Building a 40 hole 4 cross wheel

After waiting for almost 4 weeks for a bike shop to rebuild our wheel I decided, in a fit of frustration, to do it myself.

A Not So Bright Idea

Before we left I had a great idea. Replace all the batteries, in anything that takes batteries, with rechargeables! Our bike-lights and torches were kitted out with rechargeable AA & AAA's so that we'd save a fortune on batteries.

A little further down the road...

It is NOT a good idea. Its bad enough that you have to hang round the toilets to charge your phone and stuff but rechargeable AA & AAA's take at least 6 hours to charge! Either you take a risk and leave it in the shower room overnight or you visit a hotel or something and recharge in your room. We've been doing the former whenever it seems safe but it is far more convenient to just buy some batteries!

Internet Access in France

Internet access is not an essential part of our travels, but it can be useful for sharing stories and pictures, locating bike mechanics, organising future activities and accomodation, researching solutions to various problems and finding a shop that opens on a Sunday!

Using the internet on our phones

The bits at the Start

As our departure was fairly rapid, we never got to post the pre ferry drama .
We finished work, packed the house and got ready for the trip in just over 2 weeks. It wouldn't have been possible without the help of our parents. Thanks mum and dad!(s) Also thanks to the guys at Onitsports for their help getting the bike ready and all their invaluable advice.
Thanks to Billy(the dog) for guarding our stuff.
It was probably the most difficult part of our adventure so far but it really shouldn't have been. It's just putting your stuff in bags!  We bought things we needed ,but didn't pack, on the road. We also threw a bunch of stuff away or sent it home.

In the words of  Tom Allen:
Worry only about leaving.
Leave soon.
Leave before you're ready.

 

Dad fits super-high-tech flag holding device to trailer.

 

 

Liz bedecked in Onitsport kit.

 

 

Billy the vicious guard dog.

 

 

 Stuff to take and stuff to leave behind.  

 

It's so clean!