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...

Sunday 19th July 2009 Day 1 ODO 205 - 293 98km Many pleasant surprises on my first real day of cycling: Fantastic paths; good signs. A Brass band; Somewhere over the rainbow. Rain. A lovely canal side campsite. Further than I was expecting. Quiet roads. Hunger. Thirst. Sore arse! A very uneventful start to the day but personally it was positively early. After a breakfast of porridge with banana and sultanas made with water - a staple I was expecting to live of...

London to Scotland: The test ride - and how it ended all so abruptly! Saturday 18th July 2009 Day 0 ODO 195-205 10km Packing is a rush; the house is a mess. Tired from the school term. Still shopping; I need some shorts. Excited! Considering this trip was to be a preliminary test for the big cyclenavigation from London to Australia I really left things until the last minute. Whilst this may not be completely unusual for me, this time I felt much less prepared...

Canal boats cruising effortlessly along the quiet narrow canals. All shapes and sizes, all colours but mostly greens and blues. No pinks! Decorated with flower pots and ornamental paintings. Care taken with the selection of curtains and table cloths. Flowers neatley arrange on tables. Owners scurrying to operate the locks. One lady with a small folding bicycle pedals ahead ready for the coming boat - her boat. A canal tunnel dark as night and then some. Does it ...