Downhill with a tailwind! My kind of cycling! Looking forward to following along.

Thank you Mark, kind words. I started with shorter runs just to make sure I was happy with the bike and how my muscles would respond, but to be honest I guessed that I'd almost certainly trained enough for longer distances with my gym work. I did want to reach the hundred, just to give me more certainty about successive 70 mile days. Another helpful factor, as I've learned, is that long rides can reasonably be punctuated with a morning cake stop and a lunchtime break in the sun.

I retired a few days before my 52nd birthday. People still look bewildered when I answer the "what are you going to do?" question with "be retired." Part of me thinks it might be subconscious jealousy; I understand, and I forgive them. 😁

Ah, the bike. Yes, I'm trying to hook you in and keep you keen at this stage. Can't give you everything at once. 😉

Next journal entry is planned as a more detailed breakdown of kit and preparation. If you look carefully at the images with her in, you'll spot that she's already carrying three of the planned four luggage items. It's credit card touring, and I'm travelling light.

First pic of Raven and I (spoiler: that's her name) will be on day one at Land's End. I figure that if I pack everything beforehand to check it fits, it loses an element of suspense. At this stage, it remains possible that I'll be doing the journey whilst balancing a pair of espadrilles on my head. Which I think would be a new category for consideration in the record books.

I am SO looking forward to reading about this trip, not the least because of your writing skills.

Also: "I've quickly gone from 30-40 mile runs, steadily up to a one hundred mile one." What? Did you "retire early" at the age of 35? :-)

Yes, you have to be aware of the unwritten rules here!

I'm looking forward to following along. We need to see a photo of your bike, loaded up, and ready to go. You are allowed to be in the photo as long as you don't get in the way of the bike. :)