London—Rome

Leg #1 is complete: 5 days, 315miles, and I’m in Paris.

This trip has been a roller coaster of emotions; the good days are great, the days with a combination of hills, wind, & rain are challenging. I’ve wanted to quit everyday, which I knew would be the case, but I have to finish.

Started next to Westminster/Big Ben in London, rode down to the ferry in Dover, ferry to Calais, France, and then straight-ish south to Paris. Mostly farmland & pastures the whole way, nothing too exciting.

It’s actually difficult to write about the last five days; part of it is that days seem so much longer out on the road. Part of it is that I’d like to forget some of the miles—they become monotonous, every town seems the same, every long downhill has an uphill on the other side of town. Without music, songs I haven’t heard in years pop into my head, like The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, and old-school Eminem. One highlight was seeing a 1960’s Mustang in one small town. Sometimes just when I need it most, a group of people on the side of the road will cheer & wave, or there will be food in a town when I’m about out of gas.

Day off to rest the legs with free lodging in Paris today. Onward toward Dijon tomorrow morning, toward the south of France, Nice/Cannes, and then follow the coast down into Italy.

Just trying to inspire other people to write & live their own story!