Bristol - Berlin - Eek! Big hills!

I was curious to see what the Hartz Mountains are like - being as it's the only "lumpy" part of the route.

This part looks like the Cheddar Gorge on steroids!

Hmmm .. now maybe I could get by with one less pair of socks and maybe it's time to cut the toothbrush in half? Actually I've already cut the toothbrush down once already!

Bristol - Berlin : Training Diary

The view of Chew Valley from the Mendip Hills

A pain in the neck

A busy week meant just one evening ride and some sessions at the gym. I've been suffering a bit in my shoulder from a combination of riding and sitting at the computer all day. The gym has been all yoga and stretching to try and free things up.

I got a nice surprise when the Terrence Higgins Trust organised a massage session out of the blue.

Oh to be wealthy, it's one luxury that I would be hooked on!

Publicity!

The Bristol Evening Post is going to take a picture on Monday and I'm hoping they will feature the ride. A bit of publicity, especially for the Terrence Higgins Trust wil be great. I had a letter in the week from the THT about the fund raising, It's sad that they say "HIV is not a popular cause".

I managed to get a 50+ mile ride in on Sunday down to Cheddar. Amazing weather again and a wonderful traffic free whizz down the Gorge. Most of the visitors had gone by early evening so the car parks were mostly empty and the roads free of people and cars which can make the final twists on the Gorge road "interesting".

There are families of goats that live on the slopes of the Gorge that were ambling about on the road when I arrived.

It does seem a shame that the foot of such a towering natural wonder is lined with car parks. It's like Stonehenge - the drama of the location almost completely lost through provision of somewhere to stick a load of coaches and bloody cars.

OK .. I'm off my soap-box now!

Bristol - Berlin : Training Diary

There are some very alarming signs on Salisbury Plain

Bristol - Berlin : Training Diary

Bristol to Bagshot (via Salisbury Plain)

The flight of locks at Caen Hill, Devizes.

I'm not going mad, it is possible to ride a fixed gear, with luggage for 100 miles!

After shaking off a dratted chest infection I wasn't sure if I'd be feeling fit enough for my planned 'dry run' across to Mum and Dad's in Surrey.

It was OK as a) I felt fully recovered and b) the weather was amazing.

A great ride, re-visiting some old haunts, the flight of locks at Caen Hill (29 locks in a continous flight on the Kennet and Avon canal) where we used to take the narrow boats and then riding across Salisbury Plain past Tidworth - the army town where Karen and I were born.

I changed to an 18 tooth cog on the back - only one tooth more than I usually ride but I'm convinced it made all the difference!

The carradice saddle bag was great - it's small so it's going to limit the amount of stuff. I'm convinced the only way to tour on a fixed gear is with a minimal amount of luggage. Keeping everything down to basics is fun - I must have re-packed the bag half a dozen times! Do I really need this jersey??? Can I manage with one less pair of socks???

Unforunately the tool bag still feels too heavy.

I'm really looking forward to getting to Holland and Germany and riding traffic free paths and minor roads. The driving this weekend was shocking! Fortunately nothing that impacted on me too much, but the sunshine seemed to draw people outdoors, indulging in manic, suicidal driving.

Argh! Bleeurgh!

Oh yeah! I really needed to get a lung infection in the final weeks before riding out to Germany!

So it's a week of antibiotics and about as much daytime TV as a chap can stand before going completely MAD!

The good news is I'm just really looking forward to a week of doing nothing but riding my bike and hanging out in Berlin with John and Liz.

And the donations keep coming in .. something that really makes it all worth while.

Bristol – Berlin planning

I had to rethink the route after discovering problems with the Oostende ferry and lack accomodation in Dunkerque.

It didn't help that the one hostel that i could find was described as "like a prison without the benefit of any wardens!" .. knowing how brill the hostels are in Holland and Germany i decided to rethink the route to use the Hook of Holland ferry.

I'm excited as it now means I'll be going right through central London and it's always amazing to cross the Thames on a bicycle with all those massive landmarks stretching out towards the horizon. I've never ridden out into Essex and Suffolk and hope the route proves scenic.

Plus it' always amazing to head into a port and catch a boat to the continent!

• 02/04 Thursday Bristol - Camberley (100 miles)
• 03/04 Friday Camberley – Harwich (105 miles)
• 03/04 Friday Overnight ferry Harwich – Hook of Holland
• 04/04 Saturday Hook of Holland – Doorweth (Arnhem) (83 miles)
• 05/04 Sunday Arnhem – Münster (114 miles)
• 06/04 Monday Münster – Höxter (115 miles)
• 07/04 Tuesday Höxter – Goslar (75 miles)
• 08/04 Wednesday Goslar – Dessau (134 miles) bail-out route: 88 miles
• 09/04 Thursday Dessau – Potsdam (95 miles)
• 10/04 Friday Potsdam – Berlin (20 miles)

Bristol - Berlin : Training Diary

Sunday 50 hilly miles around Bath.

Long shadows cast by the fading sun - another glorious day. Hope it sticks around as there is a definite taste of Spring in the air!