And here are the gang! Starting from the back left and working clockwise: Bri, Phil, Robert, Chris, Alan, Ramsey, Captain Ken, me and Janice. Thank you all so, so much for welcoming me back with such a super day out on the bikes. Although it was your easiest ride of the year, today I achieved one of my fastest average speeds of the trip simply by making it into double figures!! Chris commented on how strange it must look to the public seeing all these guys (& Janice!) on lightweight road bikes and me, a female, lugging all these panniers along! My spirits were high and I worked as hard as I could to keep my pace up. My legs are very tired tonight!
I couldn't have asked for a better welcome home. And a big thank you to all of you who have wished me a welcome home but couldn't be there today for various reasons - at work, away on hols, etc.
And I want to add that Ramsay, after hearing about my trip & watching the Olympics, did his own cycle camping tour in the Lake District over the Summer which was hugely exciting to her about. Good on you, Ramsay!
My big moment of walking through my front door and the trip being over didn't happen quite as I anticipated. First, I met one of my neighbours & had a good catch up with her. I was due at my friend, Debby's, within the next 30 minutes & definitely needed a shower as well as some food, I was starting to "bonk" (for any of you not familiar with this term, ask any cyclist/runner & they will explain!). I threw my panniers through the door, had to take a water meter reading before I turned the water back on, I'd got a potential leak identified only when my monthly direct debit suddenly trebled for no reason, I hadn't even got off the loo (sorry, I share everything on this blog) before another excited neighbour was at my door, I then had the fastest shower of my life, quickly heated up & ate some filled pasta, peas & pesto, printed off a voucher that Debs needed for her holiday and raced up to see her and my favourite 3 year old, Grace Ruth Jackson (pie) who was rather hyper! Happy holidays Debby, Jim & Grace who jet off to sunny Spain early tomorrow morning!
I think I got back home by around 8pm after I'd met some more neighbours en route home. My panniers are still dumped by the door, all my post is still untouched & I've decided to leave everything until tomorrow. It can all wait!
So I've had a fantastic day and I can't tell you how happy I am to be back home. As soon as I did walk through my door, my flat was looking fabulous and the views over the moors were as stunning as always. I love Ilkley, I'm so lucky to live here. And I love my gorgeous little flat. I have so much to look forward to, so much to catch up on, so many exciting things to do.
Thank you, thank you, thank you all again and again for your wonderful company on the blog, email & text whilst I've been on this journey. Your amazing support has helped me through the good days & the grumpy ones & I've enjoyed hearing about what's been going on at home, especially the Olympics. I loved Charlie's latest blog post, that was a lovely thing to say, thank you. I'll have the e-book out in time for the Christmas rush!!
And, I didn't dare say this before, but...NO PUNCTURES!!!! No mechanical problems with the bike at all, just my broken tent pole. I have a Ridgeback World Voyage, what a trouper.
For the stats lovers out there, early indications are that I covered nearly 1,400 miles (over 2,200km) on a mostly mountainous or hilly route. In summary, I cycled across the Swiss Alps, in the French Alps, the Swiss Jura & then through France via the Vosges, Champagne & up to Calais. I encountered everything from heatwaves to violent mountain storms to severe gales to torrential rain to snow covered ground. What a trip!
I'll let you know when the e-book's out!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on O2
Andi, I really don't know what to say, what a woman!! Well done and enjoy the well deserved pampering this week and catching up with everyone. I will miss the blog but won't miss having to prove I'm not a robot every night when I want to comment ( record number of attempts on a particularly sleep-deprived day - 4!)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy sleeping in your comfy bed at long last and if you do feel the need to let us know exactly what you stock your fridge and fruit bowl with, and what you cook now that you're back in a fully-equipped kitchen, then I for one will continue to be an avid reader :-D
Mary
xx
Well done sis - what a journey, what an epic story and such a triumph. Physically and mentally one tough cookie. What a welcome home, thanks to all for keeping that grin in place for a little bit longer! Yippee to a comfy bed - enjoy sis! Chat soon jxx
ReplyDeleteWell done Andi, hopefully you are tucked up in bed fast asleep as I type this gone 10pm. I have loved reading your blog and look forward to the book. Enjoy your forthcoming treats and catching up with people. Massive congrats to you and your bike. Jeannette xx
ReplyDeleteAlready? Is the blog finished? No!! It was so good like a book I've enjoyed so much I don't want it to end!! Back to being no-non sense person: I've loved your blog... You're good at it, Have I already mentioned it? yes I think I have but I won't go checking... sad!!;-& Enjoyed the family and friends comments also... Repeating myself. I can't let go!! I know. I hope we will meet up soon. Thank you again and well well done! Should make our visit to Mary's coincide as well. that would be cool!! Love. T.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home Andi. Glad you had a safe and great trip!!
ReplyDeleteSad no more blogs to read :(
Hope to catch up with you soon
Mandie
x
When's your medal ceremony? This is a much over-used word these days but "AWESOME" sums up what you have achieved. What an adventure. Well done, I hope you are incredibly proud of yourself.
ReplyDeleteHave a think about the Colston's reunion on 22nd September, would be great to see you & Jan in Bristol if you can make it.
Enjoy your home comforts, your massage and eating some hearty meals.
Well done Andi.
Emma R x
Morning Daughter,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely welcome for you! and in sunshine! how did you manage that!
Such a huge achievement to have completed the entire tour on your own and organised by you, words really fail me. No punctures as well, i was wondering about asking if you had any but decided i was tempting fate! What a fabulous bike to have come through all the travelling and panniers on every spare space. amazing!!
i am looking forward to having a catch up and a visit as soon as can be arranged. i have lots of tea bags and biscuits!!
Enjoy your day
Lots of love
Mum xx
welcome home hun, you are truly awesome and such an inspiration, looking forward to the book of your amazing adventure Joan xxx
ReplyDeleteWell done Andi - what a wonderful achievement! Mel xxx
ReplyDeleteAndi my life is a little less now that you're home and I don't have your blog to look forward to reading. I felt I was with you on every uphill in the rain, random stranger kindness and every cup of tea. I am so impressed with your trip and your articulate ability to write about it and to make it come alive to me thousands of miles away. You are an inspiration - thank you.
ReplyDeleteI hope the next phase of your life is just as rewarding
Jane x
Hi Andi, glad you had a great day homecoming! It was super to meet you and hear about some of your adventures. I've just had a look through your blog - what an achievement! I had an interesting time cycling on some bizarre cycle routes in County Durham, proof you can have a mini-adventure whereever you are, but I'm going to have fun this winter planning a foreign tour next year.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your job-hunting,
Cheerio,
Karen