Florence! Florence! Chiao! I am now in Florence. It is really very beautiful, and it has made up for the pain of cycling th Ligurian coast. That isnt recommended my friends. Well, I left Provence, and headed up the coast, couldnt find anywhere at all to rough it, so I carried on to a beautiful town called Menton. I found a kiddies play park. And camped there. was a great night sleep. something to do with returning to ones childhood i reckon. did think about the fine line between being a nonce for a while. So, Monaco was nice from the mountain tops. the castle looked cool. However, i wasnt interested about the view, as the ride up the mountainside shocked me to say the least. The Italian border was very relaxed. And, crossing the tunnel, I couldnt help but hum that Pizza pie... amore song.. Then sanity got the better of me. I headed down the coast. which was nice. However, the effort reminded me of the Welsh coast, only with furnace like temperatures. St Marguerite was beautiful. Then Pisa, which only made me laugh hysterically. at the bemusement of the tourists. Everything in that square is wonky. Then Florence. It is beautiful. HOwever, I spend more of my time watching the imense amount of tourists that the actual spectacle. Been reading too much Camus I think. If anyone is interested, then a book titled The Outsider by Albert Camus is a great read. Next, I am off to Siena to experience Tuscany, then to Rome, and finally Naples. Then flight home..... boo. I could happily carry on forever, except money is an issue, and I dont have a kind uncle. later.. Oh yeah, did I mention that when I was in Provence in France, I cycled up Mont Ventoux?

17.10.06 11:00 Permalink / comment

Its Nice in Nice. Well, here I am in Nice. Its Nice here. But not that Nice. I bought some cans from Cannes too, just in case I cant sleep. Well, Provence.... It is lovely really. Met some great people, and got ver ver drunk with a lady called Ruth, who is nuts. I visited a place called Arles. Or, 'Orse Arles' as it became to be known. Turns out, Van Gogh spent a bit of time messing with sunflowers, bridges , ears & oil paint here. Nutter. Anyhow... I saw a place in Provence called Les Beaux, and just thought I shoud visit to see if it has any significance. Turns out it is really really beautiful. Not like most dykes I know! I passed a villages called Bras, on the way there, which made me laugh hard. St Tropez Sucks. In fact most of the cote d'azure sucks, because I cant find anywhere to pitch my tent without getting hassle from the rozzers. So I am presently sitting in a cafe in Nice contemplating an all nighter on my wheels. Speaking of wheels. I was I Aix-en-Provence. on the pavement, checking my map, when a frog in a van pulled out of the drive bay next to me, and reversed into me. wanker. buckled my wheel. Spat at him etcc. I remeber seeing his reverse lights come on, then thinking, 'surely he's not going to reverse....Oh he is... Shit!'. Then later that day I got a puncture and was tlold in French by another Frog to 'get orf' my Laaand'. Wanker. I showed him two fingers. It was really the day from hell to be honest. refused money from my bank, moved on camping at 1am by land owner, vultures circling around me in 30 degree heat. etc etc. So much to say so little time eh? Oh. just met a guy from poland, on his bike in Nice. He cycled from Poland, which Isnt as far as me!! I didnt get his name, but he told me he was on his way around the world. Good on you anyway. And, I liked your improv Dynamo/phone charger. Maybe market it? There is something important I want to say, but cant remember. Dammnit!!! Will, think in time.. Oh YEAH! ChateauNeuf Du Pape!!!!! LOL! Later.

11.10.06 19:09 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

Paris So, here I am in Paris. Sunday. Just spent most of the day in the Louvre, then later the Pomidou. At the pompidou, I watched a guy hop the barrier on the 6th floor. He quickly plummeted to the ground floor dead. For a moment I thought it was an ehibit, but reality soon set in from the screams, and later, the sirens. He was led on his back all broken, a spray of blood from his mouth curving the cobbles for about a metre. Ambulance resucitation followed, then the white veil, and the shower curtain, the red & white tape, and forensics. All this I watched with a morbid fascination directly 6 floors above. Maybe I was the person who he wanted to witness his exhibit. Was he a disgruntled artist? Was my initial thought, until i went to see the exhibits. Maybe he got claustrophobic from the 'guts on the outside' building, and the Man Ray instalations? I guess only he knows. Anyhow, Paris. Mona Lisa, tourists, tourism, pantheon dykes! Dykes on BIkes! Couples, male & female couples, families, kissing, lots & lots of kissing couples, Bois de Boulogne camping, prostitutes, transvestite prostitutes, transvestite prostitutes feeling your cock while frisking your pockets. Pain, Pain au chocolate, Jambon et Fromage sandwiches. Lots and lots of shit. Well, you know what they say, 'Where there's brass there's bullshit'. Or, is it the otherway round? The Pantheon was the nicest place to sit and relax. Even with Jizz hanging from the ceiling How could it not be, with Voltaire, Hugo, Dumas et al relaxing indefinitely behind me. Well, I guess were playing catch up with this diary. Briefly: Wales - Tough going. Bath - Got drunk with Aussies and Americans, lost my bike lock keys and spent the net morning smashing my lock with a hammer in front of bemused Bathians. Then I met Helen. Avebury - Autumn Equinox. Crazy, CRAzY! druid Pagans. was great fun. truly. I miss crazy Andy so much. My tent isnt designed for two people. truly. English landlords are not welcoming as they should be. Stonehenge - sucks. Sailsbury - COmplicated, & tragic. My boob. Sorry Helen. Portsmouth - Vive la France! Cherbourg - Arrived late. got dunn for camping on a motorway roundabout, by the Gendarmie. Moved on. Utah beach - great fun. Omaha beach - Suicide! GOd! what were the Americans thinking? More on this later. Bayeux - Long long biased story sewn on a cloth. Source of French pomposity. The Seine river - Crossed the bridge from hell to get accross said river. Then crossed another. Factories & Chimneys. Lots of! Then...... Beauty, just around the corner. Visited victor Hugos' house. Was allarmed to learn just how many of the greats lived next door to each other. And there was a kitten... Rouen. - Nice. Burn Joan, burn. Paris. - I fart in your general direction. Will write more in depth, when I am not paying xxxx for 10 mins. fuckers. Nearly broke. If anyone wants to donate to the cause, then give me a shout. Later.

1.10.06 19:42 Permalink / comment

One Week in... Alright... Just arrived in Tenby, Wales. Too many tourists for my liking. However, the weather here is perfect, and they can't be blamed. Briefly, I have visited: Accrington Blackburn Ormskirkrk (Cheers Ross for Accom) Liverpool Cheshire Bangor Nant Peris Harlech Barmouth Borth Aberistwyth Cardigan Newport Fishgard Pembroke Tenby. Up to Borth, the ride has been physically enjoyable, except for the Llanberis Pass. So, as soon as I set off from Borth, I was faced with a 25% gradient. And, pretty much, it has been up and down like this all the way to Tenby. Pretty soul destroying, but, the views have been worth it. I think. Nearly killed myself, cycling from Aberistwyth to Cardigan. I put all my energy into riding to Cardigan, and forgot to save some energy to find a campsite. barely managed to put my tent up. Anyhow, I am still alive. Stove works like magic, tent is great. Only gear problems: Brakes need service due to said hills, and my Alpkit camp mat is fucked. I subconsciously inflate it at least three times per night, which makes me laugh. I imagine myself trying to inflate my matress back home in my sleep. Sleeping has been a mixture of pleasure and pain. Slept on the beach at Borth, and woke to be savaged by sand flies. still itchy. Anyway, I am planning on camping on Tenby golf course tonight. Gonna pick a late hole, like the 9th, so that I get enough time to shift if I hear golfers in the morning. Later.

16.9.06 17:26 Permalink / 2 Comments / comment

Final Prep - scared! I did my packing and prep for the ride. I cut off bits off rubbish, and hacked up the overbearing Lonely Planet Language Guides (See pic)   Total weight of panniers, bags & water = 16kg Bike weight = 12kg = 28kg Although I have read that the great Heinz Stucke has baggage weighing over 60kg. Which, frankly, makes me look pathetic. I think I have everything I need. Please remind me to reset my bike computer.

8.9.06 17:22 Permalink / comment

Garden Fruit I checked the garden today, and found some stuff like marrows & pears. There were some good looking butterflies too. My question is this: what are you meant to do with a marrow? Hollow it out, then chuck it in the bin?

8.9.06 14:19 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

Equipment List... And Swallows. I thought I would spend a moment publishing my equipment list. I got many recommendations from people, websites, and fellow hardcore bike travellers. Corax Terra Nova Solar 1 tent - I bought this on ebay for £40. Ebay Terra Nova Tents Here Damn Bargain of the century if you ask me! £280 new! Although now discontinued i believe. Its a red outer fly, with yellow inner. Single easton aluminium pole, weighs less than 2kg (dry!), And is absolutely watertight. As with all tents however, internal condensation can develop if not vented/ wet clothing is left inside the tent. Although...... UCO candle Lantern - Bought on eBay for £10, with three extra candles. Lasts longer than batteries do, gentle light, heat dries up condensation. Have small paranoia about burning to death in the night, and/or waking up with soot around nostrils. But not been a problem yet. Alpkit Wee Airic 'thermarest' camping mat - Costs just £15 including delivery, and includes a puncture repair kit & bag. Was going to buy a genuine Thermarest Prolite 3 (£60+!!) until i did some research on cheaper alternatives. MSR XGK II stove - The best stove available? New, it costs over a hundered smackeroonies. Burns any liquid fuel. However, I am still confused as to how I fill up the bottle at the petrol station? The pump hose wont fit inside the bottle neck. Perhaps a funnel? Spillage! I was going to buy a Primus Omnifuel stove because it burns LP gas cans too, but weighs twice as much as MSR. I bought the XGK again on eBay for £30. Ebay Msr Stoves Here. It included a foldable heat shield, spare bottle & xtra service kit! eBay is your friend! Roars like a space shuttle. Ortlieb Classic Panniers & xs drybag - I read all about these on various cycle touring sites. I initially had no idea, and was going to buy some nylon shite. Bought new, as eBay auctions weren't much cheaper. Ebay Ortlieb Panniers Here I guess they are desirable. Altura Nevis Waterproof Jacket - Bargain, in my book. I can't afford Gore tex. Except for... Freestyle Gore Tex Hood - When I realised that the jacket didn't have a hood, I bought this on eBay for £7. Only downside, is that the jacket is Yellow, and the hood is red. But who cares anyhow? Outwell teflon camping stove set & kettle - Ebay for £5. Brand new kit. Couldn't refuse the offer. I figure the MSR stove will destroy the teflon coating in a couple of sessions. Victorinox Swiss army knife - ebay for £3. Has knife for eating, scissors, can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew etc etc.. Petzl Tikka head torch - Had it for many years now. Takes Nimh AAA batteries which my camera takes also. Alpkit Alpine Dream 700 Sleeping bag - £100 for a high quality down sleeping bag. I was going to get a Nanok bag. However, it weighs over 2.5kg I tried it out the other day in the house. Woke up covered in sweat. Note to self - Dont use sleeping bag indoors. *Just at this moment I heard a thump against my window. Went outside and found 2 swallows sitting dazed & confused on the floor. I poked them a bit, which was fun. Took a couple of snaps (See pictures). I once heard a tale that if a swallow lands on the ground it cannot take off again - Its a lie. Well, you know what they say; 'Two swallows don't make a summer!" lol. That one at the back is questioning its' existence. The front one sees dead people. Kinda like me during my University days. So, where were we? Blackburn Front Pannier rack & Tortec Rear Pannier - Both Aluminium, & according to serious reviews, a heap on shit. But the Blackburn rack cost me £4 on eBay, and the Tortec; £3. I bet they don't break either! Topeak Hexus Tool - It was half the price of an 'Alien II' tool. Clothing: *Thermal shirts (Which I already own) *3x socks (1 Thermal) *Patagonia Fleece Jacket *Nike Fleece zip top (TKMax!) *Bike shorts *Sandals *Specialized Bike Shoes (I just like the fit of them) - I have considered toe strap pedals & a pair of Merrell outdoor shoes. However, Can't afford them this time round. Maybe in the future? Sponsorship anyone? *AirFrance Sleep Kit (Freebie from longhaul. Includes Ear plugs & eye mask) *Travel towel *Trainers (my Outdoor shoes Died a death) *Sunglasses *Small wash bag kit *Tissues Various Equipment: *Blackburn Mini pump *Zip-Loc bags (Tesco Fish bags! Cheers Tesco!) *Compass *Bungee Cords *Mini storage tubs for Tea, Kfc sugar sachets etc... *Bike Lock *Note Pad & Pen- One day I shall own some thing like this OQO, Or like this Palm Store *Sony DSC-U50 Camera - I love it, although I would like audio with my video for video weblogs (VBlogs?) or Porno. *Ipod - Luxury item! However, it holds movies, music, podcasts, comedy shows (Radio4s' I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue), Porn, Pictures from my camera, rss web feeds, Diary, calender, Maps, etc etc.. Not really a luzury then when you think about it. *Book - Light reading like Sartre, Voltaire, Camus etc *Cig Lighter - For Stove. *Bike LED lights *Specialized Body Geometry Saddle - I have no arse flesh to cushion my lanky frame & prevent ring sting. *2 Bottle cages & Bottles *Cateye Computer *Spare chain pins *Spare cable *Small Gaffer tape (In case the pannier racks break ) *Inner tube *Credit Card *Lonely Planet W.Europe guide - Cut in half, as it would have weighed like a NORI brick Lonely Planet Language Guides *Spare Nimh AAA batteries *Passport & Drivers' License (Lol!) *Extra camera Memory Stick duo *Ibuprofen & Tom Simpson 'Uppers' *Spork *Foldable Mug Dream Items: *Waterproof down sleeping bag Like this one Marmot *A Digital camera with Video, so I could do a Video Blog. *Palm Tx PDA - Palm Store *A custom bike! *Garmin GPSMAP 60csx Got any good suggestions?

7.9.06 19:14 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

[first page] [previous page]  [next page]