Why oh why?

Though we’ve cycle toured before, we’ve always done so to a relatively short timeframe with all the constraints and boundaries that imposes. We’ve also always wanted to carry on after the allotted two or three week period. Removing such constraints is the core aim of the major life changes that have led us to this point. To say I’ve had ‘thoughts’ about our new life would be an understatement. The removal of constraints also removes structure and purpose. I’m not someone who knowingly craves either of those things but I am also generally pretty passionate and driven. I’m also increasingly aware of my own mortality and the moral obligations that accompany such a privileged life as mine. So, I’ve had a background process running whilst pedalling away that is attempting to suss what this journey is about, or should be about. I’ve found this a bit confusing and challenging at times, but I’m also relatively sanguine about this becoming more apparent over time. One thing has already made itself known to us…

It's the people, stupid

Butchering the statement attributed to Clinton’s strategist James Carville a little, it is becoming clear that this trip is about the people we encounter. Sure, this is probably somewhat obvious and a bit of a cliché but we’ve already had some wonderful encounters that have shaped our trip. I like to think that the way we respond to these is part of the spirit we take with us on our bikes.

Here are a few highlights from our first week. Firstly we met Graeme when stood outside Waitrose in Welwyn Garden City, of all places. We mainly chatted about our experiences of cycle touring. It was a nice encounter. Since then, Graeme emailed us to say he’d enjoyed reading our posts on here and offering to pay forward some kindness he was shown on a recent tour, by shouting us a drink or two. We are soon to publish further information about such stuff on our Get in touch page but are really just grateful for his kindness and encouragement. Next we met Henry when making a sound recording of the Time and Tide Bell in Harwich. I was initially a little perturbed that Henry insisted on chatting enthusiastically about fishing whilst I was trying to record. In the end, I wished I’d just recorded Henry’s insights instead. Henry was a lovely lad, in his early teens, who knew a good deal about stuff locally. He was most excited to show us that shark’s teeth could be found on the local beach. We all looked for them together for a while. I found none. Beck found one and Henry found three. Henry kindly gave me one of his finds to keep. Good times!

Lastly, we met Christian. Christian was rather stressed when our eyes met. Beck says I always get approached because I look everyone in the eye. It’s true and sometimes it leads us into some tricky situations. I was initially trying to work out whether Christian was begging for money, or help in some other form. His English was broken and my Hungarian is nonexistent. I tried German but that was no improvement. Eventually, it became clear that Christian had lost his family and his phone wasn’t working. We tried calling them on my phone, to no avail. Eventually, we Googled the number format for calling Hungary and we got through. Then we got cut off again but on trying the second number we were able to make the necessary arrangements for Christian to be reunited with his family. His relief was palpable. We all hugged and Christian set off for the petrol station where he’d arranged to be picked up. Nice…

These are just a few of the lovely encounters so far. We’ve also taken any opportunities we can to see friends of late, as we won’t be around so much. This has been a real highlight of the past few weeks and the friends we have seen while making our way over the past week are no exception. Shout out to Jules & Rach and Conrad and Becky!

All of these people and more have made our trip what it is so far. We look forward to many more encounters and I’ll come back to working out the wider moral ambitions (s/o to Rutger Bergman) in due course.