The joy of cycling and also the frustration of cycling is having to deal with the weather. Two years ago, we were having to fill our water-bottles from taps in cemeteries, as it was over 35 degrees on some days. This year, we’ve hit the storms at the end of a long summer canicule (heatwave), … More Day 12 … Dramatic history & some re-planning
After what was possibly the slowest January on record, the time now seems to be slipping past so quickly that I hardly have time to mark each day passing. The start of the year has been a whirl of trips back and forth to the UK for us both, which has left us feeling like … More Saddlebag of Memories #2 planning has started
I can hardly believe that I am writing this post from Venice, after our long-planned, anniversary trip nearly came off the rails a few weeks ago, when life threw another (rather large and totally unexpected) rock across our path. Over the last few years, life seems to have formed a nasty little habit of throwing … More Exploring Venice
We had every intention of having a slower morning today, as we only had an 80km ride planned, so felt we could have a bit of a lie in. We managed it, sleeping until 6.30, which is the latest we’ve slept all week, but even after a leisurely start, we were out of the door … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète. Day 9 Caspe to Lleida
We had a lovely day exploring Madrid yesterday, but by the evening we were just itching to get on the bikes and start cycling. We needed the day just to sort a few things out, but once we’d done that, we just wanted to get on the bikes and escape the city. We really aren’t … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète. Day 3… Madrid to Pastrana
This year, it has felt as if we’ve been living our life on permanent ‘fast-forward’. How on earth are we already in mid-September? It really is quite ridiculous. Yet here we are, and in a week’s time we’ll be on a train, heading to Madrid, before starting our ride back through Spain, to Sete, covering … More Cycling across Spain – 1 week to go
It may sound strange, but both Andy and I are at our most relaxed when we’re active. Neither of us is any good at just sitting, or even driving from A to B, just to go and visit a site. We quickly get ants in our pants, and wish we were doing something else. So, … More The simple joy of a walk.
After the chaos and shock of Naples, we were a little concerned that we would feel the same about Rome, the next stop on our little winter trip. The fast train to the city was a delight, and as we pulled into the station, we girded ourselves for the walk to our apartment, not really … More A day’s roaming around Rome
The days are ticking down and after so many false starts, it finally looks as if our long-hoped for ‘Saddlebag of Memories’ bike ride is actually going to happen. It’s nearly 7 years since Andy rode the Velodyssey with the boys on a Moor to Med cycling adventure down the west coast of France, whilst … More Cycling with a Saddlebag of Memories… 2 days to go
Vaucluse Dreamer 