"It was June and I'd reached Dover, so I thought I'd do the South Coast next"

I met a Lady on a Dutch Shopping bike, packed out with panniers, top bag, bar bag and carrier bags on top of her rear panniers. I passed her going East on the NCN2 ( near me) 2 hours later and I’m coming West along it to home, and she’s stopped near a corn field.

She said Hi’, so I stopped to say Hello, enquire where she’s off to, mention she’s on the NCN2 and “where’s next?”

“Oh, I’m on my way to Cornwall, along the NCN2 to Plymouth, then along the coast to Lands End. I’m sort of on a walking holiday with my bike, I stop off for ice creams, teas, lunches, anything interesting, bivi and B&B along the route”

😯

, I say.

“So, may I ask where you’ve come from (expecting to hear “Chichester” or something like)”

“Inverness”

😯

*Coughs

“Sorry, I thought you said Inverness!”

“That’s right, I’m riding the coast of the U.K. I thought, why not, the kids get the summer off, I’m not doing much these days”….

Well, the conversation carried on for about another 15 mins with me enquiring about places she’s been, things she’s seen, where she’s off to next, what route etc.. And it turns out she’s already followed the NCN1 from Scotland to Dover, caught the NCN2 to just near me, and will at some point nearing the late Autumn end up at Lands End. She hopes to carry on the NCN7 Lands End/John o’Groats to head home… Or may catch the train..

I shook my head, total admiration and pleased to meet someone who in later life (she is 64) has, and feels comfortable doing a tour by Bike.

Just her, her bike, bivi and B&B, eating ice creams and admiring the UK in all its glory.

8)

Like that.

Marvellous 🙂

Sounds like a great adventure!

Koudos and I hope the weather and landscape are good to her 8)

Colleague of mine was off for a while with work related stress so she decided to go on a nice bike ride to get her head better. Where to, I asked? We’re in Edinburgh so I was thinking, I don’t know, the beach or something. Istanbul, she says. People are great!

Brilliant, puts my past two or three week wanderings by bike to shame.

I feel slightly inadequate for planning a circuit of the Isle of Wight now.

Meanwhile the rest of us (myself included 😉 ) pontificate about what tent/bivi/panniers/tyres/seat bag/bar bag for a weekend trip 😀

I’ve had quite a few cycle tourers staying as i’m a member of warmshowers and i’m always astounded (shamed 😥 ) at some of the folk i’ve met over the years that have bought a cheap 2nd bike and just get on with it, One in particular was pete from Ireland who i met exactly one year ago, First page of his blog is here[/url]. He eventually made it to china 😀

Well, I thought I’d “done a bit” in all my poncy Raphagear, CXer, Apidura mishmash.. Multiday tours, nice hotels, off roady epics.. Me and my “oh, is this a 4* hotel?…. Better pick the 5* it’ll have a wet room and dry room too” horsecrap.

I’m just playing at it.

I’m drinking a cold beer in a glorious sunset.

Hers will no doubt be as perfect.

8)

I like that a lot.

Sort of reminds me of Ann Mustoe who in her 60 s cycled round the world. Couldn’t even fix a puncture but just had faith that it would all be ok.

Meanwhile this year’s summer cycle tour has been postponed again because I can’t work out which mudguardswould be best…

🙄

Adventure before dementia.

Excellent, just excellent 🙂

Put a big smile on my face thanks for sharing bikebuoy

Sod what you ride, that is the dream, both literally and figuratively.

In Singletrack speak Chapeau

Nice

Brilliant stuff!

I feel slightly inadequate for planning a circuit of the Isle of Wight now.

You know there’s a marked road route?

Total admiration for her. Great story. 😀

Cheered me up considerably.

This is cocking ace.

Thank you!

I’ve had quite a few cycle tourers staying as i’m a member of warmshowers and i’m always astounded (shamed ) at some of the folk i’ve met over the years that have bought a cheap 2nd bike and just get on with it,

I was just about to write the exact same thing! Also host warmshowers.

For every gear geek obsessing over bags/stoves/routes/GPS/gears/Ti vs Steel there are another half dozen who just jump on a bike and go.
One of our first guests was a girl from NY who had no idea how to fix a puncture or anything else. Her massively laden bike had panniers racks hanging off it. I did some cable tieing, tightening bolts and pupmed up the tyres and off she went.
Another guy ‘sort of lost a bet’ to do LEJOG and set off from LE without any waterproofs as the weather was quite nice. Needless to say the weather turned so he bought a petrol station pacamac thing and wrapped his feet in plastic bags. He was still using them when he arrived at ours, in the Highlands 🙂

I hope this is true because it’s a great story.

If I had any clue what the NCN2,7,8 or five were – I’m sure I’d find this story very impressive. Good job! And hello to you all from the AZ501I-kl

Groovy.. 🙂

That is just brilliant!

Great story,inspiring.
One of my ex workmates once did a self supported Le Jog in March,I asked him why he went so early in the year,bivvying in snow in Scotland & darkness descending so early compared to Summer,he said ‘well,in the 50’s my dad did it in midwinter’ 😯
Same bloke had a Africa twin Honda & after losing his job decided to ride the Honda from Lancashire to Capetown,but after realising he’d need carnets decided to cycle it instead.He did it,but in South Africa went past Spion Kop,someone told him about the battle there so when he got back to the UK, as he was ex army, he did Liverpool Kop to Spion Kop for ‘Help for heroes’.He was in his late 40’s early 50’s at the time..

You know there’s a marked road route?

Yes 🙁

Though I do have a 20-mile ride to the ferry too.

She shows that you don’t need all the gear, you just need a sense of adventure.

I’d reached Dover, so I thought I’d do the South Coast next

Hope you told her she’d made a mistake and should have got on a ferry 🙂

This is the sort of wonderful news we need more of 🙂
I once met a couple of ladies who were (horse) riding the length of Britain via the BW network, taking it easy over several months of travel. Just a couple of saddle packs and a book of B+B recommendations.