Travelodge Derby

... by 9.30 but about 9.50 I realised that I was stalling: the huge reality of the situation was causing me to shy away and dither rather than taking action - it was probably behind my stomach cramps too. :-)

This was not really a surprise - the North Staffs (and South Cheshire) region has been my primary area of residence for 10 of the last 12 years, and is the only place I have lived where ...

Wow - only one week to the day before we make our way down south to London town to stay in the very affordable 'heathrow' travel lodge.

Liz in in Manc saying goodbye to friends and family and i'm sorting the last bits out for the fresh box before we go.

Just wanted to say thank you to Ron and Sue for ...

Today, for the first time, I saw what it will all look like on the road - and now you can too. The pictures attached show everything that is to be taken (excluding what is kept on my person) in a loaded state.

As you can see I have eventually opted for panniers to drop the weight and it improves handling dramatically ...

... for now ;-)), I'm most excited about the sleeper train, it's so much more interesting then sitting in Manchester Airport for 4 hours! We'll be squeezing into a tiny cabin, with a triple bunk bed on an 11 hour journey...shutting the curtains in Germany and opening them in Denmark.....and it's cheaper (what with a lack of luggage limits saving me from extortionate Easy Jet add-ons!)

I'll keep updating this as I start booking hostels and buying things for Denmark!

So I'm back in Stoke after my brief trip back to Cumbria (where, sadly I did not see everybody that I could have). I would just like to say now that if I didn't get a chance to catch up with anyone during the whirlwind that was the last couple of months then I'm sorry and I'll see you down the road.

With a little over 10 days til departure three goals need to be achieved:

1 ...

... 45 minutes while he takes his break, what a joke! We stop at a service station and I wait around while he takes his break and we get on our way again. Finally I arrive at Helena and Phil's house at 00:30 and sneak in a get straight to bed. What a day!!!

... K-Vantaan otteluita? olin silloin ihan pieni ja ostit aina minulle karkkipussin ja istutit katsomaan. ja jalkeenpain sanoin siskolle, etta omistan Jokereiden joukkueen. sisko-parka muistaa sen viela nytkin.. :P) Illalla sitten oltiin Nottinghamin kuurojenyhdistyksella. Valtavasti ihmisia, siella saattoi hadin tuskin hengittaa. Pff. Ja ehdin havainnoida, etta derbylaiset/nottsilaiset kuurot ovat ihan erilaisia kuin Prestonissa ...

After all the sights and travels of the past few weeks, the last few days have been very quiet. There has been the need to take care of some more mundane issues this week, so while we were out and about over the weekend just past, Monday & Tuesday has been rather dull from a trip journal point of view. Saturday 22nd July There is an "Antique & Collectables Fair" being held at Pride Park today, and for those of you who do not know, Pride Park is the new home of the Derby Football Club ...

... to church wilne lake before hand. So I was at the lake by 8.15am. It was a glorious morning here and I sat and watched the birds and passed the time away.Amongst the usual things I saw an arctic tern fishing , a Kingfisher and some sort of water rat/rodent swimming across the lake. It was a nice way to start the day. The doctor has given me prescription for 2x inhalers, which is all I will need. Thats about from my end down here so its over to you!!!