Corsica and Sardinia December 20th – January 19th When we first thought about taking the route south through Corsica and Sardinia, our motivation was to avoid cycling down through Italy which we had heard was not very cycle friendly with busy roads and crazy driving. I don’t however think we chose the easy option as the last few weeks have been tough with tortuous climbs and steep descents and the added excitement of strong headwinds, rain, mist and the return of the cold extremity. Our map of Corsica looked like an anatomy lesson of the gastro intestinal system with intestine …
Category: Blog
The Long and Winding Road. Lennon and McCartney.
FROM THE ARDECHE TO CORSICA We feel that we may have won our race south to beat the weather as we are now sitting in a balmy 9c on the island of Corsica. After managing in temperatures of -8 we now feel that anything above freezing is just ok. We got “stuck” in the Cevenne when the UK and most of Europe seemed to be experiencing heavy, disruptive snow. It was comforting to see that French TV made as much fuss as we do with reporters muffled up in scarves, snow in their hair reporting from some small town where …
It doesn’t have to be fun to be fun. Mark Twight
FROM THE CHANNEL TO THE ARDECHE Arriving in France somehow seemed like the real start of our journey. We were on “foreign soil”, a different language, different food, different greetings. We had left our comfort zone and suddenly the elephant loomed large and had to be pushed and manoeuvred back into his cage. We tried hard not to look or feel like rabbits in the headlights but I’m sure we had a terrified look about us as we headed into St Malo. We had landed in St Malo after a wonderful journey on Brittany ferries. As a cyclist you sometimes …
“NOT FAR TO GO NOW……”
So here we are, back on the road again after a 7 month break (forgive the pun) and are now in Portsmouth in readiness for leaving England and floating over to St Malo, Brittany on Monday. Our departure from Hallbankgate was unceremonious and after locking the door we had some hugs at the Hub, delicious coffee and scones and then up to the Wall with lovely Liz for the obligatory photograph to prove that we have actually started again from there. On down the heavenly Eden Valley saying goodbye to all that is familiar. Strangely, as we whizzed through Melmerby …
“They’re funny things. Accidents. You never have them ’till you’re having them.”
A.A. Milne Relatively speaking. Nearly 2000 kms cycled at a sedate 55 kms a day. Then off into the sky flying over the Danube. A short pause in Amsterdam and we were back in Newcastle. Our speed was probably 100 times faster. Private ambulances, wheelchairs and three aircraft seats to myself on the plane – still not exactly comfortable. I love and I hate flying – the power and the aerodynamics that lift all those people and their bags off the ground always amazes me and the meandering rivers and mosaic of fields is awesome. But why? Why does …
“However”,he said brightening up a little,”we haven’t had an earthquake lately”.
Eeyore A.A.Milne Thermal baths and broken bones. Our “R&R” in Hegyko as now turned into rest and rehabilitation instead. On our trip to the thermal spa where we wallowed happily in the thermal pools for a couple of hours, disaster struck as Pete slipped on wet tiles and broke his femur.The last 2 days have been a blur of hospital,confusion, panic, pain and rather a lot of unhappiness. But Eeyore has it right and it could have been worse and Pete received speedy treatment, being operated on very quickly.He is doing well and walking with a zimmer frame (!) and …
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” A.A.Milne
From Regensburg to Bratislava down the Danube. As we leaned on a bridge in Regensburg we wondered whether if we spat in the river Danube just there, how long would it take for our spit to reach the Black Sea.The only thing we could agree on was that it would take a long time but would probably get there sooner than us.We didn’t spit in the river by the way as we didn’t think it was a very nice thing to do. Regensburg was beautiful and we enjoyed wandering around with Martin who had rescued us the previous day from …
“What’s for breakfast?”
“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?” “What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?” “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” Said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said. A.A. Milne All cyclists know that food, where you get it, what it is and how many calories it has in it are very important. For us, these last few weeks, where it is consumed has also become top of the list of priorities. Standing in a snowy field …
How cold my TOES- tiddly-pom
After months of dreaming and sort of planning for our trip to China, we found ourselves on Hadrian’s Wall, surrounded by friends and family and an awful lot of good will and encouragement. If good wishes and big hugs could get us to China we would be there by now and it was an amazing send off. Thank you to all those who took the trouble to come and see us off. It meant a lot to us. Twelve cyclists started off with us and slowly peeled off and went back home. We carried on to Newcastle where we stayed …