7 days to go

This time next week I will be in French waters, so I've been doing the final prep to the bikes so we're all ready to go. There's been a slight change of plan with regards to the route - instead of catching the Ferry from Tarifa to Tangier we are now going from Barcelona instead. It saves about 500 miles of Spain and is £25 more, so a bit of a no-brainer. The only downside is it takes 32 hours instead of 45 minutes, and I hate boats. If we were supposed to be at sea we would have webbed feet. Like ducks. Or residents of Portsmouth.

Anywho - bike prep. I found a shed dwelling man with a welder (....Daaaaad!! Weld this!) who very kindly welded on a sidestand to the gold bikes footrests. He also donated me the outside of a sheep carcass to sit on, which is nice. I find it a bit strange that it's perfectly acceptable to sit on a sheepskin but if I did the same to a Panda people go all RSPCA on you. I'm not even sure how you peel a Panda anyway.

After that I fitted a safebox to the back. It's not exactly thief proof, but will hold all the First Aid stuff etc. The one on my bike has all the spares and tools, and very handily fills up with water so everything is wet when you want to use it. The power socket has also been mounted.

Lastly, in true Ed March C90 style, I've liberated a shopping basket and put it on my front rack.

Jobs still to do: Oil change, tappets, drink beer, eat curry, find a potato peeler big enough for large mammals.

Wild Camping - prep

A lot of the time whilst away, wild camping is going to be a regular occurrence. With that in mind, there are lots of things packed to make it as comfortable as possible. Small chairs, petrol stove, headtorches and a little shovel to dig holes, so I can do what bears do in the woods. Did you know bears don't actually roar? So in films when you see a bear roaring it isn't actually. It's a lion dubbed in. Do you think you could cross a lion with a bear? You can cross dogs. I don't think it's that different.

Anyway, wild camping, comfort - I bought a tarpaulin, and now when wild camping I'm completely invisible.

Three weeks until departure...

First post on this blog, I will try my best to keep it updated as often as I can.

The ferry is booked for the 2nd of September (Or, if you're 'merican, September 2nd, why do they do that? It's like route, they can't say route, it's raout. It clearly isn't spelt that way. Or alooominum.)

Anyway, pretty much ready. I've put a bit more info into the links on the RHS, and welcome any questions, unless they're matters of personal hygiene. I don't know what you've heard about me, but I don't get off on that.

You can send me pictures of your sister though, that's fine.