Monthly Update From Garry McGivern

My monthly update for July 2016, once again, it’s been a busy month, unfortunately, with work and not cycling. Although I’m not complaining, it’s always good to be busy, and I’ve still managed to do a few things.

The first weekend of the month, I got dragged to Brighton shopping for a dress! Not for me, I hasten to add. Julie wanted to get a new one ready for my Vicky’s wedding in September. I’m sure she’s already got loads of dresses. But apparently it has to be a new one for some reason! The thought of having to go shopping was filling me with dread. It’s bad enough having to shop for myself (which doesn’t happen very often), let alone for a woman!

Upon arrival in Brighton, Julie said that she knew what part of town she wanted to look around, as there was a collection of different shops in a relatively small area. So we made our way from the railway station through the lanes. towards the shops, obviously stopping to look in a few shops on route. Me being forever hopeful that she would find a dress in the first shop, which obviously never happened!

Once we arrived at the main shops, Julie announced that I didn’t need to go with her and I could go and do my own thing. And we could meet up later. I certainly didn’t need telling twice, and as quick as a flash, I was off straight to the nearest pub, which is where I stayed until it was time to meet up with Julie!

Not a bad day at all in the end, and Julie managed to get her new dress and everything that goes with it. Apparently, you can’t just buy a dress. You have to have shoes and a bag to match!

What A Result

Had a bit of a result from Busch & Muller, the company that manufactures my front light, which isn’t just a light, it is also a charger for my phone. But for some reason, it had lost the ability to charge my phone. Thinking that it was just a new cable that I needed, I searched the internet looking for one. But couldn’t find one. In the end, I wrote to Busch & Muller, who, after a few correspondents, asked me to send it back to them, and they would see what they could do.

It wasn’t more than a fortnight had passed when a parcel arrived at my house from Busch & Muller containing a brand new light! What incredible customer service. Considering that the old light was three years old and completely out of any guarantee or warranty! Maybe this is my first sponsorship, sort of!

The weather has been really nice. So nice in fact that myself and a few of the other blokes I work with decided to take the day off work and sail to the Isle of Wight.

So Dave, whose boat it is, Giles, another Dave and I all set off from Dell Quay, Chichester, at about 8 am to catch the morning tide.  We had a pleasant sail down the Chichester channel and into the Solent. It was a little lumpy before arriving at Seaview on the Isle of Wight. There we disembarked and went for a few beers before setting off back to Dell Quay. It was a really good day out with plenty of beer drunk and some good sailing.

Follow & Support Garry’s Bicycle Touring Adventures

If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. Or subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. 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, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.