1 week to go!!

Wow, I cannot believe the start of this 6 week tour is coming round so fast.  And still so much to do!

Originally, my holiday this year was to attempt my first solo tour in Europe and I'd chosen to cycle across Switzerland via Swiss National Cycle Route 4 which is called the Alpine Panorama.  Those who know me know how much I love cycling in mountains!

When I decided to leave my job a couple of months ago, I grabbed the opportunity to extend the tour over the rest of the Summer.  Therefore, I will now be heading out to Switzerland on 18th July and returning home at the end of August.  After completing the Alpine Panorama tour, my route is flexible although I hope to take in some of the cols in the Haute Savoie region before heading north via the Jura mountains, the Vosges mountains and the Champagne region of France before picking up the European Bike Express in Calais.

I will be camping and carrying all my gear except for the first week in Switzerland when Swiss Trails will be transferring my back panniers from campsite to campsite.  I'll still be carrying my rack pack with tent, etc., and my front panniers with all the food.  Food is a big priority on cycle tours!

I fell in love with cycle touring back in 2007 when my Dad and I joined an organised trip with Bike Adventures from Land's End to John O'Groats.  Since then, I've cycled with Bike Adventures in Corsica, completed the Channel to the Med (north to the south of France), the 10 day Raid Pyreneen and a 2 week tour in the French Alps taking in all the cols made famous by the Tour de France.  Bike Adventures re-introduced me to camping, which I was absolutely dreading, and now I camp at every opportunity! 

All luggage was transferred with an organised group.  I took my first tentative steps into cycle-camping under my own steam last Autumn with some weekends away in the Yorkshire Dales.  Cycle touring for 6 weeks in Switzerland and France is a big leap from a few weekends away in the Dales but I can't wait!

Will I still like cycle touring by the end of this trip?  Will I love or hate my tent?  Will my camp cooking be more exciting than my usual repertoire at home?  Will I meet more people on my own?  In what ways will this trip change me?  Will my hair be indescribable without my hairdryer and hair straighteners?!

I'll start finding out a week today...!