A gruelling 68-mile ride from Harwich to the outskirts of Cambridge, battling some of the most relentless headwinds and unpredictable weather of the entire tour. After a hearty hotel breakfast, I fought through torrential rain, thunder, lightning, and even a mid-ride hail storm before finally reaching Great Shelford.
The DCM Journey: Why this tour mattered. Today was a true test of my physical limits, with the DCM making those “hard miles” feel even more taxing. The “wobbles” were particularly tricky while navigating the wind, and by the time I reached the campsite, I was “absolutely exhausted”. I’m still aiming to be in Salisbury by the 20th for my hospital appointment, which remains the main focus of this home leg of the journey. Dealing with the “Americanised” stress of constant allergy questioning in the UK was an annoying contrast to the common sense of the continent, but it’s all part of being back on home soil.
Watch my full DCM story: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1RViitJ4TjRocgeUTjOlMSuJ9CM8hcpa
Learn more at: https://myelopathy.org/
Today’s Highlights
The “Senile” Moment: A brief lapse in memory coming out of the hotel, as I momentarily forgot which side of the road to ride on!
Colchester Pass-through: Riding through the oldest recorded town in the country and chatting with some friendly local police officers.
King’s Birthday: Realising it was the King’s official birthday (Trooping the Colour), which explained why the trains and London routes were so busy.
Weather Gauntlet: Taking shelter in a village shop during a massive downpour, followed by an unexpected lashing of hail.
Viaduct View: Spotting an impressive railway viaduct on the approach to Cambridge.
Great Shelford Finish: Opting for a well-earned fish and chip supper after reaching the campsite near Trumpington.
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I’m Garry McGivern (Travelsonabike2), and I’ve been travelling the world by bike since 2008. Solo self-supported bicycle touring on my trusty bike, Passepartout. My vlogs are unscripted, down-to-earth and honest—sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between of a long-distance cyclist. I’ve now cycled more than 60,000 miles around the world 🌏 and I’m still going.
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Video Chapters:
00:00 – Harwich Morning: Planning the route through Cambridge and Oxford
01:20 – Breakfast & Blunders: Re-adjusting to riding on the left
03:40 – Premier Inn Rant: The “Any Allergies?” hurdle at the Brewers Fayre
06:40 – Route Planning: Navigating the A133 and the road to Colchester
08:00 – Colchester: Chatting with the police about the King’s Birthday
10:15 – Railway Landmarks: Passing under a historic steam railway viaduct
11:45 – The Storm Hits: Thunder, lightning, and seeking shelter
13:45 – Hailstones: A sudden turn in the weather just miles from the finish
16:45 – Relentless Wind: Pushing through the final 9 miles
18:10 – Great Shelford: 68 miles done and absolutely spent
19:15 – Supper Time: Fish, chips, and a much-needed rest
#garrymcgivern #travelsonabike2 #biketouring #dcm #myelopathyawareness #harwich #cambridge #colchester #cyclingengland #bicycletouring #weathercycling #kingsbirthday
4 Comments
I've finally caught up with you. It's quite stressful on the wet roads. Happy birthday Sire.
Biggest allergy then is answering irritating questions! All the best, Garry.
Thoroughly enjoying your adventures mate. When you said you were near Trumpington I thought you said Trumpton and my mind immediately said, Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb and of course Captain Flack. I need my medication (ha ha). Good to see you safely back in blighty. All the best.
I think the correct address for Charlie you were thinking of was "Happy birthday your Majesty."
The winds across East Anglia are relentless. My cycling manor. No need for hills.