of sea and stone, lake and land. Scottish railway builders seem to have an aversion to tunnels and for this they're all going to heaven: the views were clear for most of the way and I could see headlands and skerries perfectly reflected in the loch waters.

Got to Inverness not really expecting much but it's a really handsome city, especially down by the river. Lots and lots of churches and other places of worship: I'm not saying the city is a Hellmouth but, if hordes of demons start charging out, I won't be too surprised. All those prayers must be for something.

So now I turn for home, albeit taking a very circuitous route. Tomorrow is Aberdeen and Edinburgh where I will experience the fabled hospitality of the Zens.

I'm waiting for the next instalment


lil x