First 50 days

1164 km
16 Rest days
2 punctures
4 ferries

I have survived the first 50 days, and my legs are not aching as much as I expected, it’s my wrists and shoulders that are taking a beating. I am cycling up hills that 50 days ago I would not even try, I’d just get off and start pushing, still not ready for the alps yet. My Brookes leather saddle has finally broken into my bum shape, that makes cycling longer days possible.
Some things I might change are I would have a bigger saucepan, the 2 that I have from the Trangia 27 are not big enough on there own, if I want to cook an evening meal for Pippa and me now I have a cyclists appetite she would not get much, so I have been also giving her dog biscuits. I would have my new bike stand from the start. I’ve noticed in the Nederlands that a lot of people are using e-bikes, if I had a motor on the front wheel, the hub dynamo could move from the 26 inch front to the 16 inch trailer wheel, and generate almost double the power. If I put a solar panel above the trailer, it would act as a rain/sun shade. And if I could get an upside down front fork and fit blades in between the spokes I could turn the hub dynano into a wind turbine by night, if the same thing could be done with the front wheel motor to spin the other way you would have a generator, with 2 batteries to power the bike up hills and into headwinds it would not be cheating as the electricity is free.
I would keep the Rolhoff gear hub and recommend everyone gets one, they make cycling so much easier.
I would not have left my small, low chair with a back behind. It was bulky but light.
I would consider front suspension as I think my wrists and shoulders would agree.
I have worked out what the whinning noise coming from the trailer at slow speeds is, it’s Pippa I think she is a speed freak, and I also now know what keeps causing trailer wobble, it’s Pippa again, leaning out at full length for a better view.
I’m still taking it easy by not cycling in the rain if possible, it’s not that nice so why do it if I get no enjoyment from it, I prefer not to cycle to far each day, I’d rather see what is around rather then how many miles I can clock up on the cycle computer. I’m still taking lots of stops so Pippa can stretch her legs, and I’m sticking to that excuse.
It has been so good to be free with no time limit and the only worries I have are where am I going to put my tent up tonight and have I got enough water.