Because It Is There: A Zero Emissions Odyssey

So i’d arrived at the NEC ready for The Outdoors Show Extra and quickly threw up my banners (courtesy of Exantia) ready for the waves of people queuing outside the main entrance. I had a quick run around the show to check out a few of the stands and then headed back to my stand as the show opened. I spent two days at the stand chatting to people about my expedition and posing for photos. It felt good to be inside in the warmth and away from the horrendous weather i had faced the previous couple of days. I met some great people at the show, some of whom i knew from previous shows i’ve done, plus some of the people from twitter and facebook. I also managed to gain a new sponsor, aswell as meeting some of my existing sponsors for the first time.

Sunday came around fast and after a hurried send off i set off with 20 riders of the Outdoors 100, a 100 mile ride in aid of Action Medical Research, who very quickly shot off at speed and left me struggling with my fully laden bike up a hill. I was passed by approximatley 150 riders, most of whom very kindly slowed for a few minuted to have a quick chat with me and to wish me luck. Soon i was on my own again. I headed for Straftford upon Avon where i  planned to camp just outside of the town but after an hour or so of searching i just couldn’t find anywhere to pitch a tent or roll out my bivvy bag. As the sun was setting i stumbled on a campsite so decided to sleep their for the night. After paying £10 (twice my daily alloted amount of cash) i started pitching my tent, when, as i was feeding the second pole into the tent i heard a huge crack. I glanced over at the the first pole that i’d already fed into the pole sleeve; it was now hanging limp inside the sleeve. I pulled it out and found that the pole had snapped clean in half. Anybody who’s followed the expedition while i was training will recall a similar incident when i was walking in the Scottish Highlands. The same pole snapped in a storm where the winds reached 80/90mph. The original pole section was repaired but i think this pole section was weakened by the winds back in Scotland and was just waiting to snap. So i had to make a quick call to Expedition HQ (Home) where my parents very kindly drove down the next evening and dropped of my spare tent while Vango organised a replacement pole.

After a day or so mooching around Stratford i set off again into the crap weather for another wet ride. The rain was constant but every now and again would become so heavy it was impossible to ride so i’d take cover in bus stops in little villages where i’d take the time to grab a snack and read my book (and get a good staring at by the locals). On the road i met an elderley man who stopped me and starting telling me about the amount of touring he had done around the world, mainly in Europe. He then asked where i was heading, i told him, and he pointed me in the ‘right’ direction. This ‘right’ direction was indeed the wrong direction and took my back through the village i cycled through and hour or so beforehand. After checking a map in a bus shelter (mine had been blown away) i realised i had done a 15 mile loop which took me back to where i first met the elderley gentleman.

After so many miles i neared Bristol. I was warned by a few people that navigating Bristol’s city centre, especially when you don’t know the area, is extremely difficult so i decided to make camp before Bristol in a little campsite just north of the city. It was here that after grabbing a shower i headed back over to my tent where i found a local cat curled up on my sleeping bag. After evicting the cat i got my head down.

People were not joking about Bristol. It took my a 2.5 hours to navigate the city streets where i had drunks and cyclists alike cheering as i rode past. After Bristol i followed the road toward Weston Super Mare. I had to hold up for a couple of nights to rest my leg which is in considerable pain with a strained/pulled muscle. I was very kindly donated a pitch at Dulhorn Farm Camping Site which allowed me to rest my leg over the Easter weekend.

After resting my leg i headed south. I’m headed for Devon and then possibly Cornwall but really, where i go is dependent on where i can catch a lift on a yacht to the continent from. That itself will be a task but it’s all part of the expedition. I’m currently writing this blog in a bar adjacent to a campsite where once again the owner has let me camp for free. I thought i’d spend part of the money i saved on the pitch and buy my first pint of local cider (very nice it is too).

So that’s where i’ve been and where i’m headed but my riding isn’t all i need to concentrate on. The expedition is still seeking funding through corporate sponsors. If you know someone or a company who may be interested in checking out a sponsorship proposal please feel free to drop me an email with their details. As it stands i have enough funding to get a little of the way into Russia but no further (and i can’t afford a flight back) so the rush is on to find a sponsor!