Author: Garry

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is bicycle touring England on Friday, 19th-April-2024, in Brockenhurst. Well, I’m still here. This trip seems to be turning into more of a holiday. But then why not?

After paying for another night, I went into Brockenhurst to get supplies for the day. Or should I just say beer? But I also got some other bits.

Brockenhurst is a great village with some traditional shops. There’s a butcher’s, baker’s, no candlestick maker! But there is a greengrocer and a good old-fashioned hardware store, as well as a couple of small supermarkets. I used all the shops apart from the hardware store.

A Short Ride

After dropping off my supplies at the tent, I cycled up through the woods to Lyndhurst. Another pretty town, although it’s on the main road and there’s always a queue of traffic. I had a brief look around and visited the Ferrari dealership before returning to camp via the main road. I didn’t buy anything this time at the Ferrari dealership. I’ll leave it until next time!

I found out today that I’m probably going to have my neck operation in Salisbury. At least there’s a nice campsite there. Maybe I could stay in my tent while I recuperate!?!

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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.

This week’s Travelsonabike2 on this day post comes from France on the 19th-April-2011. I’m in France on my way home after flying to Malaga with my bike. It was the first time I’d flown with my bike. And was a trial run ready for my ride to Australia in a few months.

Tuesday 19th April 2011. Sigean to Le Grau Du Roi. 88 miles.

The mornings are definitely getting colder, and so are the days. I had to wear gloves this morning and didn’t take my fleece off until about midday. But the mornings are getting brighter. It’s light at 6.30 now.

Nice ride today. I was riding along the Canal du Midi, which was nice and flat. After a while I stopped at one of the locks for a break and found it very amusing watching all the people who had hired boats to sail up the canal, who obviously had no experience. I watched them trying to moor up while waiting for their turn to enter the lock. The ship’s captain (usually the husband) would try to manoeuvre alongside the jetty while the crew (typically the wife and kids) would try to stop the boat with the ropes tied onto the jetty. But they would usually miss the first mooring. The crew would then move on to the next mooring, but the captain had already put the boat in reverse and was trying to get the first mooring; this usually preceded a few choice words between captain and crew and some stern looks.

The rest of the day was mainly on cycle paths. I saw some flamingos, which was a bit different from the normal birds I see.

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. I’m also on Flickr, where photographs from all my tours are.

If you want to find out if Garry’s away touring at the moment and check his location, visit the Where’s Garry web page.

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is bicycle touring in the UK on Thursday, 18th-April-2024, in Brockenhurst. Surprise, surprise, I didn’t move and have stayed in the New Forest. Although I think I told you that yesterday.

Anyway, I had a good day playing with my new Tarp. Which, to be honest, was all sussed out in the first hour. And I think it could come in very handy when it’s wet, or I need some extra shade. Not that I’ll probably need it for a while. But I’ll come back to that later.

Most of the day, apart from playing with my Tarp, has been spent talking to the wardens on site. They’re a friendly bunch and good for a laugh. A lot of them seem to have sold their houses and live in their motor homes or caravans. Spending the summer working here and the winter travelling abroad. Although they don’t travel quite as much now because of Brexit and the ninety-day limit.

As I said, it’s been a good day playing with my new Tarp. Talking to the wardens. Taking the odd ride or two around camp and into Brockenhurst and generally chilling out. It was late afternoon, and I was just about to go for a shower when the phone rang.

It was the hospital. Apparently, they do think that I need surgery on my neck. And I’ve now got to be home on Monday to have some course of x-rays around my neck. They wanted to do them tomorrow, but the hospital they wanted me to go to was too far away, and I wouldn’t have got there in time.

I don’t know when they’ll operate. Hopefully, after the summer, but somehow, I don’t think so. I know it’s all-time critical. We will see.

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. I’m also on Flickr, where I’ll publish the photos from this tour once I’m home. Pictures from all my tours and monthly photos can also be found on Flickr.

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 bicycle touring England on Wednesday, 17th-April-2024. Bognor Regis to Brockenhurst . 60 miles. What a surprise I’ve come to the New Forest again. I was debating whether or not to go to the Isle of Wight. But I decided against that. There are too many hills. And me and Hills aren’t very good together these days.

Bit of a tough ride down. There was a strong headwind, and that headwind was pretty cold. I never took my gloves off all day. But at least it didn’t rain.

I think I’ll be here again tomorrow night. Actually, I don’t think I know. I’ve got a new Tarp to go over my Hilleberg that I want to try out. I couldn’t be bothered today. I’ve also got a few new recipes that I want to try cooking. They’re easy at home, but camping is a different ball game altogether.

I tried my first one tonight, which was Chorizo and Cabbage stew. And very tasty it was too. I’ve still got plenty of cabbage left. I only used one-quarter of it. So, there might be a few more cabbage-based suppers.

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. I’m also on Flickr, where I’ll publish the photos from this tour once I’m home. Pictures from all my tours and monthly photos can also be found on Flickr.

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.