We’ve just had two great days recovering from the long flights, re-familiarising ourselves with London, and setting ourselves up to start the ride (which involved some lovely shopping in a huge bike store in London).
We tend to head for the Bayswater area each time these days. I think it is mostly about the lovely opportunity for Rod to run in Hyde park but it is also about staying around what we are familiar with. It also has wonderful memories for the slightly left of centre reason that we were there when we were, in the wee small hours of the morning, organising the exciting purchase of our place in Noosa.
Although we ended up being too tired to go to the theatre as I’d hoped ( I just love musicals) we managed to overcome jet lag, and buy those couple of vital things for our ride (read new nicks, utra light rain jacket, waterproof shoe covers, reflector ankle stripes, cycling cap (I swore I’d never be seen dead in one of those but I’m told it is very good for keeping the rain off you face and I suspect we are going to need it). I also bought a new pair of Nike ultra light, ultra collapsable (read knitted) running shoes to squash into my already over stuffed bag. Our last achievement before leaving London was to go to my favourite Lebanese restaurant in Bayswater, the Phoenicia. It is the best! I say “my achievement” as Rod comes along reluctantly. He is not much into Mediterranean food whereas I just adore it.
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- Phoenicia Restaurant- Bayswater
We picked up a car a couple of days ago and have headed slowly west, exploring Devon and Cornwall on our way to the starting point for our ride.
We managed to happen upon a new restaurant by the River Cottage man in Winchester – yum! Had a wonderful morning in Exeter, then headed over the moors (seeing the infamous Dartmoor prison by accident) and tonight we’re in St. Ives (who knew the English had golden sand beaches?), I hope the photos do these beautiful places justice.
We have one more day of exploring tomorrow, then a bike set up day before the ride starts in earnest on Sunday. We saw lots of cyclist tackling the steep hills of the moors today. It didn’t look pleasant. Oh well, I keep focussing on the sense of achievement. Right??
I’ll keep a more regular diary when we start the ride hopefully.
We hope you are well.
Love,
Rod and Karyn
