England - Tearful Goodbyes

The best-laid plans...Yeah, right! Well after 2-years of planning, deliberation, countless sleepless nights and a few sacrifices along the way, the day had come to say our tearful goodbyes to Lisa’s parents, where we’d been staying for the last few weeks since renting out our house.

We’d planned to leave at 2 pm from Devon and take a leisurely ride up to my mum and dads in Cirencester for a goodbye ‘do’ with friends and family on Sunday. That was the plan- the reality was a little different. Last minute bike checks, last minute packing, which included...Oh, everything...we’d been so busy we hadn’t done a ‘dry run’ pack. Bags were filled with a ‘token nod’ to kit priority and daily use, corners of bags stuffed and filled as Lisa used up every conceivable last bit of space. Oils decanted, chain lubed, fluid levels checked and pannier lids forced shut whilst the contents try to make a desperate bid for freedom. The bikes were already groaning about the load they were having to carry.

By the time we were all done it was getting dark and the sky was looking ominous. With kit-bag zips straining and Lisa and I looking like the Michelin man due to the layers of clothing, we said goodbye to Lisa’s parents who had so patiently looked after us for the last few weeks. More than a few tears were shed and it was a lot more difficult to say goodbye than any of us had anticipated.

By now it was 10:30 pm and we still had to ride to Cirencester, 3 ¼ hours away. Mmmmm, not the most auspicious of starts. Never mind it’s all part of the challenge we told ourselves. We arrived at my mum and dads a little after 1 am. Mum was still up (thanks mum for the sandwiches). With the bikes and gear tucked up in the garage we were off to bed.