Tag: CyclingBritain

Garry McGivern (Travelsonabike2) is cycling Britain on his trusty bike, Passepartout

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Bicycle Touring: England, Brockenhurst To Bognor Regis | Travelsonabike2

Man and bike

Cycling England: Brockenhurst to Bognor Regis

My latest bicycle touring update: cycling England, Brockenhurst to Bognor Regis. 82 miles, although a few of those miles are from yesterday.

I found out late last night that my bar bag had filled up with water when I went for my dip yesterday. My camera was wet, the case that the camera sits in, which also carries spare SD cards, one of my power packs, and the spare batteries for my GoPro and my camera. Hopefully, they’ll all be okay, although I am a little concerned about the camera. I’ve put everything in a warm place and will try and turn them on in a few days. And hope for the best.

After leaving the campsite this morning, I was going to head directly to Southampton. But after realising it would be rush hour, I went on a detour through the New Forest. And although I didn’t go on any new roads, they did feel new as it’s been a while since I went on the roads I travelled.

Artwork along Weston Shore, Southampton

It was a good two hours before I left the New Forest. (I’m usually well gone after an hour) But today I was enjoying bimbling about, not that it mattered. I was only heading home, so there was no rush. It’s also been a long time since I’ve taken the Pink Ferry from Hamble to Warsash. I usually come back via the Isle of Wight or the top road. And maybe I should have today.

I arrived at the Pink Ferry just as it had left, so I had to wait twenty minutes or so for it to return. Then, when it did return, there was a problem with the engine that needed to be sorted. After another hour, I was finally across the River Hamble and in Warsash.

The rest of the ride home was okay, although I found it hard going from Portsmouth. And could have quite easily stopped. And continued tomorrow.

Ride Information:

Follow & Support

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.

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Bicycle Touring: England, In Brockenhurst | Travelsonabike2

Tent, bike

Cycling England: in Brockenhurst

My latest bicycle touring update: cycling England, in Brockenhurst. And there I was thinking that I wouldn’t have anything to write about today! Haha, how wrong was I?

I decided to stay in the New Forest and have a lazy day today. I did contemplate going to the Isle of Wight again. Despite what I said yesterday. And maybe as things turned out, I should have.

It was nearly 10 o’clock, and I was already starting to get bored. I knew it would happen; it always does. I always like the thought of sitting around doing nothing, but the reality is that I soon get bored and wish I’d moved on. But I’d made the decision and paid for another night. So I decided to go and get some supplies for the day. Mainly beer, it’s never quite as boring when there’s beer to drink.

I left the campsite and set off for the shops. But en route, I decided to take a detour down another road. I thought I’d been down it before, but after cycling down it, I wasn’t so sure. (I probably have cycled down it before and just forgotten! The memory of a gnat) Anyway, as I was bimbling away, I saw a road named Butts Lawn. It tickled my childhood sense of humour, so I decided to cycle down it. As I cycled down, I came across a ford. They’re always fun to cycle through, and I thought it might look good on my YouTube channel, so I turned the camera on. I know, instead of flying through, as I normally do. I’ll cycle slowly; it might look good. I think that was my downfall. Quite literally.

Bloody Idiot

Camera on, and I started to roll down the slope towards the ford. As I entered the water, it started to get somewhat deeper than I’d expected and was up to my wheel axles. It was too deep to try and glide through, and I had to start peddling. But my front wheel must have hit a rut, and I started to fall off. I put my foot down, but it didn’t work and off I tumbled into the water.

The infamous ford, with remnants of my cuts still on the road, a couple of hours later

On the way down, I must have caught my shins on the pedals. There was blood pouring from both legs. Particularly my left leg, which looked bad. I quickly picked myself up, looking around to see if anybody had seen me. Thankfully, nobody had. The water had turned red with blood, as I dragged myself from the ford onto dry land, there was blood dripping everywhere. Best I head back to my tent and sort this out, I thought. (Ford accident, short video)

As I cycled back to the campsite, my foot kept slipping off the pedal, my flip-flop was full of blood. It was relentless. As I arrived at camp, I decided that this might be a little too much for me to sort out and stopped at the entrance to ask for help. The staff were as good as gold and looked after me superbly. Although they did think that I should perhaps go to the hospital for stitches. But as far as I was concerned, they steemed the bleeding and that’s all I wanted. I didn’t want to mess up my tent or sleeping bag after all!

Unfortunately, I had to venture out again after I’d been fixed up. I hadn’t got the beer I went out for in the first place! And stubbed my toes on a tent peg. That was it, after getting my beer, I spent the rest of the afternoon around the tent. Drinking beer and watching others struggling to put their tents up.

Ride Information:

Follow & Support

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.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels

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Bicycle Touring: England, Yeovil To Brockenhurst | Travelsonabike2

Bicycle, car

Cycling England: Yeovil to Brockenhurst

My latest bicycle touring update: cycling England, Yeovil to Brockenhurst. 65 miles. It was hard work getting going this morning. Everything was still soaking wet from yesterday. Nothing had dried out overnight. And I had to put wet clothes back on this morning. Although that’s pretty normal when I’m away camping, so it was no big deal.

My main problem was everything else that was wet. Where should I put it all? I couldn’t pack it away as normal because it would make everything else wet. It was a right faff!

Wimborne Minster

Once I’d worked out where to put all my wet gear, I was on my way. I decided that I was going to stick with the A roads today. I didn’t fancy being taken around all the back roads and lanes today. I was also hoping to avoid any ridiculously steep hills, which I think I did. Although I did have one of two other hills. But nothing I couldn’t cycle up.

I think I’ll probably go home tomorrow. I don’t think we’ll bother going to the Isle of Wight this week. But you never know!

Ride Information:

Follow & Support

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.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels

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Bicycle Touring: England, Bathford To Yeovil | Travelsonabike2

Fields, hills houses

Cycling England: Bathford to Yeovil

My latest bicycle touring update: cycling England, Bathford to Yeovil, via Cheddar Gorge. 60 miles. I must be a glutton for punishment, going via Cheddar Gorge. It wasn’t exactly the flattest of rides through the Mendip Hills. But it was worth it, it’s very pretty through the Gorge. Until you get to all the tourist tat at Cheddar.

It’s been a wet old day. It was spitting a little as I left Bathford this morning, but nothing too bad. And it remained like that up until midday. With the odd few spots of rain here and there. But then the heavens opened, and it’s not stopped raining since. I was soaked through to the skin by the end of today.

Cheddar Gorge

I’d forgotten how useless smartphones are in the wet. They’re a complete waste of time. No wonder I always carry a paper map. Apart from this trip! I told you the other day how lazy I’d become, relying on my phone. Well, I paid the price today. The phone was useless in the rain. I didn’t have a clue where I was or where I was going. I’m not anywhere near where I should have been. I was so lost. But it doesn’t matter, I’ll sort out a new route overnight. Had the phone been usable, I would have found a hotel or campsite a lot sooner than I did. But hey ho, it’s all part of the adventure.

Ride Information:

Follow & Support

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.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels