Hard work

Not the ride - keeping this blog up to date! What's happened since last Tuesday? Been to the gym, out on three rides. Sorted out my wife's bike which is the bike I'm riding to France. Booked the ferry. Planned the English route to Weymouth. Been encouraged by much and generous prayer . Had the pleasure of my daughters - and her friends- excellent GCSE results.

Thanks Kathy for reminding me to post the answer. Can't have you having sleepless nights! I'm smiling as I type this ..... The answer is : " The glass was empty" . Note it was a water glass not a glass of water!

Here's two more :

• A man came to visit at a convent while the superior mother was out of town. He left before she returned, and was careful to leave nothing behind. The nuns said nothing about his visit, so how did the superior mother figure out that a man had been there?
• There are three switches outside a closed room. There are three lamps inside the room. You can flip the switches as much as you want while the door is closed, but then you must enter just once and determine which switch is connected to which lamp. How can you do it?

Maybe you shouldn't have read them , as it may be two weeks before I can get to the blog as I'm off Tuesday!

Week to go !

Time seems to be whizzing past now. Since last thursday when I last updated my blog I've been out only once on my bike - 55K ride.The week end went - very enjoyably - with a visit Saturday to Chester races (where I left 20p up) with Jess John David Nikki Angie's mum and sister Wendy and Sunday taken with church and a family sunday dinner. On the way to the races I happened tp pass Gordales and bought a lightweight backpacking tent (1.5 k) in a slae- pleased with that. I'll take the Millets purchase back tomoorow.So after two rest days I went for a short ride on Angie's bike for the first time- gear change is very smooth and breaks fine. Monday I changed the seat post so I could sit higher. Ordered some mudguards and pannier mounts which I'll collect tomorrow. A conversation with Canon John Bowers - initially on the phone Sat and then continued Sunday after the 9am service -was helpful with advice on maps ( buy a good road map and rip out the relevant pages ), staying on good roads so you make good time, gift of a needed pair of cycle clips and the first to sponsor me at church. Still things to do but it is falling into place. Plan to do a long ride on friday on Angie's bike. There have been several occasions where prayers have been said for my pilgrimage (a significant word ) and these are sustaining.Pause to pose a riddle : A 6-foot tall Magician had a water glass and was holding the glass above his head. He let it drop to the carpet without spilling a single drop of water. How could he manage to drop the glass from a height of six feet and not spill a drop of water? Answer next time

Taking shape

Taking shape eh - the ride and plans, not me! I've decided to camp as it gives more flexibility with each day. As Millets had a tent sale on I've bought a backpacking tent ( 3.7kilos). Planning the route and realise now that I should plan to enjoy and not for speed. The best ferry crossing is Sunday the 6th so that gives me an extra day to get to Weymouth. I'm about to book the flight back from Bergerac for Tuesday the 15th Sept. 12 days to get there and two hours to get back ! But I'll see and hear and enjoy so much more on the outward journey. I've done 3 decent rides in the last four days : 80 K, 50 K and 62 K , the last into a headwind from New Brighton up to Hoylake. Even later coming down the deeside coast the wind has a way of catching you head on. Still more detailed planning to do on the route.

Sat late and thought to briefly update my blog. Since last Sunday I'be been to the gym three times and twice out on the bike. The last time ( Friday) I did 53 K in 2 hours 50 min s so I'm getting quicker. I need though to push through to something like 70 K .

Started plaaning the route in more detail now.

Where's the time gone!

Over a week since I last checked in. What with Mikey and Sarah's wedding in Long Creddon last Saturday - lovely day with family and friends - and then celebrating my mam's birthday (and mine) in Leicester with Jacqueline and Paul and everyone on the Sunday - then me not feeling well for the rest of the week going down with cold stuff . I wasn't on my bike nor at the gym. Still I started to feel better by Thursday this week and went Sat and Sun to the gym. And tomoorow I'm off on the bike.
I need to circulate the just giving link http://www.justgiving.com/destinationbergerac/ so that friends and family can start donating. Time for a smile : Mum is trying to teach her little boy how to zip up his jacket. " The secret ,"" she says , " is to make sure the zip fits into the other side before you try to pull it up ." " The little boy whispers: " Why does it have to be a secret?" I need to thank Graham for most of the jokes. Thanks Graham. They're from our church magazine.