Day One – Pennies, Panniers and Porridge.

It’s been two very long years but finally we are here ….its day one of our epic, highly over planned and long time in the making TMAAT in Bohemia adventure. Please make yourself comfy, pour a glass of wine and settle in for a tale of heroic daring do, human suffering and endurance, picking the weevils  out of porridge and of pummelling your swonicles out of existence.  (if it is your first time here  I should probably clarify that it’s not really any of those things bar the last one ….there is an enormous amount of swonicle pummelling.)

Yesterday once we had finished packing and re-packing many many  many times we finally settled down for some drinks and a nice meal which was carbs, with side dish of carbs and a carb infused dessert and of course it’s about now, as usual, that the anxiety really starts to build…..this is a ridiculous idea!

After a fitful nights sleep I am up and about before 6am fretting about have I packed too much, have I not packed enough, how many inner tubes is enough inner tubes, do I need four jackets, is three pairs of pants enough (yes I know, I heard it too!). We have an unusually light breakfast and then all of a sudden it’s time ….we have to leave.

Despite all the forecasts to the contrary it is of course grey and raining ….nothing says “British summer adventure” like waking up to drizzle and having soggy socks before you’ve even left the house.

This will be our sixth adventure but the “goodbyes” are even harder now than the first we time we headed off in 2016…..it’s really really difficult to wrench your self away from loved ones and of course all the creature comforts like having a comfy bed and a room around you and running water and a flushing toilet and a kettle….OMG and a toaster. What on earth are we doing!

In the blink of an eye the goodbyes are over, the first pedal is turned and we are on our way to Budapest.

We pause, as tradition demands, at Trafalgar Square to throw our pennies into the fountain. One each, and one stashed deep in a pannier to carry all the way to the Danube. We’ll toss them in at the end, assuming we make it there and assuming we are still talking at that point….not in anyway guaranteed!!

The roads out of London after Trafalgar Square were as expected: loud, chaotic, and smelling faintly of bin juice. Whitechapel, Mile End, Romford…it’s like a who’s who of whatever the opposite of Location, Location, Location is. Once we hit the Essex countryside, the air cleared, the traffic eased, and it finally felt like the real journey had begun….and in fact it was really rather special. The weather had really perked up, the roads were quiet and traffic free (mostly) and most importantly the wind was at our backs.

Two things that are guaranteed in any TMAAT adventure are ignoring road closed signs (pah! We tweak the nose of road signs) and, of course, we indulge in cordon bleu lunchtime cuisine courtesy of the “le garage” (is it le or la?). I didn’t actually want to post this photo (or the one of me looking bald and eleventy billion years old in Trafalgar Square) but Marc said I must. I feel like this photo might be my Ed Milliband moment although in my defence I was v v v hungry.

In other news you will recall that originally this adventure was planned for 2024 but we had to cancel at the last minute. That meant that our bespoke, designer cycle jerseys (and yes we do have complimenting “lounge wear” t shirts too) had 2024 plastered all over them and needed to be changed. Ever resourceful Marc brought some iron on letters which on balance was partially successful. Yes he has managed to change 2024 to 2025 but he left all the other letters in the pack he purchased under the shirt as he ironed…..how I laughed!

Eventually we roll into Harwich around 1730 and I am going to stick my neck out and say it’s not a holiday destination….its more a place that you come to so you can leave it.

We roll into Harwich around 1739 and we manage to find ourselves a lovely pub (The Alma….highly recommend) and settle in for some beers and a great, and much needed meal. Whilst eating we also meet a young family who, interested in our jerseys, are keen to find out more about what we are doing and why…..it’s a genuinely uplifting experience and I cant thank Harry and Reece for reminding us why we do what do and how much we get from it….thank you so much!

The ferry is not until 11pm so there is plenty of time to relax and write the blog ….you would think!

Final stats for the day….Miles = 96, Feet climbed = 2800, Moving time = 7hrs 14mins, Pints consumed = more than I care to mention, Swonicles pummelled = all of them!

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far and even if you haven’t, please check back in tomorrow for more high jinks and tomfoolery!