So the time has arrived, panniers loaded, water bottles full, snacks at the ready, batteries charged, me? On starting a new adventure I would expect that I would know the answer; however I still don’t know and possibly never will.
So it comes to leave and a couple of pictures taken by my sister and I start pedalling, uphill as always (the story of the next few days)! Setting off ended up an anti-climax. I guess after over a year of plotting, scheming, gearing up and building the bike I thought there would be more fan-fare, but alas it seems starting a new adventure is nothing more than an uphill struggle to pedal.
I was warned off doing heavy a first day, mainly because of the emotional load and generally getting out of towns/cities can be difficult. However, I ignored this advice and put in an epic day with over 100km and 1,250m of elevation to arrive in Exeter. With the constant hills and distance this resulted in no time to think about what I was undertaking. All I could do was admire the beauty of Devon and the coastline but only briefly, I was too focussed on making the distance in time for check-in.
Is this the curse of using SatNav’s, Komoot in this case?
It’s the end of the first day and a breeze has started to push against me as I pedal up the Exeter ship canal. Legs now burning, I can feel a day’s ride through my body, I met an elderly gentlemen (wish my memory for names was better) cycling the same way.
We get chatting about our day, where we’ve been and why. When I mention I’ve started a journey round our planet he mentions he’s sailed around the World. He was never planning to, just started sailing one day and didn’t stop. We discuss the mental strength to finish a journey of that length, mentioning my lack in confidence of completion, he replies that after about 6 months you just get in a routine and don’t really notice. I hope this works for me… my route is over 40,000km and will take 4-6 years to complete.
The second day I was aiming to wild camp around Kings Sedgemoor drain, built to drain the peat moors of Somerset for crops. However, noting that I have an aunt not far away in Wedmore and it continuing to be flat meant there was an opportunity to meet a family member I have not seen in over 20 years. Always nice to have a proper bed for a night! There will be time later for camping.
A rather bland pasta lunch (thanks Tesco, never again) on the Grand Western canal gave me the chance to start to reflect on what will become the next 4+ years of my life. I’ve given up a comfortable job, if not maddening at times, a settled life, time with friends and their children and family. I will miss many moments in my family and friend’s lives. Zoom will never quite make up for the physical presence in someone’s life.
As I cycle along my eyes well up, not from hay fever this time. I start to fear if I can even complete this task. If I fail will I think less of myself, would others think the same? How will I handle the different cultures I come across; how adaptable am I? I have no answers and resolve to have patience and go with the flow.
Setting off on the third day towards my Brother’s in Chippenham and knowing I have a couple of days rest I can start to think about the bike and gear I am carrying. Why did I use metal cages for the forks, they weigh more. Little things like this make me reconsider whether I made the correct choices in preparation; alas too late now!
Do I really need that set of winter trousers with me right now? Comfortable as they are, I am producing so much heat they are useless. I have over-mitts with me as well and goggles for deserts which I won’t see for a while yet. I think I will use some time at my Brother’s to realign what I need and don’t need. I’m sure I am not the first cycle tourist starting a new adventure which sends items back home.
Pedalling up yet more hills on my third day I do wonder why I am pushing myself so hard, I am not admiring my surroundings, not pausing to reflect on the journey. I need to ask myself why am I even bothering with this journey? Is it for the task in essence or to embrace the cultures, people and places?