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5th June 2018

Day 3 Montpellier to Bedarieux 55 miles over the Espinouse Mountains

Welcome to Episode 7 Day 3 Montpellier to Bedarieux, 55 miles.

This was a hard day. In fact very hard. I didn’t expect this to be so tough. The mountain just didn’t stop coming and this was in part because of the Garmin Touring plus route choice. It just loves to take you on the scenic route. When I finally got to Bedarieux I was disappointed. There seems to be a lot of poverty around and I think it attracts a lot of immigrate workers. The place looks iron down and doesn’t have that rustic french feel to it.

In view of a few days climbing mountains Ive decided to get on a train out of here. Listen to the podcast for the full sp.

Podcast: Download (18.1MB)

4th June 2018

Day 2 Nimes to Montpellier 45 miles

Welcome to Episode 6 Day 2 Nimes to Montpellier

Today was a lazy day. Taking full advantage of a nice soft large bed before a long days ride.

Today’s ride took me thru Le Vidourle with it’s lovely water fall where i stopped for a crepe filled with nuttella and an expresso. The waterfall is at Villetelle. I continued on to Lansargues while making my way to Montgpellier. Finally called it a day in a campsite call Eden. Im finding a lot of campsite dont infact like people with tents. Found one in the end with part services open. No food availible so had to make do with noodles.

Podcast: Download (18.2MB)

3rd June 2018

Day 1 Crillion Le Brave to Nimes 70 Miles

Welcome to Episode 5 The Day after Mount Ventoux

Today was the first day of my ride home to back to the uk. Coming off the back of riding Mont Ventoux, Today was going to be hard. Having said that I still managed to put in a solid 70 miles and ended my day in Nimes. Had to stump up the cost of a hotel as all the camping sites were full or didn’t like my face. To tell you the truth in was probably for the best as my body needed a nice bath to relax and a good bed to sleep in.

The beating of Mount Ventoux is a was eased by the help of the Mario, James, Christian and Phillip. We all conquered the Mountain and got home save and sound. This will be my fifth time climbing Ventoux and I think it his year was the hardest due to a few extras pounds. This ride home will kick start my dreams of a slender body in to gear.

I”ll sign off now will a photo montage of the last few days.

Podcast: Download (22.6MB)

6th March 2016

London Underground Love hate relationship

This is the second time this has happened to me and I hate it. They call it planned engineering works which to everyone else means a major pain in the ass. Traveling from Heathrow T5 to Oakwood station which normally takes an hour but when they have engineering works going on the close part of the line and they put on a bus replacement service between the closed stations adding 30 minutes to the journey and not forgetting to hump your luggage across London. The last time this happened to me it was snowing and it was a real headache especially when you have just travelled half way around the world.

What I don’t understand is why don’t they plan theses works at night and it’s always seems to be on piccadilly line which is the line to Heathrow. How do visitors deal with this. Ok ive done with my rant. I’m now sitting on my train to Oakwood after the bus replacement and it Won’t be long until I’m in my North London.

Show some love

Now most of the time the London transport system is great. You only have to do a bit of traveling to other major sites around the world to realise how comprehensive London transport is. It’s like a web and it extends to most parts of outer London. Even at its furthest points youre only 30 minutes from central London. When in Rome I jumped on the tube in rush hour and it was like being squeezed in a can. I’m sure if there was a competition in how to get the most amount of people into a train Rome would be a strong contender. From what I hear Japan takes some beating though

Back to London my home.

5th March 2016

Ciao Italy

The week as flown by and although the weather was not the great I still enjoyed seeing Rome. The highlight of the week was and still is St Peter’s Basilica, the church always takes my breath away. We visited the Trevi fountain again and as tradition requests that you throw over your shoulder a coin as a statement for returning to Rome. But after visiting Rome for the fourth time maybe its my last. Nevertheless I enjoyed walking and walking and walking the streets.. I leave you with some photos from my travels.

1st March 2016

Barstard Stole My Umbrella!

So the second day in Rome was met with rain. Not the small drops that mildly interrupt ones day but the huge drops that feel like someone is pouring water on you from a hose. Thankfully the pre booked tickets for the Vatican museum saved most of the day. Our entrance was at 10am and as we entered the heavens opened up as if the gods themselves were angered. The Vatican Museum is vast and even if you had a whole week there I’m sure the you still would miss things. My advice is not to mentally try and view every exhibit but just to let the whole experience flow over you and absorb the place and the history and the truly amazing works of art.

The second half of the day we visited the Saints Peter’s Basilica followed by lunch and then we stumbled upon the Pantheon. The rain continued and after about an hour of trying to miss the rain we finally gave in and went home. The final blow come when I went to the supermarket. When you enter there is a place to leave your umbrella. Like a good citizen I placed my rain shield in the proper place. All the time I was walking thru the Aisles I was thinking that someone would take the 5 euro umbrella which I purchased from one of the many street salesman you see around Rome. My premonition come true and the cheap umbrella that served me well was gone. I hope the person looks after the umbrella and gives it a good home.

Here are some pictures of the day. I miss you Umbrella 🙁

28th February 2016

Rain In Rome

The first proper day in Rome was met with rain and lots of it. Oh well it was still amazing walking the streets with a special one by your side.

This is the thing about Rome. Tagging, it’s everywhere you go there is so much graffiti which is just tagging type and not the good stuff. I know some people view all graffiti and mindless destruction but when done well it can add a level of culture and character but there lies the problem, controlled graffiti is false and has no message. I’ve visited many countries and see great a bad graffiti and I’m sorry to say Rome doesn’t have good street art so I’ll leave you with the original wall paintings.

15th February 2016

6.32 Mile Run Around Dubai Marina

12th February 2016

Running The Dubai Marina

Running Marina Dubai

Well I finally got to do a run in Dubai coving six miles in just over and hour . My first impressions of Dubai seems to be a sole less place with lots of different types of people only coming here for the money . Most of the people you see other than the Philipino and Indian service works are Europeans office types. There clearly is money to be made here doing what I don’t know. Must be finance of some sort. In my field which is TV media advertising all you see is a mixed bag of people from all over the world.

Taking taxis from meeting to meeting and speaking to the drivers who in 99% of the time are Indian or Pakistan the main topic of conversation is why do people come to Dubai. MONEY. Most of them say there is no real life here. It’s all based on Money. I’m sure that’s the same for most people where ever they are but in Dubai you really feel that’s the sole purpose.

Looking are round you see a lot of young to middle aged men in coffee shops on laptops working. Even that the weekends which start on Fridays. I myself is stilling in a coffe shop called Martinez writing this blog. Speaking with the owner who is a Maroocan who was living in Italy for the past twenty years and move to Dubai four years ago due to the failing economy of Italy said that there is very little social life here. He said it takes a good few years to develop a social group and then life is good as long as your making the money.

So life in Dubai could be good as long as your making money and have a good social network but to my eyes it seem to be a lot of people sitting alone in coffee shops. Looking forward to coming home.

Tall buildings

Dubai Mall waterfall

Burj Khalifa Tower

3rd February 2016

Lucky To Travel

It has to be said that I’m a lucky person to travel as much as I do.