Week ending March 27 2009

To some, this might seem like a somewhat ‘last minute.com’ approach, but nevertheless, Joy’s knee problem, which has been with her for years, finally required some attention.

In the past, her GP had said that there was nothing fundamentally wrong with it, and tests showed that the structure was sound. Having said that, it continued to niggle her. So last night, we went to see a sports physio recommended by Jamie and Sarah, who run the local bike shop (www. Reveloutdoors.co.uk, based in Newmarket - which is excellent, btw.)

Garry set about some soft tissue work, which isn’t apparently an origami-inspired technique, and he asked loads of questions. The most important of which focused on a bike accident Joy had suffered 5 years ago when an uninsured driver knocked her off her bike. Thankfully the car behind her was an ambulance…

Anyway, Garry’s view was that her knee had been over-compensating for her funny walk, to the detriment of the ligaments. The conclusion of which was that plenty of simple exercise would strengthen and correct the knee.  Result. Now we just have to wait and see.

 Week ending February 22, 2009

Decided to go for a spin over the weekend to sample the local fare at The Dyke’s End Pub in Reach. Excellent food, but I cleverly managed to get a puncture on the way there…. It’s only 5 miles from home and the roads are good. Bummer.

Oh good. Just what I need before lunch.

It’s a pity that the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres that we are going to change to remain in their boxes. Maybe I should swap them over sooner rather than later.

Spoke with the nurse today regarding our jabs. Since I requested immunisation from everything from Aardvark syndrome to Zebra Fever, I am feeling rather like a pin cushion. Only Rabies and Yellow Fever to go. I’ll soon be able to stop crying and put my shirt back on.

Week ending February 15, 2009

As part of our preparation for the trip, we decided to cycle 100 miles over the last weekend, with all our gear on board. Primarily, to check off everything from our list, but secondly to confirm that we could actually carry it all - and turn the pedals successfully.

We rode the National Cycle Network route no.1 through parts of East Anglia and found a lovely hotel for the evening. It was Valentines Day, we had dinner at 6pm and were in bed - lights out - by 7.49pm. We had managed 56 miles, which we felt was ok, particularly as we had stopped three times for tea and cake (apparently the finest cyclists’ food available……) and had arrived at the hotel by 4.30pm.

By Sunday night, back at home, we were tired but content. The gear comfortably fitted in our panniers, the bikes handled well and our knees coped.

…. Now, whilst it seems from this blog that we’re a little under-prepared, we’ve actually done a bit of training, but much of it during the previous two years. A recent, more focused regime has been somewhat overshadowed by the fantastic price of doughnuts in the corner shop.

Week ending February 8, 2009

We’ve managed to get into two local newspapers to date, and hopefully the Cambridge Evening News will run a feature next week. All this celebrity is just so exhausting…

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire called us and we were interviewed on air, which was fun. However, my naïve ambition to raise money for this venture through publicity has so far netted the charity less than the cost of my hairdo for the photos. Still, we have an auction of promises coming up which will help.

The broadsheets have been contacted, via email, but we await a response. I am fully aware that people doing stuff for charity is not ‘news’, but until we discover a unique selling point, we’ll just have to cross our fingers. Perhaps I should step away from the computer screen and go and do some work instead. I like to imagine that part of the issue to do with a lack of interest is that we have not as yet, left the shores of Blighty. We’ll see…