Time to ride

At times it felt as though the start of this adventure would never arrive. Working weeks dragged on and on with our leaving date remaining months away. At some point this changed – September became visible on the horizon and each month passed quicker than the last, with the weeks slipping by at an increasingly alarming rate.

The last 2 weeks since finishing work have flown by in a blur of leaving parties (thanks to everyone who came!), goodbyes, moving out of flats, last minute equipment shopping, packing and bike building. I’ve been trying hard to really appreciate the final luxuries – the last lie in with a warm duvet, last football match watched in the pub with friends, last english breakfast, last gig, last ‘proper’ cup of tea. I’m sure we’ll be able to sample some of these things as we ride, but they won’t be quite the same, and certainly not taken for granted in the way I would at home.

I know that once underway the nerves will disappear as we begin to adapt to life on the road, but I am half excited about and half dreading ‘leaving day’. Excited because we’re finally beginning the adventure we’ve be dreaming about and planning for the last 8 months, dreading the goodbyes to our families and the emotions we’ll all be feeling.

We’re leaving at 10am on Sunday 5th September from Henley (Valley Rd) – if you want to cycle the first bit with us or wave us off, please do! We’ll be heading towards Windsor Great Park before heading south east – ideal for a round trip from Henley, or the first half of a return cycle to London!

Our next post will be our first from the road – it’s finally time to ride!