Ready for the off

The car is packed. The bikes are on the rear mounted carrier and we're as ready as we'll ever be. Ready to take over where Mark Cavendish left off... I think not.

Ahead of us lies 3 hours on the ferry, a days motoring to Bordeaux, and then 8 days in the saddle. We expect that each day's riding will be done at a leisurely pace; allowing time for coffee and lunch stops, time to take in the scenery, reflect, perhaps even take refuge from the sun.

Each day TB and I will keep our eyes open for SC coming from the other direction, having arrived at the next base camp, and read a few pages, beore feeling guilty about leaving us out in the scorching heat.

There is a late change of plan. Asterix is now riding with me. He's on my front forks, held on by black electrician's tape.

Countdown - 17 days to departure

Well we set off in just over two week's time. SC and I on ferry from Portsmouth to Chebourg on Monday 21st. TB flying Southampton to Bordeaux the next day.

We start riding on the 23rd, setting out from Langon to join the canal at the start (Castets-en-Dorthe) and heading for Damazan. We intend to ride for 8 days in total, finishing at Sete on the 30th. Then we leap in the car to drive to Merindol for my birthday.

To do:

• Bike rack
• Get gear cables adjusted
• Trial run at loading the car
• Not much more training
• Finish drawing the rather unnecessary lines on google maps
• Confirm we've confirmed our bookings.
  
• Sort out all the maps
  

Dead in the water

On arriving at work this morning I noticed how clear the water in the brook by the car park was. But I also noticed that many of the fish had disappeared. I concluded that it was the fish that made the water so murky and now they'd gone back to the main lake the mud was settling so the water was clearing. I thought no more about it.

Half an hour later, a colleague asked "Did you see all the dead fish floating by the bridge?"

Obviously the answer was no! But I was so surprised and shocked.

A few hours later I went to see for myself.
The corpses had now sunk to the bottom. It was horrible.

I looked again on my way home. There were still a few live fish in the tributary by my car.

I don't know what killed them. In all honesty, I think I'd rather not know.
It was so sad. 200 beautiful carp wasted. I do hope there will be survivors tomorrow.

here we go then

In three month's time I will be setting off to cycle the length of the Canal du Garonne and the Canal du Midi, in France. This is a journey of approximately 433 kilometres. I am cycling with my friend (TB). My partner (SC) is also coming for the journey. TB and I intend to cycle for 8 days. SC is going to drive the support vehicle and come to meet us each day as we near journey's end. Our daily schedule is not excessive as a) we want to enjoy ourselves, b) we're going in July, c) it's a holiday.

We started training about a month ago. Nothing wrong with ourselves, so far. But our bicycles need a little attention. For example, my back brake is well worn down.

Over the coming weeks I hope to add a few more notes about the journey. And later on include details of the route and a few snaps.

This is my first public blog. In time I'll learn how to improve readability.