This category is for sports travel, and circumstances (a Covid 19 pandemic, for example) meant I did not do much of it for a few years.
2024 brought that to an end in some style!
Within Scotland I had an overnight trip to Aberdeen – to see my Queen’s Park favourites play Aberdeen in the League Cup. I did one of the local Parkruns too.
I had an overnight visit to England as well – Whitehaven. It is not far across the border (in Cumbria) and it was to watch Toulouse Olympique XIII play there in Rugby League’s Championship.
I did the local Parkrun. Why not?
More exotic destinations for sport were Köln and Essen in Germany. As well as supporting Viktoria Köln 1904 (against Hansa Rostock and Rot-Weiss Essen) I was able to resume my love affair with Bratwurst and German beer at sports events.
Parkruns? Yes, one of the Köln courses and the Düsseldorf one.
On that subject, I chose the course at Toruń in Poland for my 100th Parkrun. It was special. So is Toruń.
Most of my football orientated trips within Scotland took me to Glasgow for Queen’s Park home games, but I followed them to some away games as well. Falkirk, Livingston, Dunfermline, Hamilton, Hibernian (in Edinburgh) and Partick Thistle (also in Glasgow). I use public transport whenever possible for these outings – usually by inter city bus because folks my age travel free.
Decision time. Without doubt I am spoiled for choice with this category. In the end I have opted for my visit to Toruń to take on my 100th Parkrun. It is a lovely course in a lovely city, and I relished that environment for my milestone event.
ⓒ iain taylor, 2025
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