Monday 20th July 2009Day 2

ODO 293 - 364: 71km

Peaceful morning. Good weather. The usual breakfast. Lovely long sections of traffic free canal paths, parks and bicycle paths. Riding companions. Lost route 6. Cycle unused canal tow path ; rough and narrow. Tesco Northampton; Lemon curd filled muffins. Cycling friend. Visit to the library. Early dinner in the park. Weather turns poor; doesn't rain. Bike feels good. Another picnic campsite; along disused rail line. Spiky tree. Knee sore; wrists sore; ankle sore; arse painfully tender and sore.

I cycled some amazing paths. Weaving through beautiful fields passed quiet bubbling rivers along a flat cycle specific path. I barely saw a sole for miles and miles. What was discovered was that the national cycle route, at least route six, is very well sign posted you really don't need a map. Just don't miss a sign. You get off the path unknowingly and getting back on becomes quite a challenge. I had to get help from my friend Garmin to get me to the next town and try and pick up the lost path. With the help of a local cyclist, we are a strange bunch of people, and after a short visit to the library my great north road was located again.

What did I learn today?

Ask; for help, directions, whatever, just ask. People are generally very friendly and willing to help as much as they can. I had a fantastic chat to a local old boy cyclist. Lost track of my route and spent a few hours chatting to a lovely Irish lady and her fit niece. Received invaluable information from a lady borrowing some books after realising the librarian knew absolutely nothing. Spent considerable time in a service station shop whilst a Bangladeshi gentleman filled my water bottles. And had numerous conversations with myself, often the same one many times over. Communication is real living.

The bike can take it and I know I have about 99 percent of the gear I need and then some but of the weight! I cant see how I'll ever get over a mountain so I must reduce the weight, at least a little bit. Physically I think id push through the pain. I seem to have the right personality for accomplishing goals. Once I set my mind to it I get going and there's no stopping me. I just keep pushing until I get there. Do I have the right mind set? To complete the journey I think yes. To enjoy it? I really need to work on this. The way I approach things whilst may be conducive to getting them finished doesn't necessarily make the most of the situation. I must stop trying to get to the end. I must stop trying to get somewhere and just enjoy where I am at the time.

As I sopped to set up camp the sun came out and it all of a sudden felt earlier than it had a few hours prior. Im not sure if Im hot or cold. Im sticky, dirty and tired. Food wasn't far from my thoughts but my focus was - my arse. Oh how those expensive padded shorts now looked so much more appealing. I await the day my seat is broken in.