Well, took the night ferry to Harwich and then cycled on to Harlow. Had a few hiccups, not of the alcoholic type, on the way and eventually to London.
Always interesting to do a reverse journey. With 5 weeks under my belt the hills weren’t steep and the miles rolled by with ease – But, as is often the case, just when you think things are sorted, they unravel. Which they did in Harlow.
Now Harlow is not, what one might call the glowing rose of England. It suffers from too much post war architecture (ie a lack of style, coherence or imagination) and this seems to seep into the general atmosphere. So knowing my feelings towards it, Harlow decided to get its own back by insuring that the place I’d booked for the night had my reservation but no room available. Eventually I found a Travel Lodge down by the Station which was ok and the bike and I slept fitfully in the room -that is until the PitStop in Auckland, NZ called to remind me about the Car Warrant being due and the Dentist in Mission Bay called to say it was time for a check up.
The next day was quite a lovely ride thru London’s assault course to Esther and Phils place in southeast London
Anyway…. I now in Madeira now for a week of R&R. Despite what you may see in this picture, the sun is shining and the bike is tucked away, awaiting my return to take on either the West Country or France. It really will be a coin toss when I fly back to London…..