Month: March 2018

 

Now is this just a getting old thing or is it me being useless? Everything I do takes so long and is such hard work!

My phone packed up at the end of last month, so I had to get a new one, which was fine, but it took me a week or two to get my apps, ringtones and passwords on to it! And then I needed assistance! I remember when older people used to ask me to set up the video recorder or tune the TV in, no problem! Now I’m the one asking younger people to sort things out for me!

It had been a lovely week weather-wise, and I was feeling good! So I decided that come the weekend I would go away camping on the Isle of Wight.

Saturday morning arrived, and I knew there wasn’t any rush, after all, it was only about 40-miles to the campsite.

After a few chores at home, I started to gather my stuff together. The weather forecast wasn’t looking good as this “beast from the east” thing was due to return, which meant more snow! But I was hoping to get to the campsite before it came in!

I gathered my bits together, most of them being packed anyway apart from clothes, so off I went upstairs to pack. When I came back downstairs, the weather had changed, and it had started to snow and was coming down pretty heavily!

I didn’t mind it snowing once I was set up, but I didn’t fancy cycling in the snow it’s hard enough these days as it is! So after a bit of thought and seeing just how hard it was coming down, I decided to abandon my trip and stay at home.

The following week, however, I did manage to get to the Isle of Wight and judging by some of the snow that was still around it was probably just as well I stayed at home last week!

After visiting the Isle of Wight, I continued to the New Forest and from there continued up to Greywell and then onto London, turning it into a nice few days away. I didn’t cover a huge amount of miles, but it was good to be out on the bike! Even though some days it was a real struggle!

I learnt a few things on my little ride around the south of England! I think I’ve worked out what I’m allergic to and has been causing rash I’ve been having for the past few years. Me, I’m allergic to myself! Or that’s what it seems like.

I think it’s my sweat that’s causing it! I’ve been fairly inactive lately and also the fact that it’s been winter so I’ve not been sweating very much and my rash seems to have been ok! Then the first time I go on tour and start to work up a sweat, it’s back! I couldn’t stop itching and still can’t! Now I don’t whether this information is any good or not as I don’t see how I can avoid sweating! The specialist has already told me that it’s not sweating, but I can’t see as it’s anything else!

The other thing I learned was that my sciatica is worse than I thought and isn’t related to my hip!

As I cycled along it wasn’t my hip that was the problem it’s my leg, it goes numb, and I find it very uncomfortable. It’s my hip that’s making walking difficult, but on the bike, it’s not too bad, okay it does hurt a bit, but this is dwarfed by the uncomfortableness I feel from my sciatic leg! Hopefully, it will get better over time!

I’ve started to put some videos together from my last little ride, but their not quite ready yet but if you’d like to know when they’re out, click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in England on Saturday, 24th-March-2018. Greywell to Bognor Regis. 59 miles. It was a damp start to the day, with rain falling outside, which it had been doing all night!
After sitting around in the tent for a couple of hours waiting for the rain to stop, I got bored and decided to get on and pack up!

My destination for today was Crystal Palace, and knowing that it was only about 50 miles away, I knew that there wasn’t any rush to get moving!
Once I was all packed up, I set off in the rain and immediately came upon my first problem. While sitting around waiting for the rain to stop, I’d found a route on the map that ran beside the Basingstoke canal. And to get to it was just across the road from me! But could I get to It? The route I was going to take was a private right of way, or so the stern lady at the entrance to it told me! You’ll have to go round the corner. There’s a small footpath you can take, she said. Small! It was narrow and muddy and went up an incline. There was no way I was going to manage that! So the road it was then!

Because I’d worked out my route (for once) using cycle routes and paths, I didn’t have an idea of where to head for!

In the end, it was a mixture of cycle routes and roads. One cycle path that I did find and which was very good was the Thames Path that ran alongside the river Thames; it was nice cycling along the river albeit a bit bumpy and muddy in places!

Eventually, I made it to Crystal Palace and met up with Kay and Rick, the only reason I went there! They’re working on a Caravan club site, so I thought, why not visit them and camp there for the night!
Unfortunately, as it turned out, they’re not open for tents until May! They did offer to put me up in their motorhome, but me being old and grumpy and liking my own space, I declined their very kind offer. It wouldn’t have been fair to keep them awake with my snoring anyway!
Maybe I should have phoned ahead, but then that would have meant me being organised!
I’d already made my mind up that if they weren’t in, I was going to go home by train! So, in the end, after having a cup of tea and a chat, I set out across London and caught the train home!

A nice little ride around, with little being the operative word! But it was still good, and I enjoyed myself! Unfortunately, this might be the only ride I get for a while if I have to go in for this hip replacement! Which I’m hoping will be very soon! Total miles covered 164, not that it’s really worth mentioning!

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

You can also follow my progress and see where I stop each night by visiting the Where’s Garry web page; there, you’ll find a map of the route I’ve taken so far.

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in England on Friday, 23rd-March-2018. Brockenhurst to Greywell. 49 miles. The leg felt a lot better today, although it was still hard going!

Anyway, I’ve made it to the Fox and Goose at Greywell as I’d hoped!

The ride up was pretty non-eventful, apart from just outside Winchester! I was cycling along on the designated cycle path after crossing under the M3 on a subway when a car was heading for me! It was a lady who was blindly following her sat nav and not actually looking where she was going! (I could say something about it being a female driver, but I won’t!) Anyway, when she saw me, she wound down her window and asked for directions!

Her sat nav had told her to go this way, and her destination was just up ahead! I said I really don’t think so. It’s a pedestrian subway. You’re not going to get through there! Oh! Do you know where it is? I’m sorry I don’t, I replied. I’m just passing through! Well, it says it’s here on this Google map that I’ve printed out. No, it looks to me as if it’s on the other side of the motorway. You’ll have to turn around and go back to the main road. Well, you’re not very helpful, are you? Was her reply! I just rode off and left her to try and turn around on the narrow lane! Female drivers! Oops! I said I wasn’t going to say anything!

I’ve just thought there was another incident quite near the end of my day! I was about 5 miles away from Greywell, merrily riding along minding my own business, when all of a sudden, whoosh! A group of lycra-clad idiots came flying past me within inches, no warning, nothing! They were followed by a convertible car with a man in the back seat looking backwards. Which I thought was a bit strange! Then all of a sudden, whoosh! Another group of lycra-clad idiots came flying past. They all had the same uniform as the first lot! I don’t have a problem with them (much), but a little warning wouldn’t go a miss before you cut me up!

Anyway, after that little incident, I was in a bad mood and even more so because they made me miss my turn!

Shortly after I missed my turning, I was crawling up a hill when another bunch of lycra-clad idiots came past. Not in the same uniform as those others, but nonetheless, these were all dressed the same! Anyway, as the lead rider came past, he just had to say something! “I’d rather be in my shoes than yours,” he said! And I replied, “And I’d certainly rather be in mine than yours, tosser!”

I’m now sitting in the Fox and Goose, de-stressing with a pint! You can head over to my Facebook page and see some live updates I’ve been doing! While you are there, don’t forget to like and share!

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

You can also follow my progress and see where I stop each night by visiting the Where’s Garry web page; there, you’ll find a map of the route I’ve taken so far.