I wanted to leave several days before my first cycling post so that I had a few kilometres under my wheels, and it would be easier to give a balanced account of how things are going. It is true to say that I still feel like someone dressed up as a cyclist, but who isn't a 'real' one yet! I am happy to have experienced lashing rain in my face (only for about 30 minutes), a bit of sleet, and some nasty busy roads with cement lorries and skip trucks thundering by - because this means that I know I can deal with these eventualities. Best of all I have already had to push my bike up a couple of hills - so am not burdened by the 'never had to get off my bike' pressure that would get worse the more days of the journey that I had completed.
I have, however, had a nice time so far, seen some amazing sights, stayed in some great B&Bs and met really friendly people. My thighs and bottom are suffering a bit from the fact that I did no cycling preparation what-so-ever, but I am coping well so far!
