This time next week I shall be situated on French/Spanish border. I will have with me a bicycle. And my plan is to ride it, as quickly as my legs allow, back to the United Kingdom.
Unlike a tour I did a couple of years back from Land's End to John O' Groats, there will be a time constraint in place ( a pre-booked ferry) which means I have five days to get from the south to the north of France — this equates to at least 100 miles of cycling per day, which in turn will most probably equate to a severely dented psyche and a moderately pounded batty. Yet a hiatus away from the rigours and travails of modern life in the western world is sorely needed, and a week or so a-wheel on the continent should shake out a few cobwebs - not to mention the added benefit that I shall be spending the lion's share of time in a country which evented drinking wine for breakfast. Oh yes, let's make no bones about this — although the daily riding mileage will be high, so indeed will be the consumption of vin rouge.
I've ridden a reasonable amount of mileage so far this year, but most of that has come via commutes to work which just about amounts to thirty miles per go — not the most arduous of tests. So last Saturday I decided it high time to give my legs a thorough and concise workout by way of a 70-mile jaunt through the South Downs. And I'll confess right now that I'm a little concerned. I concluded that little amble after having accumulated an alarming amount of aches and pains. And that certainly doesn't bode well for the gargantuan bollocking I'm about to give my thighs.
To make things better after this unpleasant wake up call I made haste to the local chip shop and relieved them of 10 pounds worth of traditional English fare — after all, the onslaught of snails and onions and what-have-you is imminent.
I'm eshewing GPS options this time around in favour of traditional mapping - you know where you stand with a map, I hope.
Will keep the thread updated throughout the week, and take you along on the journey with me.
Let's see if I've got the bottle.
Wish me luck.