The weather forecast for the Bern area in Switzerland is sunny today, Sunday, so time to be cycling on again, recovered, repaired, recuperated, restored – with warm and dry thanks to Bob and Doodie in Geneva and to Clare in Bern. Tomorrow’s forecast is again for heavy rain. But if I stay any longer, this … Read more …
So, why does one do/why am I doing (speak from the I, Brayne!) this journey? In my Dad’s words, why on earth would I want to do such a thing. (Noting as I write on a train from Geneva to Berne, shortly after taking the above picture at Geneva railway station, that I have been … Read more …
Yes, the wonderful cycling and feeling good about the world couldn’t last forever. Payback time. Some of the wettest April weather the region around Geneva has experienced for decades, and getting soaked two days running has landed me with the mother of all colds. But thank the universe for Bob and Doodie Evans here in … Read more …
Ah well. Eventually one pays the price for perfect riding days… It has been WET today, heading up towards Geneva but falling well short. Major insight: rain and mountains slow you down. Duh!! I may not make it to Beijing after all before having to return to England in July, it seems. (Actually, Bucharest and … Read more …
So, on day 16 of the journey (7 hours in the saddle, 61 miles, just 8.6 mph average speed) what do these pictures relate?? No prizes, but guess. Pause. OK, I’ll give you a clue. Steam rising vertically into a blue sky from power station cooling towers at Hieres on the way from Lyon towards … Read more …
Back on the road, from St Etienne and John Laxton’s place (old Uni friend, shared a room ’68-’69 at Leeds) to youth hostel at Lyon, whence this blog. Lovely to see John and his delightful Eng/Am Lit professorial partner Denise after so many years, and especially amazing to be treated by them (thanks!) to THE … Read more …
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device No words… Read more …
Wow, has today been one of the best riding days ever, or THE best riding day ever? Sixty miles down the upper Loire, through stunning volcanic gorge after stunning gorge, from Le Puy north towards St Cyprien near St Etienne and my old university friend John. For those with a technical bent, 60.24 miles, av … Read more …
Riding a bike for a long distance is very much like a meditation. Life, love, the universe etc. For those familiar with EMDR, there’s something powerful about the bilateral brain stimulation of left pedal, right pedal, left pedal, right pedal ad infinitum, keeping one anchored in the present. Tom in Paris asked, what on earth … Read more …
This is my patent baguette protection and conveyance system. Rolled in my sleeping mat. Works perfectly. (Though note somewhat compromised photo quality when reworking 17 years later for this new blog design in 2025.) Even kept (most) of my pain (if it this big, I’m told, it’s actually a pain and not a baguette) dry … Read more …