My plans - Set in stone

An update is in order: I am in London, a good place to sort out all things adventure. I have visited Stanfords for their maps, Covent Garden for it's equipment shops, and Regents Park for it's silence - perfect for dreaming up plans and plotting on maps.


I will be leaving to begin my expedition on July 10th, I simply can't justify being stagnant too any longer than this date. It will give me (hopefully) about £6000 all up to have at my disposal - to last me 2-3 years.



But even after a few days working at The North Face, I have the urge to travel. Most of my colleagues are international travelers or students, and each one has a great story to tell. However, to my embarrassment, they can't get enough of my own trip!

Semi-homeless in Bristol

I'm heading back towards London over the next few days, at the moment I'm in Bristol and I've never felt happier. It has been liberating getting away from my sedentary life in Bridgwater, and I'm looking forward to seeing my old mates back at the Nevill in Hackney.

In Bristol

Looking forward to the road ahead

Farewell Bridgwater - (Thank god!)

Here are a few pics from my last few days in Bridgwater.

Dunkery Dash

I entered an Audax (long distance bike 'race' ) a couple of weeks ago, the Dunkery Dash. It was 115km ride from North Petherton to Dunkery Beacon on Dartmoor and back again. Most sensible people had fast road bike and lycra, but in my wisdom, I decided to ride my heavy touring bike and wear an Aussie army uniform. Needless to say I didn't place near the start of the pack...

Most people rode these

And I rode that

Castle Ruins on Dartmoor

Some older chaps found it hard going

Halfway, highest point in Dartmoor



View of the ride back

Coldest so far

Camping again this weekend, went trotting off into the hills but didn't get too far. It was well below zero, and we were very unprepared - but it was still good fun.




Bike not frozen



Road into the hills



Rachel and tent before the freeze



View from the tent



Frost in the morning



Icy cold tent



Bike is now frozen

Cheddar Gorge and a spot of sneaky camping

Freeganising

For a bit of adventure, my friends and I in Cardiff decided to raid the local M&S supermarket for all of it's 1 day overdue (ie: perfectly fine) food, which is routinely thrown out. It is such a waste, food that could be used to feed people ending up as landfill. But not this night!



The raiding party



Rachel and I rode there, naturally



Yes, it's a bin, but we only take packaged, safe food! :)



Making our escape over the wall of the compound



The haul, now can you see why it's an awful waste of perfectly good food?

The sun in Tuscany

Made for perfect cycling.

Not the usual Australia Day

I had two choices today regarding today's schedule. I was planning to go for a ride, but there was a local rugby match with a few other Aussies playing at the local grounds. The weather was a bit cloudy in the morning, but I'm glad I went out on the bike. The weather cleared quickly, and it was the first time I'd seen the area in sunshine during the day for a long time.

I did about 50 miles around the Quantock area. To the west of Bridgwater the scenery is incredible, as you can see from some of these pics.


At the highest point in the hills, just before a big descent through heath and woodland on a difficult dry creek bed.


Typical view of the heathland.


Road heading up, up, up.



The dry creekbed I negotiated my heavy bike down and through.


Path along a ridge.


I joined these mountain bikers for an hour or so, and heard a child ask his father: "Why does that guy have to carry all the bags?" haha.


In the hills, scenery very much what I imagine Canada is like.


Autumnal colours on a (dead?) tree.


One of my sandals fell from my bike on a rough section of track. Backtracked a mile or so and thankfully found it.


Looking back along one of the many tracks heading up into the hills.



Looking out from Triscombe stone.



Tree on the way back to Bridgwater.

A great day was had by all (me). A couple of snags and a beer with mates on the beach back home would probably be the only thing topping it.

To see all the pics of the day, see here: Quantock Australia day pics

Canal Towpath - Typical Winter weather

I had originally planned to ride to Lyme Regis this weekend, but typically atrocious weather told me otherwise. Instead I went for a 40 mile day ride to keep up the training. Most of the ride was along a canal, quite nice despite the rain and wind. I also found out my 'waterproof' jacket isn't up to the task.



My new bike is in getting a respray at the moment,it's going to be white - ready for me to plaster stickers all over it. The old bike (in the pics), the Trek 520, is still going strong.


Near Taunton, about 12 miles south of where I work.