I could only find three of the quick dry tee shirts that I had bought for the trip last year so decided to stop off at Saltaire Mill where they have an outdoors type shop to buy two more. I parked up the bike and set off towards the mill, but then went back to attach and lock the helmet to the handlebars thinking better safe than sorry. So with bike all secure went up to the top floor of the mill and purchased the two tee shirts and also a waterproof cover for rug sacks which I needed to keep the tank bag dry when travelling in rain. Having spent maybe twenty minutes making these purchases I came to leave and checking that I had everything with me suddenly realised that I couldn't find my keys! I realised straight way that I had left my keys in the panniers lock when I had gone back to lock the helmet to the handlebars. Panicking I then ran down three flights of stairs rudely pushing people out of my way and arrived back downstairs out of breath and sweating profusely to find the bike and the keys sat there all still secure! So after travelling just 2.5 miles and for 30 mins. I was having my first near miss situation. I remember now last year when I had locked my keys in the side panniers I made a resolution to only have my keys in one of two possible places 1) in the ignition, and 2) on my belt. So I have resolved to stick to this plan for the rest of this trip.
No incidents when travelling down to Milton Keynes to see Emma and the grandchildren. They are growing up fast, Edith is at "big girls school", Bridget goes to nursery, and Raymond is gradually developing the build of a first class rugby player.
Emma showed me around the basement extension that Rob has dug out himself, and which has converted the previous low height basement into a fantastic area that is to include a bathroom, shower and utility room as well as a great sized living room.
Left Milton Keynes about 5:30 to travel down to Reading to see Jo, Nuz and the other grandchildren. The weather deteriorated and soon it was raining quite hard. I was glad that I had bought the waterproof for the tank bag.
Jo, Nuz, Taz and Zak all well and spent a nice time with the boys before they went off to bed.
Bought a single ferry ticket for Dover to Calais for tomorrow £20 (it is much cheaper if you buy it at least one day before departure). I remember last year when I just arrived at the port the cheapest ticket I could then get was £35, and P&O who I am with tomorrow were £70!
Still not decided on the route to take to go to Turkey. Option 1) France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and then Turkey, or Option 2) France, Switzerland, Italy, ferry to Greece, then overland to Turkey.
I will probably do one on the way there and the other on the way back.
But which first, this is the tricky decision?
More later,
TOR
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