Once again I don’t seem to know where this past month has gone! As It’s been another busy and good month, with a sailing trip to the Isle of Wight, a weekend camping in the New Forest with Julie and I was able to help a pair of cycle tourists out! It’s also not been too busy on the work front!
With Pierre and Catrine
At the beginning of the month, I was out on a cycle ride to Chichester. A mile or two outside of Chichester I came across a pair of cyclists on the side of the road looking at their map. Always one to help out others I stopped to see if they needed any assistance.
Pierre and Catrine as I found out were a French couple on a tour of England and as is typical in England the cycle route signs just ran out leaving them unsure of which way to go!
After chatting to them for a while, I took them back to the cycle route and bid them farewell while I continued on my way to Chichester.
Work
Despite not being that busy on the work front, I’ve not been able to get away! The work that I have had has just fallen awkwardly, and I’ve not been able to bunch it all together!
Frankie with my lump hammer
I’ve also had problems with customers dogs stealing my tools!
A Day Out Sailing
It was my friends Dave and Helens wedding anniversary earlier on in the month, and as a surprise for Helen, Dave booked an outing on “Alice“ a lovely old Thames Barge.
There was 15 of us, and we were all on board when Dave turned up with Helen, which came as a big surprise to her, not only was she not expecting to go on the barge but also that there was a motley crew made up of their friends!
The crew of the good ship Alice
Once on board, we set off for the Isle of Wight with Alan our captain and Wilson the ship’s dog, it was great fun hoisting the sails and pulling on different ropes.
Alan, the master of Alice
At the Isle of Wight we dropped anchor and went for a swim, Wilson couldn’t wait to get in the water, and it was a job to get him back out afterwards!
Wilson just itching to get in the water
After a swim and going ashore we had a buffet lunch onboard “Alice” before setting off back to Portsmouth.
A perfect day out with friends and lovely memory for Dave and Helen.
We had a little robin come and visit us in the New Forest
Camping
I managed to get a weekend camping in with Julie for the first time this year! It just seems that either she or I have had work or something on all the time! We only went down to the New Forest but it was still good, and we had a lovely weekend, which was followed up by a cycle ride around Portsmouth on Monday.
Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth where we had supper.
Snakes
On an entirely separate trip, Julie and I came across a snake on the road! Which Julie thought was an adder but we later found out that it was in, fact, a grass snake!
The grass snake we found on the road
The following day I was outside cleaning my van, yes you heard right cleaning my van! It gets washed every five years whether it needs it or not! Anyway, while I was outside one of the children from next door came up and started talking to me. He’d seen the picture of the snake that I’d posted on Twitter the day before and was telling me about his pet snake a “Zeus” a Bull Python! Which he later brought out to show me!
Zeus, next doors pet Bull Python
I also had a trip to our local cinema to see Dunkirk which I thought was an excellent film.
Health
On the health front, things are pretty good at the moment possibly because I’m back on steroids! Hence why I thought I’d clean my van, I’m bouncing all over the place at the moment!
Last December I acquired the [amazon_textlink asin=’B07G5HW3W2′ text=’Rab Microlite down Jacket’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelsonabik-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’033d7155-a1ca-4b10-89de-ec290a096e74′] which was perfect for winter cycle touring. It’s lightweight weighing in at a mere 430g, packs down small and is showerproof.
Rab jacket with hood
But after taking it on a couple of camping trips, I found it annoying! The hood would rub on the inside of the tent, causing drops of condensation to drip in, or even worse drip down my back if the hood was down!
Yes, it was nice to be able to pull the hood up over my head on those cold winter nights. But the hood was just too annoying, whether I had it up or down, it would just rub on the inner tent!
To resolve the problem, I acquired the very same jacket, but without the hood!
Rab jacket without hood
I now use the hooded jacket for day rides at home and take the hoodless jacket with me when I go away touring. It’s so light and compact. I even take it in the summer! It can get pretty chilly at night when you’re just sitting around camp!
Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 June 2017 cycle touring photos. Photographs that Garry has taken while travelling around on his bike. Plus, photos that have appeared on the website over the past month.
It’s been a busy month on the photographic front, with photos taken on trips to the New Forest, Bridgewater and the Isle of Wight. And everything in between.
There is also a link to Garry’s Flickr page, where the Somerset photo album is. Photographs Garry took on his ride to Bridgewater when he took Passepartout for a well-earned service.
You can also find photos on Garry’s Facebook and Instagram pages, which you can view without subscribing. But if you already subscribe to social media, why not follow Garry?
June 2017 Somerset Flickr Photo Album
(click on the photo to view)
Garry McGivern’s Cycle Touring Photos June 2017
(pictures added to the website this month)
Garry along the seafront at Stokes Bay
The slippery walk down to the “Little Pink Ferry” when the tides out
Ray who’s 83, the skipper of the Little Pink Ferry across the Hamble
Campsite in the New Forest
Ponies grazing in the New Forest
Lymington Quay
The Isle of Wight across the Solent viewed from the New Forest
Boats at Eling Tide
Red Squirrel Trail sign
Garry along the River Medina
Rusting old boat along the River Medina Isle of Wight
Along the Red Squirrel Trail on the Isle of Wight
Cafe on the Red Squirrel Trail
Along the Red Squirrel Trail on the Isle Of Wight
Looking up Ryde Pier on my way to catch the catamaran back to Portsmouth
Shelter on Ryde Pier
Fisherman on Ryde Pier
Train coming into the station on Ryde Pier
The theme for the Bognor Regis Carnival, Garry missed this one!
Passepartout in Portsmouth
Portsmouth and the Spinnaker Tower
Bognor Pier
The River Hamble
Just because your camping doesn’t mean you can’t eat well, one of Garry’s camping recipes pasta Provencal
The carnage after cooking supper
Salisbury Cathedral
St Mary and St Nicholas’ Church Wilton
Pub at Stockton one of the villages Garry passed through this morning
Quite country lanes on my way to Bridgwater
The Hideout Campsite
Lion House Bridgwater
Steep hill
Poole Harbour
Shell Bay at Studland
Yarmouth Harbour
Last night of the tour to Bridgwater, campsite at Southbourne. Which was only 12 miles from home!
Felpham seafront
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. And, of course, you can always follow Garry on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. Garry is also on Flickr, where his photos are released first, along with all the photographs from previous tours.
