Travelsonabike2 England Saturday 2nd-November-2024

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is bicycle touring in England on Saturday, the 2nd-November-2024. Brighstone to Bognor Regis. 44 miles. Now, that was a long day. But I haven’t got a clue why, especially as I’ve not cycled that many miles. I left camp around seven o’clock this morning but didn’t arrive home until 5 pm. I think I must have fallen into a wormhole!

I’ve had a couple of issues with my bike, but nothing that took too long to sort out. There’s an illuminous strip on my tyres, which decided to de-laminate and wrap itself around the wheel’s hub. And later on in the day, I had an issue with my concentric crank. The bolts that hold it in place had worked loose. Neither took long to sort out, but maybe longer than I think.

Arriving in Portsmouth

It’s been an enjoyable few days away, and I was away a little longer than I’d originally planned. But that’s fine. It was a nice surprise to learn that the campsites stayed open later than advertised.

I have a few appointments in the next couple of weeks. But hopefully, after that, I’ll be able to get away again, although I don’t know where to. Especially as campsites are very limited at this time of 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.

Travelsonabike2 England Friday 1st-November-2024

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is bicycle touring in England on Friday, the 1st-November-2024. Brockenhurst to Brighstone. 38 miles. I was on my way home today. But I got distracted and ended up on the Isle of Wight instead!

I left camp this morning at a half-decent time of seven o’clock. That seems to be my default time at the moment, no matter what time I get up. Anyway, last night, I’d seen people walk past my tent and head off into the woods. And return shortly afterwards with bags of shopping, so I wondered if it was a shortcut into Brockenhurst. So, this morning, I went to explore.

It sure was, it was a lovely ride through the woods into Brockenhurst, even though I didn’t need to go there. It brought me out on the south side of the village. And it was a much better route than cycling down the main road. If I stop at Long Meadow again, I’ll bear that route in mind if I remember!

My fish and chip supper. The real reason for coming back to the Isle of Wight

After leaving the New Forest, I arrived in Southampton, and just as I cycled past the Isle of Wight ferry terminal, the ferry was pulling in. So, I decided to jump on it and come back to Brighstone and spend one more night on the Isle of Wight.

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.

Travelsonabike2 China This Day 1st-November-2012

Bicycle Touring This Day 1st-November-2012 Snowy mountains

This week’s Travelsonabike2 bicycle touring on this day post comes from the 1st-November-2012, and I’m in China trying to sort out a visa extension.

Thursday, 1st November 2012. In Yongdeng.

I went back to the local police station again this morning. I’d spent an hour or so with the girls on reception in the hotel who were trying to sort my visa out for me. But in the end, I decided to go back to the bureau and see for myself.

It was the same lady on reception at the Public Service Bureau, and she looked a little surprised to see me. Luckily, there was somebody else there who spoke some English. Who explained that I should have gone to Lanzhou yesterday and needed to go there immediately. I returned to the hotel to sort a taxi out, which cost less than £30 for a 160-mile round trip, bargain.

Man and lady
With one of the helpful girls on the hotel reception

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre! What’s a mirror? What’s a signal! Just pull out and let everybody else stop or swerve; it was a very nerve-wracking taxi ride. But it somehow seems to work, well, most of the time. It wasn’t sunny, but I soon put my sunglasses on, just so he didn’t notice me closing my eyes each time we overtook. Or he went for the gap that really wasn’t there.

Made It

By the time we found the visa office, it was lunchtime, so I had to wait for half an hour. I was greeted by the man I’d spoken to on the phone yesterday. He took me upstairs to another room where the visas were dealt with. The girl on the desk didn’t want to know until the man started talking to her. Then, we were joined by the big boss, who seemed to be on my side. He was very interested in what I was doing.

The girl said there was still seven days left on my visa. I said I’m not worried about losing a few days; I just need to extend it for another 30 days. After more chatter between her and the two men, she agreed and said it would take three working days.

It was pretty easy in the end. There were no flights to book or itineraries to fill out. The only thing she wanted was a photo, but not one I already had. They had to take one and charge me £4 for doing it. They even put a little powder on my face.

The ride back in the taxi was just as scary, but I’m back in one piece.

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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.

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Travelsonabike2 England Thursday 31st-October-2024

Bicycle Touring England 31st-October-2024 Huts by a hill

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is bicycle touring in England on Thursday, the 31st-October-2024. Langton Matravers to Brockenhurst. 43 miles. Well, I managed to find another campsite open and am staying out for another night.

There was a heavy dew this morning; in fact, it got pretty damp last night, even before it got dark. But then, I suppose it’s that time of the year. I left camp this morning, not knowing where I was going to go. I was going to make it up as I went along. Do I go home or somewhere else? But most campsites closed today.

After cycling to Corfe Castle, I headed for the chain link ferry at Studland. And rather than go by road. I took the cycle route, which was rather rough in places. But it made a nice change and was somewhere I’d not cycled before. Whether I do it again is a different matter.

Goats along Bournemouth seafront. It’s my first sighting of them this year
Blimey An Idea

As I cycled along Bournemouth seafront, I wondered if Long Meadow in the New Forest. The campsite I used on my last trip, if they’d still be open so I gave them a ring. And bingo, they were open until tomorrow.

Now I knew where I was going and that it wasn’t too far. I dawdled along Bournemouth seafront. And detoured to Mudford, which lasted all of five minutes. Before I got bored, unable to think of anywhere else to go, I just took a slow ride to Brockenhurst and was set up in camp by three o’clock.

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.

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