{"id":932,"date":"2022-01-01T22:46:21","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T22:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mespot.me\/blog\/?p=932"},"modified":"2022-01-01T22:46:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-01T22:46:21","slug":"freedom-and-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mespot.me\/blog\/freedom-and-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"Freedom and friends"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we begin a new year, I am delighted to be able to feature a blog that could not be more inspirational. Written by Alison Carter, November’s phenomenal woman, it tells the story of her epic solo cycle trip around the UK. She looks back joyfully on the highs and she is honest about the lows. It is a full of courage, determination and strength…in every respect!<\/p>\n

Thanks so much to Alison for taking the time to write about her experiences. What a fitting start to 2022. Over to Alison:<\/p>\n

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On 9th September 2021 I set off on the biggest, and toughest, cycling adventure I\u2019ve ever undertaken. My plan was to cycle 1,500 miles across the UK over five weeks, with a route planned around where friends live. I was to cycle solo, with everything I needed packed in two panniers.<\/p>\n

What inspired this madness? The pandemic and its lockdowns had made me more aware of the value of spending time with family and friends. I had also been reflecting on all the friends I was connected with via social media but hadn\u2019t actually seen in person for years, or even decades. Then in August 2021 I left the job I loved as a result of redundancy. Having worked over 30 years, it felt like the time to finally have the gap year I\u2019d never taken, and mark this new chapter in my life with an incredible adventure.<\/p>\n

So, these things came together in my head, and my Freedom & Friends cycle tour was born.<\/p>\n

\"\"Oh my goodness, the planning! I love to organise, but this was on another level. Having never cycle-toured self-supported before, I had a lot of research to do. Fortunately there\u2019s lots of great advice out there. I discovered Komoot, a super route planning app. Packing was another challenge. How many sets of cycle kit? What maintenance tools? How can I minimise toiletries? (The answer was one bar of tea tree soap which washed face, hair, body and clothes). Hours of reading, online research, contacting friends, planning routes and accommodation. Then finally a massive spreadsheet with everything planned.<\/p>\n

I bought new panniers, got my bike serviced and was ready to go.<\/p>\n

\"\"My route took me out of London through Greenwich, into Kent. The first day was, in all honesty, too long and too hilly. My training had focussed on increasing mileage, but not enough on cycling with 15kg panniers. I was unprepared for how tough climbing hills is with the extra weight. It\u2019s also difficult to manoeuvre the bike. At Greenwich I bought a take out cappuccino (my daily morning treat when I could find one) and soon discovered I could not hold a cappuccino in my left hand and push my laden bike with my right hand – my bike toppled underneath me and I brought the traffic to a standstill as I juggled bike and cappuccino – not an auspicious start only 10 miles from home!<\/p>\n

I was so relieved to complete my first day. I\u2019d been incredibly anxious before setting off, with lots of tears and serious self-doubt about my ability and whether I should even be doing it. By the end of the day I was exhausted but adrenaline was coursing through my veins and a good night\u2019s sleep eluded me. It took me about a week to really settle into a routine so that I could properly rest.<\/p>\n

\"\"My first week was along the south coast and Isle of Wight and it was truly joyous cycling. I was blessed with the most incredible Indian summer. Some of the scenery quite literally took my breath away. There\u2019s no feeling like grinding and grimacing up a climb, to then have a view of the coast open up in front of you at the summit, to freewheel down, drinking in the view and feeling utterly alive. Such moments brought me to tears and my sense of gratitude was overwhelming.<\/p>\n

Part of my motivation to undertake this tour was to take time to process the changes of the last few years. I was treated for breast cancer four years ago, my dad died two years ago, then I lost my job this year (not to mention a global pandemic too). The tour was to provide the reconnection I needed. Reconnecting with my mind, my feelings, my body and my wonderful friends.<\/p>\n

There were also awful days – only a few, but days and moments when I wanted to chuck my bike in a ditch. The weather was shocking at points and I had one day (Devon to Somerset) when I have never been so wet in my life. Torrential rain, rivers of water gushing down the hills. I found myself huddled in a bus shelter eating my squashed cheese sandwich lunch, shaking from cold and wet, knowing I still had 27 of the day\u2019s 62 miles to cycle. I was bloody miserable. Why on earth was I doing this? But I dug deep, pushed on and I completed the ride. My friend that evening greeted me with two towels at her doorstep. I was sodden. A warm welcome, hot shower and cuppa have never felt so good.<\/p>\n