Arran (Arrainn) is a wild, wet and windswept isle hugging the Highland coast of Scotland:  home to warrior Vikings, dark castles, keeps and craggy summits with names the likes of Goat Fell and Caisteal Abhail (Stronghold of the Snow Chicken).

Athens (Αθηα) is the city of the goddess of wisdom:  ancient cradle of Western Civilization, birthplace of Plato, Pericles, Socrates and Sophocles, home to marble Acropolis and Academy, stomping grounds of Olympians and gods. 

Between lies the European Continent and 2,500 miles of road and trail through highlands, lowlands, field and fen.  Our route will take us from Arran in the North Atlantic through Scottish cities, towns and countryside, across the North Sea by ferry to Zebrugge, Belgium and onwards through the vineyards and villages of French Champagne country to the Rhone Valley and the spires of the Alps, the sparkling Cote d’Azur of the French and Italian Riviera, to the hills of Tuscany and Umbria, across the Adriatic Sea by ferry to Greek Patras and the stony Peloponnese, through Olympia and Sparta and at last to the Aegean and Athens.

If all goes to plan, we will cycle the whole way between September and December 2009, carrying all of our gear with us, from tools, tents and thermal tops to food and flip-flops. 

As we go we will be reaching out to the people and communities that we meet, providing them with information on how to set up grass-roots resiliency building community groups such as the one we have helped set up here in the south side of Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as information about the joys and benefits of cycling and sustainable transport.

We will be documenting the trip throughout and hope to have a short film to show on return.  Also, we will be using this space to ‘Twitter’ back our progress.  STAY TUNED!

 See you on the road!!

Helena and Mike