This week’s Travelsonabike2 bicycle touring on this day post comes from England on the 12th-July-2018. I’m in the UK in a lot of pain and taking a huge amount of painkillers just to get through the day. But I was determined to still get away on my bike. Fifteen days later, I was on a ventilator in intensive care with sepsis.
Thursday 12th July 2018. Bognor Regis to Brockenhurst. 63 miles.
I’d decided on Monday that I was going to cycle to Paris. So, Tuesday morning, I got up at 3 am and by 3.30, I was off to Newhaven to catch the 9 o’clock ferry to Dieppe. But after about 10 miles, I was in too much pain and thought it was probably best not to go. So I turned around and headed back home.
Just as well, I did go home. A: I didn’t have enough painkillers with me. B: I remembered how much I struggled on my last tour. C: I’d forgotten England were playing in the semi-final of the World Cup, which I wanted to watch. And finally, D; the ferry I was aiming to get got cancelled. The loading and unloading ramp had broken down.
After returning home, I stocked up on painkillers watched England lose to Croatia (even though we played really well). And decided to still go away but stay in England and head down to the New Forest instead.
I’ve upped my medication and am now taking the stronger tablets, the ones that have some nasty side effects; you’re also not meant to drink with them. Touch wood, I’ve not had any side effects so far, apart from feeling a little lightheaded. And they have eased the pain a bit.
It was a nice ride down to the New Forest, albeit a bit hard going and painful at times, especially going uphill; that really hurt. I’m not too sure where I’m going tomorrow; it’ll depend on whether or not I’m in pain.
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