Lots of activity all of a sudden!

First of all, the fundraising and awareness raising has now started. Yesterday evening saw several hours pass by as I put a flyer together and then emailed just about everyone in my address book. Hopefully, I haven't lost too many friends.

Second, the weather has stayed pretty poor but not bad enough to stop a 40 mile wet and windy ride out to Knaresborough. After being confined to barracks for a week being wet and blown about was not a concern. Strangely, there were loads of other cyclists out too with much cheery hailing to each other, that despite everyone being pretty wet. Even stranger was seeing a party of young ladies going into the Marigold Cafe down by the river as one of said young ladies had a duck shaped flotation aid wrapped around her head. We didn't ask, but we would loved to have known!

Thirdly, having a bike type day, I went to Edinburgh cycles to book the Dawes in for a service. Whilst there the attentive staff relieved me of over £50 but in return gave me a rack top bag that will be handy for the Camino, I did get a few other things too but the Yorkshireman in me was humming and harring about getting the bag. It's on the bike now so that's sorted. Perhaps more important was the chat about the possibility of putting a smaller front inner ring on the transmission to help with the climbs. Although also had quite a long chat with another customer who was telling me about riding up Alp D'huez and Col De Telegraph. His view was take it steady and you get up ok.

April has almost passed by. The weather of late has been horrible and the bike hasn't been out for a week. Miles cycled is far lower than I would like it to be but it has to improve sometime.

We have managed to cycle out togther once and that was a trip to Bolton Bridge. Not without incident both technical and physical! Two riders dismounted either over handlebars or simply falling off sideways, plus one broken spoke. Still, it will be alright on the night, as the saying goes.

Other preparation has included more background reading. The book of the moment is "To the Field of Stars". Very enjoyable too although the refuges providing the overnight accommodation get a mixed review; some quite good and some not that welcoming. It seems that the local wisdom is to set off each day around 6 in the morning and to finish by midday. This avoids the heat of the day and gives ample time to relax and immerse the traveller in the local culture. Quite looking forwards to that! Note to self - must also try to learn some Spanish before we go!

Also been out and bought sheet sleeping bag, light sleeping bag and a survival bag. All the reading suggests that snoring rules in the refuge dormitories so getting prepared to sleep in the great outdoors if need be. Now that I'm not looking forwards to at all! Ugh.

Preparation continues

April already. Since the last post we've met up to look at routes and climbing again. Don't think the climbs are within our experience at all. I've kept going out to get some miles in and tried some new routes. These include climbing up and over Ilkely Moor from Menston but whatever I look at the climbing is nothing compared to what is to come. That said, I had a good run to Knaresborough on Saturday; felt really good and was pulling topside of 20mph much of the way back. Went out today and felt flat from the word go on a short 15 mile loop. Had a few busy days and I've put it down to incorrect feeding!

Weather has also not helped. After brilliant sunshine last week we've had snow and cold this week. Now added to that I'm reading about a chap who walked the Camino and had snow on day 2, so even that is a possibility.

Just telling myself to keep putting the miles in and it will all sort itself out.

We've also done quite a bit of route planning using the guide book to create some more detailed maps via bikehike.co.uk. Using that we are aiming to arrive in Santiago on Tuesday 3rd July which will give us a few days to relax and to make the journey back to Bayonne to get picked up on 8th July. The information from bikehike give us 543 miles of cycling and just under 47000 feet of climbing. There are two big climbing days with the ascent rate running at over 200 feet per mile; the worst of the two is 251 feet per mile. The two section are 19 miles and 23 miles long so not only is it steep but constantly so.

Despite the fear can't wait to get going!