Trikke riding around ‘Downton Abbey’?

Highclere Castle, as seen on “Downton Abbey.”

Hit TV show inspires dreams of a Trikke trip to England.

I’m an unabashed Downton Abbey fan. I’ve watched every episode of the first two seasons at least twice, and I’m now in full readiness for the beginning of the third season, which begins on January 6th.

We devotees of the series love the highbrow soap opera continuum, the exquisite costumes, the superior acting — and those sets! Highclere Castle, just outside of London, plays the “character” of the abbey itself, and when the camera is pulled back and we see those perfect gardens and finely trimmed acreage and the glorious edifice itself, all I can think is: Wouldn’t it be great to ride my Trikke on those paths leading up to the front door? I’ll bet there’s at least a mile or two from the main road to the commanding entrance. I could do a glorious hour on those winding lanes!

This has got to be the crazy-but-perfectly-understandable reaction of all of us who love this form of exercise. ( I’m sure runners do exactly the same thing — and as a former somewhat-regular runner, I can attest to this.) We see a long incline, a flat surface stretching into the horizon, a path through some pastoral scene, and we’re instantly imagining what it might be like to Trikke on that course.

The good news is that our Trikkes are portable. Not as easy as carrying running shoes, to be sure, but if we find someplace we like or we know there will be good riding, we can plan on bringing our exercise. I’ve read posts on Facebook from many of you who have given pointers on how to pack and carry and check in a Trikke on the airlines. I understand it’s not much different than checking a golf bag or skis (and often airline personnel assume it’s one or the other!).

I’ll have my popcorn ready as Downton Abbey starts up again, anticipating the delicious conflicts I’m sure the glorious Maggie Smith is going to have with the unpredictable Shirley McLaine — and I’ll be wondering if it’s time to take a trip to England with my Trikke. Or can I rent one while I’m there? I wonder if Highclere allows visitors on bikes and other forms of transportation . . .