The start of that almighty trip i never shut up about

Well I thought that this would probably be the fairest place to start writing things as can just send my webbie address to everyone.

1. I now have all the gear - I thought I was going to spend x-amount of money just on kit but for x i have almost got the whole holiday paid for - i now own a nice new shiny marin fairfax (its on the Marin website) with carbon front forks carriers and panniers on the bike and, oh, yes reflectors, although I have been reliably warned that its marginalyl safer cycling at night as the locals are eating and drinking and smoking their little brains out rather than "skimming" (the local sport done during the day before and after siesta (with so much sleeping and festivals how does the country do anything I wonder?)) which involves driving as close to cyclists as possible and clipping them off their bikes in such as way that as they crash to the gorund they cant recognise your number plate and sue you.....its little wonder that in 1999 spanish parliament banned cycling from so many different roads in spain and dont you DARE ride without a helmet.....

Ahem - here is my COMPLETE kit list

Bike, panniers,pump,toolkit,repair kit,ipod,camera,mobile,toothbrush and paste plus razor, cycling shoes,2 cycling shirts,2 shorts, ultralightweight waterproof, pair of linen trousers and shirt,inner tube,helmet,suncream,sunnies, and i believe one passport and 2 credit cards - total weight 6 kg (plus the flip flops) and it STILL feels bloody heavy on the back of the bike

2. Someone or something doesnt want me to do the trip. Whilst purchasing the bike and adding SPD pedals (google it) i manage to go over badly on my ankle...whilst fitting SPDS to bike manage to stand up too quickly and bang head drawing blood - whilst test riding bike damaged right wrist - the list is endless but amusing in a 3 stooges sort of way.

3. As usual, something I learned from my ex, everything has been left to the last second, but as another ex said it must be exciting to go away on holiday and not know when you are coming back - bless her heart I love her to bits..:) I am debating whether to fly to wait for it...Bilbao, Barcelona, Madrid, errrm Cadiz, Valencia...etc or even somewhere completely different such as Sardinia, Serbia, France ~(e.g. toulouse) on the basis that most budget airlines will do a cheapo to one of these places. Only trouble is if you buy a return the ticket is real cheap but if you buy a single quite expensive so is a circular route better or a run and scramble (i.e. cycle as far as poss and get train back in time for flight). Alternatively i could just risk it and turn up to the airport like I did when i was 20 - far much more fun.

4. The plan at the mo is to follow coastal routes - i was originally going to cycle bilbao (for the Guggenheim) to Barcelona (for the Cathedral) and then get a train if i need to in between cos Spain is unblievably hot inland (up to 42 degrees apparently. I have been advised to get up at 6 most mornings and cycle for 2-5 hours before the sun gets too high. The only trouble is with our siesta loving comrades is that such early rises need early to bed and most of them dont eat til 10pm so we will have to overcome that hurdle too..

5. For those nutty enough its worth planning this kind of shebang in advance and actually get fit...not easy for me as I have slaving away in my favourite hospital shit-hole, but hopefully i can pick it up as i go along

More stuff tomorrow and maybe some photos if that is possible and hopefully a flight will appear at some point too

Take care

J xx