May 2016 Update

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.

Porchester
The pretty village of Porchester in Hampshire
Porchester Castle
Porchester 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!

Bosham Harbour
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.

Man on a Danish
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!

2 Replies to “May 2016 Update”

  1. Hey Garry! What a way to go – dying slowly on a bike. What a shame I missed your Isle of Wight tour. I could have joined you.
    Best wishes – Malc.

    1. I couldn’t think of a better way to go myself, although I am planning on sticking around for a good few more years yet!
      I’ll let you know the next time I’m over, although I don’t think I’d be able to keep up with you now you’ve got an electric bike!

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