Preparing to travel

The totals of our journey

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Overall distance cycled 11,500 kilometres:

6,500 Australia

1,100 South Korea

700 Japan

1650 Thailand

1550 Malaysia and Singapore

Punctures fixed 20; Martin 1 Janet 19

Chased by dogs; every day in Thailand

Cases of the squitters; one Martin

Mechanical problems; none just an ongoing oil leak on one Rohloff which would need to be sorted before any more cycling.

Number of flights of stairs the bicycles have been carried up; 19

The number of kind people met; many in every country

Nights camping; 210

Biggest night skies; The Nullabor

Maddest City; Bangkok

Best Currency; The won, we had half a million at one stage

Most annoying insect; ants in every country

Number of mosquito bites; too many to count but never to be a problem

Most useful things; Sunhat, tub of vaseline, small plastic chopping board, microwavable pot, kindle, Clarity Credit card (zero cost foreign currency withdrawls)

Things not used; Our waterproofs! Our first Aid Kit!

Number of SIM cards purchased; 10

Most bicycles seen; Japan

Number of Kangaroos seen; 324,439

Country with the most roadkill; Australia

Number of haircuts; 4, Janet one Martin three

Number of photographs taken; 4,000

Number of relatives will afraid to visit us in case we force them to sit and watch our travel photographs; all of them

Home 6th March

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After a pleasant evening stroll in the East Coast Park where there is a good beach, an excellent cyclepath, a walking path and views out across to Indonesia (only around 45 minutes by boat). We returned to a pancake frenzy, first some savoury ham, cheese and egg pancakes then sweet with chocolate, ice cream and maple syrup mmmmm nice.

East coast park beach

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Lift off minus 6 add 3 days

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Today was a very hectic day, sorting out more of our things into boxes, how much stuff can a person have? a visit to the letting agent as this time we have someone renting our house while we are away. A final check over the bicycles, with only the dynamo lights to be wired in to bring them back to all their cycling glory.

There was also the very sad event of our Toyota Yaris being sold after 12 years of pretending it was a far larger car than it appears to be.

Farewell to the Yaris

Then to finish the day off we were off out for a drink and a curry.

They only had one table left in the restaurant, normally reserved for passing gnomes.

One day closer.

Getting ready, Lift off minus 4 days

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It was once again a mixture of joy (woooohooooo no work!) And sadness (leaving all the great people I work with, and of course the magnificent things also known as students).

I have to thank you for the dozens of best wishes, hand shakes, hugs and wise goodbye nods received. There was even a gift or two.

Feeling more Antipodean by the minute

Once again thank you, posts will be regular, humour will be optional and eventually the rest of the blog will be updated.

Martin’s last day at work

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Time has flown by since we decided to cycle the great divide and now my last day at work has come and gone. I started the day with mixed feelings, a sadness that an important part of my life has now been put on hold and excitement about what is to come.

Many thanks for all of the best wishes I have received along with the many gifts and cards. In particular I have to mention my fantastic Year 11’s who are the best and sorry I will miss you enter our 6th form.

All our gifts and cards

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Janet’s last day at work

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My last day at Alps after 21 years, sharing the good and difficult with you all.

Thank you for  a day filled with warm wishes and love, I came away with a feeling of being valued which I will carry with me.

A big thank you for the dollars which I will spend wisely treating Martin and I along the way to a slap up meal.

I will finish with a quote from Diane’s card which amused us both.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather a skid Sideways,  chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, totally worn out  and screaming…. “WOOOOO Hoooooo what a ride! I wanna go round again! ”

ANONYMOUS 

THANK YOU DIANE