Heading West

Quite counter-productively, I found myself pedalling west, escaping London, sprawling like a spiderweb, towards Bristol. One of the reasons for visiting the western capital again was to say goodbye to the Parsons, the other to visit SJSC, the old bike shop for the last time. The same stunning scenery greeted me, a literal breath of fresh air after the closed-in feeling of London, like coming out of a grey dungeon into fresh summer freedom.

I met a companion on the second day of the trail following the towpaths west, a man travelling by bicycle to his friends birthday in Bristol. Camping is naturally more enjoyable with two, I handed over the book I had recently finished and he did the same, giving me the classic "As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning" by Laurie Lee. Quickly finished, it was tale that did not help alleviate my wanderlust.