Day 2

After a good night’s sleep on Ian’s sofa, a day of cycling along the Thames path, and plenty of chances for Pippa to run along next to me and in front of me causing me to hit the brakes, hopefully she will learn not to do that. Most of the day was along the flat but the afternoon had some hills to push the bike up, I now know I have too much equipment and will have to lose some weight soon, but until then I’ll use it as a training aid to build up the legs.

At about 4pm my legs were dead so at 28 km for the day I found somewhere to wild camp for the night, just 3 metres off the path in a little clearing.

Night 2, 1st night wild camping

Day 3

Rest day, my legs do not work, a nice easy day of sleeping and resting in my tarp, and trying to get Pippa not to bark when anyone walks past, with a bit of thinking of what I do not need.

Inside the tarp relaxing

Day 4

Back on the road today with a total distance of 42 km, and I found out I can push the bike up hill at 5 km/hour. A lot of cycling and quite a lot of pushing. At about 5pm I stopped by the Thames to make a cup of tea and then sat down to watch the birds on the mud banks, and wait until sunset, about 10pm, then as it was a nice night I slept under a tree on a groundsheet watching the stars.

Day 5

Up at sunrise, about 4am as I was sleeping somewhere that had no camping and I knew there was a nature reserve warden somewhere close, so about a mile further on it was time for a brew up and porrage, after that at about 6am I started moving. I stopped at a cafe for a 2nd breakfast about 10 and Pippa managed to get a free sausage, then at lunch time I pulled up to a burger caravan for a cup of tea and this time she got a free burger, I think she is eating better then me.

The rest of the day it was the push to reach leysdown on the isle of Sheppy, and there was a lot of pushing involved, but at least I have a uncle with a chalet there with a lovely spare bed with a soft mattress which I needed after another 35km.

Day 6

Recovery day

Lots of tea, lots of rest, a shower and the use of a washing machine.

Day 7

Rest day, sorting out what I do not need to carry to lose weight. I have started with the tent and will just be using a tarp.

tarp set up as a tent