With a Travelogue project to produce for the MA course in Photojournalism & Documentary Photography I am taking at Bolton Uni, I come up with the idea of a cycling tour of the Western Isles of Scotland. The chances of completing this tour are vastly increased when my brother Liam agrees to join me. Day One, Saturday morning, and we leave Oban in the distance as our first ferry embarks on the 6 hour voyage to Lochboisdale on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. We plan to cycle up to Berneray today, then cross to Harris and Lewis tomorrow, before heading over to Skye, across to the mainland, over to Mull, then back to Oban. Liam is a very experienced cyclist, and completed L'Etape du Tour last year, whereas I started road cycling a few months ago, and my best effort is 100 miles over a weekend, so it's unknown territory for me, the other unknown factor being how the bikes will handle with the extra weight of the paniers. We have agonised long and hard about what essential kit must be carried, and what can safely be left out. I have an extra bag containing NutraGrain Elevenses, and Liam has a hip flask containing whisky. We fear most Sunday on Harris and Lewis, when swings are chained in the park, hanging out washing is outlawed, and the chances of a pint of heavy and a Scotch pie are less than nil. Liam's thoughtful, almost wistful expression seems to convey this complex mix of emotions.
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