The Plan

Thanks for visiting my journal.

The plan is to leave from the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in late February 2010 and to arrive at Sultanahmet Camii in late May.

My first day's cycling will be from London to the ferry terminal at Harwich. I expect, or rather hope, that this will be the most tedious leg. The ferry will drop me off at Hook of Holland and that is where the journey proper begins.

I plan to follow the Rhine from mouth to source, a course which will take me through the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. I will then cross the Alps via the Julierpass which descends, eventually, on lake Como. From here I will traverse northern Italy and make a path across the Balkan Peninsula, taking in as many towns as I can. I will most likely enter Turkey from Bulgaria for the final leg.

My steed is a Giant FCR 2 roadish/racingish bike. It is not as strong as the steel framed touring bikes so I need to limit the strain it is under. To this end, I am forgoing panniers in favour of a single 7 litre handle bag for all the heavier items and a 30 litre courier's bag for clothing. The bike has flat handlebars and I can't afford new gear shifts so I will be fitting an aerobar to get low into the headwinds. This will look extremely posey which is very unlike me, as you know. Any tips on kit would be gladly received.

I have to be home by Friday 21st May at the latest as my sister is getting married on the Saturday. Fingers crossed, KMD.

I will keep this journal updated as I progress and will post photos when I can.

Please keep checking back..