Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in England on 12th-June-2016. Brockenhurst to Bognor Regis. 56 miles.
New Forest pony with its foal
Late start this morning due to it raining. I’d seen the weather forecast last night, which said that it was going to be heavy rain from about 4 am till 7. I did debate as to whether or not to get up really early and pack away. But in the end I decided it probably wasn’t a good idea as I would then just get caught in the rain along the road, better to wait it out in the tent!
It eventually stopped raining just before 9 o’clock, so I quickly packed everything away, and I was on the road by 9.30.
The ride home was uneventful, and I came back on the fastest route, which was along the main roads, avoiding the ferries. I even managed to dodge all the rain that was about and walked in my door at about 3.30.
Old school mini’s that were staying at the campsite, I seem to remember them being there last year
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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.
Garry McGivern is cycle touring in England on Saturday, 11th-June-2016. Bognor Regis to Brockenhurst. 67 miles. Had a free weekend this week so I decided to come away on my bike. I was thinking of going to France but then decided that it really wasn’t worth it just for one night! So I’ve come down to the New Forest instead.
It was a good ride down and I came the slightly longer route which follows the cycle route and involves a few ferries (Portsmouth to Gosport, the little Pink ferry and Southampton to Hythe) which I always enjoy. Although the weather was very humid and it was spitting with rain for most of it but not enough to really matter.
I arrived at Hollands Wood my normal campsite only to be greeted with “Oh no not you again!” How rude, obviously I’ve been coming here a little bit too much! They were even more impressed when I told them that I’ll probably be back next week as well!
The little harbour at Titchfield Marsh
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’s May 2016 update. Well, at least this month has been a bit better on the cycling front. I’ve managed to get away on a couple of the weekends and also had a few nice day rides.
The pretty village of Porchester in HampshirePorchester Castle Hampshire
On The Isle of Wight
The first weekend of the month got off to a good start with my annual cycle to the Isle of Wight. Once again, it was only me but that’s fine it’s good to keep it going and I always enjoy cycling on the Isle of Wight. Although it did turn into a bit of a pub crawl this time!
At lunchtime, I stopped off at the Chequers Inn at Rookley for something to eat. But it was too busy for me, and I couldn’t be bothered to queue up for the carvery. So I just had a pint of beer instead. Unfortunately or maybe not, depending on your point of view. I was starting to get a real taste for it, and after my third pint, I decided that I’d better get a move on. Or I’d never leave.
By the time I’d got to Shorwell, about another 6 miles away, I was starting to get the munchies. So I decided to stop off at the Crown Inn and get something to eat. And another couple of pints to wash the food down! By the time I left Shorwell, it was getting really late in the afternoon and I probably should have gone straight to the campsite. But I had to pass one more pub. The Three Bishops in Brighstone. It would have been rude not to go in there as well! Needless to say, by the time I arrived at the campsite, it was early evening. I was probably a little worse for wear, so I just put the tent up and retired for the evening!
Looking towards Bosham Harbour West Sussex
Another Ride Out
I also had my overnight cycle ride to Winchester, and then, this past weekend, I cycled to Crowborough for Julie’s uncle’s 70th birthday party. So at least I’ve been able to get a few miles under my belt this month. I’m hoping to go away a bit more next month.
Jonathan and his Danish bike who I met on one of my day rides
Fitness
On the health front, it’s not been particularly brilliant. Not only did I get cellulitis back again this month. But I now seem to have picked up some other allergy or something!
For the past couple of months, I’ve had this really angry rash on my arms and neck, which has been driving me mad. It’s been itching so much and I’ve been going to the doctor nearly every week. Trying to get something to ease it. They kept giving me different pills, potions and creams. But none of them seemed to work. In fact, some of them seemed to make things worse and just inflamed it!
Let’s See Somebody Else
Eventually, I’d had enough and went to see a consultant dermatologist. Who thought it was some form of airborne allergy or some photo-allergic reaction to some of the tablets I take for my back. To hopefully cure it, I’ve been put on a course of steroids for a month. Which meant for a while that I was taking 30 tablets a day, 30 is that a record? It probably isn’t but it’s still one hell of a lot of tablets to take. I was taking 18 at breakfast!
Maybe I should change the tagline of the website to “travels on a bike 2 not very far due to the amount of medication that needs to be carried these days!” Although now, at the end of the month, I’m only on 15 tablets a day. And the itchiness and rash have nearly gone.
I think that life is just the wrong way round! When you’re young, fit and able to do things, you just don’t seem to have enough time to do them. What with bringing up a family and providing a home. Yet when you have more time you can’t do those things because you’re not fit enough to do them!
But life is good and at least I’m still able to ride my bike!
Garry McGivern is cycle touring England on Monday 30th-May-2016. Crowborough to Bognor Regis. 67 miles. Nice early start this morning. I was on the road by 6.30, which was mainly due to the insomnia I’m experiencing at the moment due to the steroids I’m taking! But it’s also so light in the mornings at this time of year. I always like to go cycling when the days are long.
As I sat in my tent last night, I heard another cyclist pull up next to me and pitch his tent, so I thought I’d go and have a chat. To see where he’s going and where he’s come from. I just thought that I’d let him get settled in first. Just as well I did. As I sat in my tent, I could hear the conversation that he was having with some of the people that walked by. They were also intrigued to know what he was doing. All I heard him say was that he’d come from Kent. But hadn’t gone very far today as he’d got an upset stomach and hadn’t been able to keep anything in all day, lovely! Needless to say, I gave him a wide berth and never bothered to go and speak to him. I just hid in my tent!
Somewhere Different
The ride home was pretty windy, but luckily, it was mainly on my back. I came home in a bit of a roundabout way so I could cycle somewhere different and ended up on the Downs Link, which links the North Downs and the South Downs. It was really pleasant.
I arrived home at about 2 pm.
Lancing College it always reminds me of Harry Potter!
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.
