What a week that's been then! Tumultuous, some might say.
In a week that's seen the country slide back to recession we thought it might be appropriate to take a gander at the finances for our little escapade. Setting a budget is important, we all know that, but reminding yourself of the budget you'd set every now and again is very worthwhile.
And so it was that this week we found that our budget had been blown, well and truly. Our original budget was based on a set of assumptions that, as it turned out, would have been quite at home in the 'fiction' section of Waterstones. Faced with the dilemma of a budget deficit to rival a small South American country (it's a relative thing you understand) we had some decisions to make, roughly speaking these were as follows (and considered in broadly this order)....
1. Panic.
2. Panic and then pull the plug on the whole thing and pretend we'd never planned it.
3. Panic, thenlook for alternative options based around campsites and canvas.
4. Panic and hotels and hostels that didn't offer luxury beds and fluffy bathrobes.
Having spent the early part of the week concentrating on option one our minds turned to the reality and feasibility of options two, three and four.
Option two was looking favourite as we pondered the choices available to us. A key consideration being Pete's bravery in deciding to re-join Team Upsidedown 2012 just a few weeks after major surgery. Should we ride? Should we postpone, irrespective of the fiscal situation?
Time spent in the virtual world that is Google resulted in a range of options being considered, culminating in the 'Summit of Brewood' held in The Mess cafe on Sunday 29 April. Over the course of three pots of tea, eggs benedict, Staffordshire oatcake and a good old sausage and egg sandwich a solution was hammered out.
And so, dear blog readers, the ride is very much on and excitement can now build once again. In a little over three weeks we shall set sail on the M6 for the most northern point on this fair isle. And a little over a week later we shall arrive, through pedal power alone, at it's most southerly point. Game is indeed on!
Sunday 29 April 2012
Thursday 12 April 2012
Ramping up (12 April 2012)
Time flies when you're having fun. Truth is it doesn't hang around much when you're not. Whichever way you look at it the big ride is now next month.
So how's it all going?
Pretty well I think. Here's the hot news first though - it seems that Pete 'The Budgie' Ryan is now recovering well from his bionic leg operation and there is, in his words, a 60% chance he'll be joining the ride again. Great news! In celebration I have added his picture and a few words to our website (www.upsidedown2012.org).
As for the training well that too is going well. However, the recent unexpected snowfall (after an unseasonably warm early spring) did rather scupper the plans that would have seen Simon (me) and Craig aiming to top the Long Mynd in Shropshire and some big hills in the Peak District over Easter. However, we did manage to get out and 135 miles and well over 1,000 metres of ascent were covered without too much difficulty. It was bloomin cold though!
The route has now be nailed down - mostly. We are now very clear on where we're starting (John O'Groats) and where we're ending (yep, Lands End). The places through which we'll pass between these two points is also pretty well defined now too - the roads that we'll use to get the remain the source of debate and refinement. The aspiration is to find as many nice quiet lanes as possible - the maps indicate that is an aspiration that is unlikely to be realised.....
And so it is that we find ourselves now not that many days and weeks away from our big challenge and still with much to do. We do have bikes though, and a rough idea how to ride them (with varying degrees of style and ability), so it will all be fine. Won't it.....?
So how's it all going?
Pretty well I think. Here's the hot news first though - it seems that Pete 'The Budgie' Ryan is now recovering well from his bionic leg operation and there is, in his words, a 60% chance he'll be joining the ride again. Great news! In celebration I have added his picture and a few words to our website (www.upsidedown2012.org).
As for the training well that too is going well. However, the recent unexpected snowfall (after an unseasonably warm early spring) did rather scupper the plans that would have seen Simon (me) and Craig aiming to top the Long Mynd in Shropshire and some big hills in the Peak District over Easter. However, we did manage to get out and 135 miles and well over 1,000 metres of ascent were covered without too much difficulty. It was bloomin cold though!
The route has now be nailed down - mostly. We are now very clear on where we're starting (John O'Groats) and where we're ending (yep, Lands End). The places through which we'll pass between these two points is also pretty well defined now too - the roads that we'll use to get the remain the source of debate and refinement. The aspiration is to find as many nice quiet lanes as possible - the maps indicate that is an aspiration that is unlikely to be realised.....
And so it is that we find ourselves now not that many days and weeks away from our big challenge and still with much to do. We do have bikes though, and a rough idea how to ride them (with varying degrees of style and ability), so it will all be fine. Won't it.....?
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