📙 Part 2: Describe a bicycle, motorcycle, or car trip that you would like to go on

This episode's vocabulary

Quite fancy (verb phrase) – to like or want to have or do something. → Example: I quite fancy taking a trip up north in the car.

Head up there (phrasal verb) – to go or travel to a place, especially one that is to the north. → Example: I think it would be pretty interesting to head up there.

Outdoorsy (adjective) – enjoying outdoor activities like walking in the country, camping, etc. → Example: Maybe one of the more outdoorsy ones would be the best.

Slumming it (verb phrase) – to spend time in conditions that are much less comfortable than normal. → Example: Someone who doesn't mind slumming it in a cheaper hotel.

Rugged (adjective) – (of a landscape) wild and not flat or smooth. → Example: Given how rugged I think it can get up there.

Go about things (phrasal verb) – to deal with something in a particular way. → Example: People there have a very different lifestyle to how we go about things.

In touch with nature (idiom) – having a good understanding and experience of the natural world. → Example: It's probably a bit more relaxed and in touch with nature.

Smooth sailing (idiom) – easy progress without any problems or difficulties. → Example: I doubt it would be all smooth sailing.

Volatile (adjective) – likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly. → Example: The climate is a bit more volatile.

Best bet (noun phrase) – the action that is most likely to be successful. → Example: I think the best bet would be the summer time.

Get rained on (passive phrase) – to have rain fall on you. → Example: We'd be less likely to get rained on.

Efficient route (collocation) – the quickest and most direct way to get somewhere. → Example: I just think it's the most efficient route.

Take ages (idiom) – to take a very long time. → Example: It looked like it would take ages to get there on the train.

Cut up about it (phrasal verb) – to be very upset or distressed about something. → Example: I doubt I'll be too cut up about it.

Flight of fancy (idiom) – an idea that shows a lot of imagination but is not practical. → Example: It's just a flight of fancy.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Describe a bicycle, motorcycle, or car trip that you would like to go on. You should say who you'd like to go with, where you'd like to go, when you'd like to go, and explain why you'd like to go on such a trip.

Rory: I quite fancy taking a trip up north in the car, actually. I've not really seen that much of that particular part of my country, and so I think it would be pretty interesting to head up there and find out exactly what it's like. When it comes to who I go with, frankly, I'd take off there with just about anyone of my friends. Though, given how rugged I think it can get up there, maybe one of the more outdoorsy ones would be the best. Like one of the ones who likes camping, or maybe someone who doesn't mind slumming it in a cheaper hotel or even in the car, come to think of it. In terms of exactly where I'd want to go, I think it would be interesting to see what it's like around this town called Wick. It's one of the most northerly towns in the country, and I imagine people there have a very different lifestyle to how those of us live in the larger cities and how we go about things. It's probably a bit more relaxed and in touch with nature since there's less development and more land, I suppose, and space to move and relax. That being said, I doubt it would be all smooth sailing as the climate is a bit more volatile, just the place being more exposed and what not. So with regards to when I'd go, bearing all that in mind, with the climate, I think the best bet would be the summer time. We'd be more likely to get at least a little bit of sun and calmer weather and just less likely to get rained on. I suppose that's the tourist season as well. So things are likely to be open, if a little crowded. As for why I'd like to go by car, I just think it's the most efficient route, to be honest with you. I think I looked up how to get there once and it looked like it would take ages to get there on the train or the bus, and it's next to impossible to get there by bike. So car is pretty much my only hope. That said, if I don't get the chance to go there, I doubt I'll be too cut up about it. It's just a flight of fancy.