In Other News...

Winter Padding:  I have not been cycling much.  The snow does that to your Easter plans.  I think a C2C is just a doomed route.  The first time I planned that ride (albeit east to west) I hurt my knee and had to abandon.  This time we get a Christmassy Easter and I get a week at mum and dad’s instead.  Quite a luxurious and relaxing alternative.  I could have dragged myself out there I suppose but I had a cold, and my parent’s house is so warm…

Springtime winter commutes

Its annual sponsored ride time... This time I am joining a group on a local 100k ride to raise money for Rowanfield School.  We can’t do Just Giving but cheques payable to Rowanfield School will be gratefully received.  This is part of the ‘Rowanfield Triathlon’.  Friends and staff are joining in 1k swims, 10k runs and 100k cycles.  I will be swimming and cycling – I never have done running very well.  The route plan is under way but Route Toaster seems to hate the Forth Bridge... 

Pep Talk:  Drivers of Edinburgh seem to have heeded my pep talk and are endeavouring to do more for their fellow traveller.  Some have even paused in their busy drives to acknowledge my giving way.  Occasionally they even give way to me.  I would however, ask that they stop doing 3 point turns in the middle of the road.  Or at least, if they must, they check the road for bikes. My campaign for the use of indicators is ongoing. Thank you.

Where to go, what to do?  After last summer’s great but very very wet adventure, my instinct in my winter dreams has been to plan a sure-fire warm dry route.  So I thought Spain.  We all know about the rain in Spain.  I looked into it.  I quite fancied the way of St James to Santiago.  But then, the by-product of very little rain is lots of heat - I’m a bit crap in the heat.  Also, Spain seem to be making lots of cycling laws at the moment and its hard to take your bike on the train.  So, Spain remains a choice but I have been looking into other options.

Last summer was a little wet

Thinking about getting to the hypothetical there I thought about where else ferries could take me.  Turns out Spain, France and the Netherlands.  So, how about the Netherlands?  And then sort of south?  Eurovelo 5 runs that way. There’s a train from Milan to Paris where Eurostar is always available…this is plan two.  It is more hilly towards the end and goodness knows it will rain but it sounds quite interesting.