So I've set off! It came around so quickly. One day I was making final preparations, the next I was saying goodbye to family, friends and Laura. Leaving was really difficult but hopefully everything will be easier now I've made that first plunge.
After I left I cycled with my dad for about 20 miles to a pub where I met my mum, nan, uncle and cousin. Had a nice meal and pint, said a final farewell then set off realising I had no idea which way to go as my map wasnt detailed enough to include the small village we were in! I asked someone "which way to wrexham?" he pointed and I was off again. I cycled til dusk then found a wood and spent the first night in my tent. Pretty uneventful but sleeping bag was very warm even though it was freezing outside. Fell asleep with all sorts of thoughts going through my head, worried, lonely but sure I'd made the right decision in leaving.
The second day was mercifully sunny and lovely riding through north and mid Wales. Thanks to Richard Owen of bangor-on-dee who made a donation after chatting with me. Managed a respectful distance and finished the day with a pint, think im gonna rate every beer I have in my diary and compare world beers!
The third day was an average morning, where I reached the coast, but the afternoon was brilliant. I followed my map up what was marked as a country lane. It turned out to be an old drovers track after about 5 miles which went into a dark wood. I knocked on the house at the end of the tarmac and the guy who lived there said I could go that way. "Turn left at the first junction right at the second and its about 10 miles". It was an ok track but the seemingly easy directions weren't that simple. I ended up having to guess which way to go on 3 or 4 forest track junctions following a south west (ish) bearing. I had no idea if I was going the right way but had to keep going or turn back for a 40+ mile detour.
Anyway 20 miles and about 3000 feet of climbing later I found the road, which greeted me with a 25% incline followed by a brilliant descent to a pub which had the man utd game on. 2-1 get in! I spoke to a guy there about the ride, he said he'd love to do something similar. I told him he should!
The forth day was bad! Dreary weather and a feeling of worry meant I only managed 60 miles. I gave up at 5 with a resolution to make up for it tomorrow. Had loads of food and an early night. Checked my emails and found out that my Iranian visa had been refused. Was pretty gutted but may be for the best. Will break the only biking across Europe and Asia chain though because will now need to take a boat accross the caspian sea. Much more annoying though was the Azerbaijan embassy's email which told me my visa was ready to be collected tomorrow or Friday, oh and by the way we're on holiday for a week after that! Right- er, well thanks for the notice! So I had to get to London by the morning after next or delay crossing the channel by a week!
I woke up early and feeling refreshed and decided to get as close to London as possible to keep the inevitable train fare as low as I could. There was a very small chance I would make the 130 miles to my nans house in letchworth so I headed in that direction on main roads. After a massive day, I arrived at nan's at half 10 absolutely shattered but to a bath a meal and a proper bed feeling really chuffed that I'd made it. Now I know I'm capable of big days when they're needed.
This morning I went to London and got the visa although not without worry as there was a huge que when I got to the embassy. I picked up my visa 15 mins before the embassy shut for the week. Phew! Having an afternoon off in letchworth now, will ditch any non-essential kit and then cycle into London tomorrow to watch England win the grand slam! Staying with family on Sunday, then down to dover on Monday for a Tuesday ferry crossing.
That's all for now, will upload some photos soon. Feel like im settling in to my new lifestyle well. It's been really hard to leave but I don't regret my decision and I can't wait for mainland Europe. I'll miss you all a lot!
After I left I cycled with my dad for about 20 miles to a pub where I met my mum, nan, uncle and cousin. Had a nice meal and pint, said a final farewell then set off realising I had no idea which way to go as my map wasnt detailed enough to include the small village we were in! I asked someone "which way to wrexham?" he pointed and I was off again. I cycled til dusk then found a wood and spent the first night in my tent. Pretty uneventful but sleeping bag was very warm even though it was freezing outside. Fell asleep with all sorts of thoughts going through my head, worried, lonely but sure I'd made the right decision in leaving.
The second day was mercifully sunny and lovely riding through north and mid Wales. Thanks to Richard Owen of bangor-on-dee who made a donation after chatting with me. Managed a respectful distance and finished the day with a pint, think im gonna rate every beer I have in my diary and compare world beers!
The third day was an average morning, where I reached the coast, but the afternoon was brilliant. I followed my map up what was marked as a country lane. It turned out to be an old drovers track after about 5 miles which went into a dark wood. I knocked on the house at the end of the tarmac and the guy who lived there said I could go that way. "Turn left at the first junction right at the second and its about 10 miles". It was an ok track but the seemingly easy directions weren't that simple. I ended up having to guess which way to go on 3 or 4 forest track junctions following a south west (ish) bearing. I had no idea if I was going the right way but had to keep going or turn back for a 40+ mile detour.
The forth day was bad! Dreary weather and a feeling of worry meant I only managed 60 miles. I gave up at 5 with a resolution to make up for it tomorrow. Had loads of food and an early night. Checked my emails and found out that my Iranian visa had been refused. Was pretty gutted but may be for the best. Will break the only biking across Europe and Asia chain though because will now need to take a boat accross the caspian sea. Much more annoying though was the Azerbaijan embassy's email which told me my visa was ready to be collected tomorrow or Friday, oh and by the way we're on holiday for a week after that! Right- er, well thanks for the notice! So I had to get to London by the morning after next or delay crossing the channel by a week!
I woke up early and feeling refreshed and decided to get as close to London as possible to keep the inevitable train fare as low as I could. There was a very small chance I would make the 130 miles to my nans house in letchworth so I headed in that direction on main roads. After a massive day, I arrived at nan's at half 10 absolutely shattered but to a bath a meal and a proper bed feeling really chuffed that I'd made it. Now I know I'm capable of big days when they're needed.
This morning I went to London and got the visa although not without worry as there was a huge que when I got to the embassy. I picked up my visa 15 mins before the embassy shut for the week. Phew! Having an afternoon off in letchworth now, will ditch any non-essential kit and then cycle into London tomorrow to watch England win the grand slam! Staying with family on Sunday, then down to dover on Monday for a Tuesday ferry crossing.
That's all for now, will upload some photos soon. Feel like im settling in to my new lifestyle well. It's been really hard to leave but I don't regret my decision and I can't wait for mainland Europe. I'll miss you all a lot!
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