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First I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me, I would like to thank you all individually but I haven't much time on this computer and the keys on these German keyboards are far too frustrating! But thank you, I am genuinely very grateful.
Where to start...
Whenever I have been travelling in the past, many times I found myself looking out the bus or train window and thinking wouldn't it be fantastic to just get off here and explore these villages, or these forests, and just travel at my own pace. But unfortunately most of the time you can't as you would be left stranded. That was always the one thing I wished I could change whenever I was backpacking, just so I could escape from the main tourist areas if I desired, and see ALL of the country, travelling by bike makes this possible.
When I first left my house on the 12th June, I got to about a mile down the road and just started laughing, I thought to myself "what the hell are you doing Tom" - it just didn't seem real. That daunting feeling continued for about the next week, but everyday it fades and is replaced with complete determination, and appreciation, for this journey. I knew the first week or so would be really tough, and it was, but not really in the way I expected. I was prepared for the aching backside and stiff legs, but I wasn't so prepared for the feeling of intimidation that accompanies the thought of covering such a vast amount of land, an entire flipping continent, on a bike! But as I said that eventually fades, and it all starts to make a bit more sense. And what a way to travel, I mean personally it is ideal, you cover a large enough distance a day to feel as though you're actually getting somewhere (about 50 miles), and you're connected to the land and the country you're travelling through in such a unique way. If it rains you get wet, if it's sunny you tan, it's simply a very natural way to be. It feels strange being indoors at the moment on this computer.
When you're cycling along in the evening, with the sun low over the horizon, covering the fields as far as the eye can see in a beautiful gold, and all you can hear is the sound of your wheels going round and round, not a single person or house or car in sight, it suddenly becomes a very peaceful and humbling experience. At times like that I realise how fortunate I am.
But believe me it can be grueling at times too. Yesterday I got completely lost in a forest, I had to push my bike up a very steep and very muddy track, which when your bike and kit ways around 35kg it's not a pleasant experience. But you have to take the rough with the smooth (literally in this case) and as a result I am fitter now than I have ever been before. The loneliness can be difficult at times too, most of all in the late evenings when I find a field or forest to camp and start to cook dinner, and wish I had someone to reflect on the day with. I've found that to compensate for this I have really vivid dreams every night where I have long conversations with friends and family. Last night for instance my friend Grant got married, and to celebrate we played football with the Brazilian football team...I think we lost.
I haven't time to upload photos now, but I will as soon as I can. One thing I have noticed though is how difficult it is to really capture this experience with photographs. It's partly because it's often very difficult to force yourself to stop and get out your camera when you're speeding along. But more importantly it's because what makes this trip special, what makes cycle touring in general special, is the small things that photos cannot capture. Like the wildlife you briefly see (i was inches away from running over a baby fox the other day - not fun), or the feeling of relief when you get lost and finally see a sign pointing you in the right direction, or when your energy levels plumit and after a tub of ice cream, four chocolate bars and a baguette filled with ham and as much fromage you can possibly fill it with, you're raring to go again. Or when after several kilometres uphill you're rewarded with the long winding downhills that lead you through forests and over rivers and past lakes, and you just sit back and take it all in...that's when I can't help but smile.
Munich by the weekend hopefully, and then the big one...the Alps!
Tom
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