I’m not doing the greatest job of keeping you all informed of my plans; but I’m not doing the greatest job of planning, either. I am at that stage in the adventure where everything is done ”just in time”. This is partly because of the unpredictability of the weather in late October, which – although generally amazing for the time of year – has caused me to miss a couple of days in the past week. Those decisions are usually made the night before, based on the most up to date forecast. Obviously they can have a knock-on effect for what happens thereafter. But also, since I now know for sure that I won’t quite finish the trip by the end of October, or even the 2nd November, which is my next true deadline, it gives me some different choices about how hard to push myself and when to try and ride the very last few maps. I don’t know the answers yet. So don’t ask.
What I do know is that for as long as the sun keeps shining this month, I will keep riding. Here is what I am currently expecting to achieve as I write:
Wed 26 Oct – train Exeter to Barnstaple, cycle to Westward Ho! Then cycle east to Wiveliscombe.
Thu 27 Oct – cycle Wivliscombe to Amesbury (tbc)
Fri 28 Oct – cycle Amesbury to Capel, Sussex, stay with friends.
Sat 29 Oct – cycle to south coast near Folkestone
Sun 30 Oct – travel to Bude, which involves quite a lot of cycling
Mon 31 Oct – ride east from Bude
With the obvious caveat that all of this could change! But if I stick to this plan, I could be at the HQ of the OS in Southampton on November 2nd. I am sure I will not be cycling on 3/4/5 November due to other commitments. After that… who knows?