Disaster!

Well, this looks like being the shortest blog in history. And this is the reason.

John and I took our bikes to Lake Vyrnwy in Wales for a cycling day out. A lovely spot, and a lovely day once the early mist dispersed.

The dam through the trees

Still waters

We cycled around one side of the lake, on a quiet road with almost more cyclists and runners than cars and decided to take a detour on the green trail to Rhiwargor waterfall. We climbed up to the falls themselves, where a couple of families were actually taking a dip! Wow, brave.

On the way back to the bikes we had to cross the stream on stepping stones and thats when it happened: one foot on a wet rock and I was suddenly in the water with my right foot down between 2 rocks. I do have a photo of the goose-egg sized lump that appeared on my ankle immediately but I'll spare you that. After cooling it in the stream for as long as I could bear we had to work out how to get back to the car park near the dam. I found I could cycle with one foot and just rest the other on the pedal, and managed the 5 miles back to the carpark where I came to rest against the back of the pick-up. Thankfully it was all flat or downhill, I'd never have managed an uphill slope. 

Single footed cycling

At the time I was sure I'd just twisted it, but we called in at Warwick A&E on the way home and 3 hours and 2 x-rays later discovered I had actually broken my tibia and despite my pleading that I was due to go cycling in Cuba in 3 weeks, they slapped on a plaster cast (17th of the day, must have been the spring sunshine enticing everyone out).

So....

unless at the fracture clinic on Wednesday they miraculously say it was all a mistake and it was a hair on the camera, not a break at all. I'll let you know!

Cycling couchsurfers

Last night we had a visit from Delia and Alan, cycling from Birmingham to Italy, by way of Holland, Germany and I guess Switzerland. Apparently the passes over the Alps will still be closed when they get there (timetable dictated by Alan's time away from work) so that bit will be done by train. I think the point is to combine their love of travelling by bike with wanting to get to Italy rather than be too purist about cycling every mile. Sounds like an amazing adventure to me and rather puts 200 miles in Cuba in it's place. So, how did they end up with us, for their first night? Turns out most of their overnights will be with Warm Showers hosts but there weren't any willing to host them around here so they found us on Couchsurfing instead. Lucky for us, and now I'm going to check out Warm Showers for myself

This morning they loaded up their bags, the sight of which made me very happy that we aren't actually carrying our luggage on the bikes in Cuba and set off, our drive providing their first challenge of the day. I hope they got to their destination before they met the  thunderstorm we had in the afternoon.

I am planning to follow Delia's blog to check on their progress (where you can currently see a picture of our living room with John up in the office) 

All this activity, and the threat of rain later, decided me to go and do a bit of 'interval training' which Julie (my 2 hour personal trainer) told me about. In a secluded field where no-one can see my efforts, I managed 4 repeats of 2 minutes running and 2 minutes walking. That's the very basic level but it's all I'm up to as yet. Afterwards I walked back around a ploughed field alongside the canal and picked up yet more old china and glass. 

I have long had a plan to mosaic the porch walls with my finds from around the farm, now spurred on by a visit from Emma I might just get on with it.

Its all coming together now

Yesterday John and I visited Havana........................in Leamington Spa















John drank Cuban beer and I had fruit tea. Will I get that in the real Havana, or will I have to drink the beer?







Today I cycled 12.5 miles to Kenilworth, taking the scenic route via Offchurch, Hunningham, Bubbenhall and Stoneleigh.

After visiting my aunt I came back through Leek Wootten, Hill Wootten and Cubbington, only 9.5 miles that way.

This is great, I'm finding new roads and working out how others connect together.

And it started raining just AFTER I got home.

It all started 60 years ago...

Let's start at the very beginning

Vicky and Jane start their training....

And here we are in 2008, in France

Now Vicky Low and Jane Ingall are off to Cuba on 24th of April, raising money for Cuba Solidarity Campaign, specifically to provide essential equipment  for the Abel Santamaría School in Havana for visually impaired children

Want any more info about the tour?  http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/tours/tour.asp?tourid=2

First let's get the money side of things out of the way, if you (or anyone you know) would like to sponsor either of us, (or our friend Debby) please use this link http://shop.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/departments/cycle-cuba-challenge/


And to everyone who has so amazingly already contributed, thank you thank you thank you!