How not to commit murder, and other lessons. 12 months of cycle touring.

Now we’ve finished cycle touring, one of the questions I get asked the most about the trip is “How was it?”

After nearly 12 months, 10 countries and 5000+ miles, how do you even begin to answer that without boring the pants off someone for hours?!

Custard’s Last Stand: Busan to Seoul by Bike.

There’s a lump in my throat and my eyes are watering as we whizz along the river path, heading out to the north of Seoul. Partly it’s the incessant dust that coats everything here but also I’m quite emotional.

This is my last ever ride on Custard the touring bike, as today I’m delivering him to his new home and family in the city.

I feel like I’m handing over a child, albeit not a favourite one.

From the Mountains to the Sea, the last Great Ride in New Zealand

People often ask what our favourite part of the trip around New Zealand has been.

Discounting all the bits with cake and beer, I guess they must mean the cycling bits, in which case it would have to be the Great Rides.

There are 23 in NZ and so far (and growing) and we’ve ticked off 7 of them, albeit not every one in its entirety.

Another Bike Box in Another Hall

Until recently I’ve never slept in so many different places. Over the past 3 months we’ve rarely spent more than one or 2 nights in the same place and only a handful of stops have been for longer. In fact, until now, I think I’ve only fully unpacked my panniers and hung up my clothes once.

It’s amazing how quickly you can get used to living out of a bag and to moving on every day or so. I’ve become very adept at being able to reach into my clothes bag and select by feel the item I want to wear. To be honest it’s not a massive choice, but it means I rarely need to unpack everything.

Until now.

Bike life on the rivers

Since leaving Nantes the view has mostly been one of water. Specifically the river Loire, the river Cher plus various canals in between the two. The terrain also has been amazingly flat. Who knew it was possible to cover so many miles and to deviate so little from sea level? Even the Canadian prairies (which everyone promised were pancake flat and weren’t don’t compare.) No, the Loire Valley definitely wins the prize for being flat as a…. crépe.