The months Past and Future

Looking back over a summer spent in Cape Town, it is hard to believe that the time here is up. It feels like only yesterday that I arrived.

Since then there have been beach days galore; breakfast on the beach, drinks on the beach, sandcastles built on the beach, cricket on the beach...(you get the point).

When not at the beach I was out cycling, firstly prepping for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, which was blown out by strong winds, and secondly for my upcoming cycling trip to Canada.
Down time was spent poring over maps, making contact with Canadian friends, planning routes and alternative routes, and generally trying to learn as much about Canada as possible.

Lazy days in Kalk Bay, having late breakfasts, and lunches, whizzed by. Sunset drinks in Noordhoek, and feeds at the Food Market. Cuddles with my new niece, Skye, braais with family and friends, early morning running and cycling; each day was filled with activities.

Then the British contingent arrived. Thanks to all those that made the trip over to SA for various reasons, I am glad we managed to catch up and celebrate those things that needed celebrating.

Relaxing time away in the Cedarberg and Warmwaterberg hot springs was greatly appreciated, as my brain was saturated with all things Canadian.

Those were Months Past.
Now for Months Future.

A quick stopover in London to say helloooo to friends, watch a rugby tournament dressed as a Greek god, and to swap wheels. A carbon road bike for a full steel touring bike.
And to make sure my camping gear is in working order.
That's kinda important.

I have a long list of things to complete before my flight to Vancouver at the end of the month, and a fairly rammed social calendar to make things even more exciting.

***

The trip to South Africa has been amazing, and the trip to Canada, I can only imagine, should be as mind-blowing.
SO much lies in store in the next few months, I am quite excited to say the least.

The start of Something New

The start of Something New.

A seed has been planted; various ideas are taking shape; plans being drawn up and it's time to move on.
Things are moving at an alarming rate at the moment, and when 2016 draws to an end, so much in my life will be about to change.
I had no idea that handing in my notice at work would have such an effect on everything, and it is exciting.

The start of 2017 promises more change as well, but you'll have to wait and see what those are.

My current situation is as follows:

• I have quit my job - last day 10 January '17
• I have moved out of my flat in London
• Currently couch surfing

It started out with a messy flat, boxes everywhere, bikes in various states of undress as I prepared to move. I knew I had a lot of stuff, but crikey, the stuff was everywhere! Eveeeeeeerywhere!!

Pens, paper, photo frames, magazines, books, DVD and CD collections, candles, rubber ducks in the bathroom, how do we end up accumulating so much?

The flat slowly became cleaner and tidier as more boxes, dated clothes and wine glasses got shifted out. Freecycle is amazing for shifting stuff you no longer want or require, with the rest goes to the local charity shops. By the end of the weekend charity shop runs had crept towards double figures, and I knew most of the staff by name.

Rather sparkly

The end result?

A sparkling, spotless and empty flat.

Here's a little test for you to do at home.

Take a look around your room/house/flat/shed and estimate how many boxes you think it would take to pack up all the items in it.

Got the number?

Wrong!

Things learnt so far.

1. Packing up and moving house is stressful. Stress. Full.
2. Take the time. Be as organised as you can.
3. Family and Friends are valuable commodities to have at times like this. Rely on them. I came close to losing it a few times over the past few weeks. Friends can verify that, but at the end of the day the work needed to be completed,  those boxes wouldn't pack themselves.
4. Do we really need so much stuff? In this current world of consumption, I realise even I was guilty of having so much more than was necessary.

Stay tuned for my next update...2017 is going to be a belter of a year.

Scratching the dirt, laying down tracks

It has been over a year since my trip finished. Where has the time gone?

What do I do next?

I loved riding those distances, seeing the sights, tasting the food.
Basically living, and living basically!

What countries/continents get the pleasure of my attention next? Do I fly my bike elsewhere and start from there, or do I leave (from) London?

(LEJOG, lap of Scotland, Wales south to north, Ireland south to north?)

Do I ride alone? Do I ride with someone else?
Charity - ride for a cause?
Budget? Time allowance?

It might be time to scratch the dirt again, to lay down some tyre tracks and pick up new experiences and memories.