Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is bicycle touring in Spain on Tuesday, 2nd-June-2015. The Bay of Biscay to Portsmouth by ferry, then cycle home. 33 miles. The ferry crossing was okay, and time passed fairly quickly for once. It was a bit of a bumpy ride at about 1 am, but apart from that, it was a smooth ride despite it blowing a gale outside.
Once we docked and were allowed down to the vehicles we continued to wait down on the car deck for a good 45 minutes with nothing moving. Or rather nothing that I could see as I was at the back of the boat along with another guy on a bike from Wales. Eventually, things started moving, and as we approached the front of the ship, I saw the reason for the delay. A rather newish car had broken down on the ramp, blocking the exit.
Finally Off
After getting through border control, which seems to take forever these days, I rode along to the railway station with the Welsh chap. He was going to get a train home and didn’t know where the station was. I left him at the station, unsure whether or not he would be able to get home that day. Apparently he’s able to buy a ticket for him but unable to buy a ticket for his bike. (the train company dictate that you have to have a bike reservation.) But you can’t buy a ticket for your bike on the day. You have to book that in advance.
So, although he was able to get on the train with his bike. If somebody further down the line had already booked their bike, he would have to get off! What a wonderful system!! I do hope he got home ok!
I myself was going to go back to the Isle of Wight for the night just to try and get some more miles in and to make the total tour mileage over 2000. But it was far too windy. It was blowing at about 30mph, and I would have been cycling more or less straight into it. And the way my ribs are hurting, I really couldn’t see the point! So I just decided to have a fast ride home with the wind on my back!
Well, that’s another tour over with. It’s been tough at times, but probably no tougher than any other tour. As for the main reason for going away, to try and fix my back, I think it’s about the same! I did try cutting back on my painkillers a couple of times. But each time, I ended up being too uncomfortable and had to start taking them again! I still have trouble walking any distance, and my leg still goes numb if I stand around!
Not Good
Perhaps my consultant was right when he said I’ll never work again! Now I really don’t know what I’m going to do work-wise as I do have to earn a living! If I could get paid for riding my bike that would be ideal as I do put a lot of effort into it all and don’t seem to be too bad at it! But that’s not going to happen! I could start writing that book again or maybe get somebody to write it for me, but then I’d still have to get it published! There is another operation that can be done, which involves putting loads of nuts and bolts in my back. But my consultant isn’t convinced that would work, and there’s a very strong chance that I would be worse off! Basically, unless I find some rich old widow or win the lottery, I’m knackered!
Total miles covered: 1957.
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