Day 17. 74km (84117kms 8yrs)
Two weeks have passed since I arrived in London. In that time I got Gibbo serviced; brake fluid bleed, new front disc brake, new calliper, new bottom bracket, new cogs and belt installed. And applied for an Algerian visa. The process is a bit silly; you have to book accommodation for the duration of your visa and the visa validity begins ticking the minute they approve it. It was issued to me 5 days later so I have a 15 day visa with 85 days validity remaining. This means I will need to go fairly swiftly to Algeria and extend it once inside the country which I believe I am permitted to do.
Family hugged, I rode just a couple of kilometres to meet Muriel who will be accompanying me as far as Canterbury. It’s a lovely way to ease myself back into life on the road. Not nearly so agreeable is the Thames path at the weekend. Incredibly the Eurovelo 1 shares narrow footways with pedestrians who mercifully were very forgiving of our unusually wide bikes. It’s preferable to be off the busy roads of course but between the ugliness of industrial areas, the uneven surfaces, and all the pedestrians who necessarily have right of way, it wasn’t ideal. There’s no nice way to leave a big city though I suppose.
After a Greggs sausage roll lunch (a British institution) the Eurovelo crosses the M25 and all of a sudden we were amongst the hills following a canal towpath. Here narrow barriers prevent car and motorbike access, but are challenging for loaded touring bikes to navigate, and if you’re on a handbike, trike, or wheelchair forget it.
We arrived in Gillingham where Muriel had rented us an Air BnB. It’s decorated in a script I recognise from the trip I made over winter, so I misidentified our host as Ethiopian when he’s Eritrean 🫣
A sinophile, Muriel picked us up a takeaway; I love English Chinese food! Then it was time to settle back into my life blogging and vlogging my day.
Many thanks to return Patron Jemna! If you too enjoy my vlogs, blogs, and photogs please consider joining me on Patreon 😃
https://www.patreon.com/helsonwheels?fan_landing=true
#london #cycling #biketouring
4 Comments
There are beautiful areas in the west and southwest of Algeria, including Oran, Tlemcen, and Timimoun. Have a nice trip.👍👍👍
I always feel guilty when people on shared paths seem to panic to get out of my way even though I'm going the same speed as them. I think I kind of do the same when I'm walking too though, I hear a bell behind and don't know which side they want to pass on.
You're back!
When going through Greenwich College, it is best to through the grounds, not the narrow foot path. @4:01 I call that 'the bridge of truth'. I have never failed to get over! The area near Crossness Pumping Station is local to me. @6:15 After Gravesend, I don't know the route you took. It looks nice.