So it has been a little while since I have written with the purpose of keeping you lot up to date with the planning. So forgive me this week as there will be little wistful musings on the nature of touring, no tales of thief-bashing glory, nor any debate on prominent cycling bad habits.
No, this week it is all about progress.
The reason I have descended into more general musings in the last couple of months is probably down to a lack of this key ingredient. The onset of training, distractions of jobs, life, friends, girlfriend, coupled with the sheer amount of time between now and the trip had reduced my planning to a background hum. It was something which cropped up during a quiet moment at work or during a particularly nice ride. But recent events have shaken this up a little.
First up, my hours were cut at work (ensure you read the comments in that link). I am down to a contract of 15 hours per week, £4500 per year. So other than the mild inconvenience of now trying to find work in an over-saturated-with-people-like-me market (thanks global economic fudging!) this means I no longer have the guaranteed means to buy all my kit for myself too. Quite cleverly though, I have organised to have my birthday about a week before I head off for Land's End. This has forced my hand on organising my kit as a birthday list now needs to be drawn up. Thank you in advance to my poor, soon to be poorer family and friends for getting me some terrifically boring/wonderfully fascinating (depending on your temperament) bits of bike equipment. Really, you shouldn't soon to have!
Secondly, my phone contract comes up for renewal soon and I am debating a move in to the world of high tech smartphones. One of the most daunting things of the whole journey for me is the navigation. Maps themselves are fine. I can read them well and have grown to love my laminated ones in my room more than I should. But reading them while riding and then remembering routes etc has me baffled. On the Coast to Coast last year I had to ask directions more times than I'd care to admit. So a new contract may mean a new smartphone with navigation software. Throw in a solar powered charger, a mount for my handlebars and I'll be tweet-face-mapping my way through the country. Saying that, asking for directions last time did have me meeting some pretty lovely people. Maybe that is a joy of the trip I shouldn't deny myself of? I remain undecided for now.
Finally, my dad stuck his oar in recently and Aimee pulled hers out (stop it). I shan't go in to details, that would be for Aimee to do if she wished but she regretfully decided to not join me on the trip. This was sad news for me as I was really looking forward to sharing this journey with her but I respect her reasons for not coming. Besides, she will still be there at the finish line. It will be our two year anniversary after all...
My dad on the other hand sent a message a month or so ago saying he was thinking of jollying off up the highlands at the same time I'll be sweatily puffing through the lowlands. Some too-ing and fro-ing over facebook and a plan was hatched. I will now be linking up with him in a few places throughout Scotland during that leg of the trip. There will even be a night in Llangollen a week earlier where he plans on buying me tea. Honestly, he is brilliant my ol' Dad.
This did all mean though I had to rushedly plan out the Scottish leg quicker than I thought I would have to. I had to let him know where and when I'd be each day so he could book accommodation accordingly. So, not content with buying my tea and unwittingly becoming a force of route planning motivation, he has even secured one or two campsites in the gardens of the places he will be staying. Honestly, brilliant!
So there you go, the gear list has been drawn up, the route itinerary is 95% done and a lack of girlfriend has been offset with a presence of dad.
Progress.
P.s. All together now, "Youuu teeek the heeeigh laaands, an I'll teeek thar looowww!"
P.p.s. To my family: Please don’t take the paragraph about presents as me being presumptuous or unappreciative. Any help with any stuff will have you in my eternal good books. You are all fantastic!
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