We have this flight with bikes thing pretty well nailed. The bikes go in Halfords-sourced cardboard boxes. This time we used the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport rather than the HIE – even easier, except of course for the wretched, if necessary, multiple security bollards that mean the bikes have to be taken off the trolly and reloaded three times. No worries in truth.
Check-in was a dream with EasyJet staff only too willing to help. Kindness and banter are very much the Glaswegian way.
We choose EasyJet when flying with bikes just out of superstition: they have never lost any of our bikes. Unlike British Airways!
The boxes arrived safe and sound in Alicante and a people-carrying Taxi ride for 15 Euros took us to our nearby hotel. Aware he had only taken us 3.8 miles we offered a generous tip reflecting our relief in getting the bikes to the hotel with the boxes, so they could be retained and reused for the return journey. To his credit, the driver tried to refuse – twice. Always in search of Karma, we were pleased when he finally accepted. It may have worked, as the hotel reception gladly accepted them. They will be ready for the return journey in three weeks.
The next morning we set to rebuilding the bikes. The only issue was a slight dent or two to Jacqui’s mudguard. All my fault: I ought to have raised the frame a fraction to protect the mudguard, but it straightened out ok in any case.
We took the bikes for a trial spin in the afternoon, heading into Alicante and through to the beaches to rehearse the route we will take out of the city tomorrow towards Valencia. It’s great to have the bikes abroad again and enjoying the sun on their backs.
That said, it’s a disgrace to see them here in Spain still carrying the dust and dirt of Aberdeen. I really need to do better by them.
On the way back we stopped for a coffee and enjoyed the great pleasure of bumping into Phil and Angie in a local park, These two are proper adventurers: check them out at http://www.philflanagan.com. We had a lovely chat and look forward to staying in touch.
Phil converted their mobile home some years ago and it really is something special.
Pedalling on Regardless 
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