Victoria Park Hotel Derby

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Existential crisis averted; I then had to get a shuffle on to reach my final vaccination appointment at 10.50 in Crewe. I made it (just) and then had to do a few things in Crewe, including see some friends at my old work.

... And so it came to pass that it was 2.30 when Adam set off up the motorway, heading for the penultimate UK destination in this: the prologue of his great adventure

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 ...

... in Cologne Hostel
CityNightLine Sleeper train from Cologne to Copenhagen
3 Nights in Copenhagen Hotel
Mum and Brother return to Manchester via Easyjet

It's taken me 4 weeks to get the timing and money right, but today I've booked the majority of the tickets, and I have a shortlist of accommodation.

It's weird how it's all coming together now, it still feels like booking a holiday....but it's slowly starting to sink in that this is a 1000 mile house move ...

... arrangements in this country.
2) Store or dispose of everything that I have been carting around in the car.
3) Sell the Car.

The end of this process is a watershed moment - from that point on it will be just me, my bike, and the belongings that I propose to carry on the bike... until the end of the journey. (duh duh duhhhh!)

Oh... and anybody wanna buy a Vauxhall Corsa?

... further south to start the journey in the light of the advancing winter - but as a man once said, "Go big, or Go home!" (I make no judgement as to whether he was a wise man). Starting in Amsterdam is more memorable and allows me to pass through three more countries (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) for the sake of an additional day or two on the road.

The countdown is at 15 days and 21 hours...

Tow truck 3, turns up at 20:30, we get loaded up and set off at 20:45 only to find out that the AA have sent me a driver that needs to take his 45 minute break in under an hour. So I waited an extra 1.5 hours for him to arrive and then I have to wait ...

... We take off into clear skies and head up the coast, looking down on the miles and miles of Atlantic beaches. As we near the north of Portugal it becomes misty, over Spain it is cloudy and by the time we reach southern Ireland it is dense cloud, as if a veil has been drawn over the time we have spent away. We treat ourselves to a small bottle of champagne to celebrate our final flight, accompanied by a bacon butty – oh I’m ...

Hi folks, Iin 5 days time it is my birthday. I have actually booked a trip to Lithuania. It should be fun. I guess I ought to start a new travelogue for that trip. Would any readers like to wish me a Happy Birthday? What gift would you suggest for this worldly traveller, other than another trip!

... through the outer suburbs of Derby, and then along some country tracks, so when we arrived we were a bit weary. After something to eat and drink we went for a walk around the gardens which were fabulous. The parish church of St Bartholomew stands in the grounds of Elvaston Castle and is close to the mansion. The oldest part of the church is the chancel, which dates back to around 1200. Almost everything else is medieval, including the fine Perpendicular west tower. The grounds at ...