This trip has had so much in it it's impossible to keep it all in the mind at the same time. In fact that's always been true - when I first put the end-to-end map on the fridge a couple of weeks before the start of the trip, it was in comprehensible that cycling that far could ever happen, it was just too big. Now I've done it, like a lot of achievements, it's lessened because I've done it. It still doesn't fit in my head though...
Best bit? Mmm, Cornwall and Devon were great, because of sun, warmth, interesting roads and great scenery, and the novelty of my companions and finding the rhythm of riding every day. Finding the places to stop for coffee and lunch was always interesting, we met so many interesting people and found such cool places. Discovering the back ways in the most urban landscapes is very satisfying and a bit of a miracle every time - so much life so close to humans, it reveals the true and unmediated nature of being. Scotland is lovely, relatively empty and very welcoming, but is very cold, not to speak of wet! Maybe the best bit has been feeling good about myself, feeling my body work to get up hills and balance to come sweeping down the descents, and the fantastic feeling of being alive brought by really living in the moment for a change.
The bike was great, not letting me down once. The rear mechanism got a bit sticky, but a cable refresh at West Calder fixed that. Otherwise, it outpaced everything else, braked well and treated me to a good ride all the way. Martin Taylor said it looked like an old friend when he saw it in Worcester, and I denied it, but it has become one since. That was the first week though, to be fair!
I brought too much stuff, so I could have saved a few kilos that would have been handy on hills. Didn't use the shackle lock or the microfibre towel, which weigh a bit. I could have got away with two sets of cycling gear but it would stink more! Overall, planning was good and things worked out well.
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