Finally, after months of planning, the most important piece of the jigsaw that is Poor Circulation has been finalised. While Geoff was busy applying for the Russian visas, I was on the phone to Mark Wallis, specifying our exact requirements for the largest steak & ale pie, which he has promised to make upon our return from Scotland. If we are ever cold, wet and miserable on our bikes, Mark's is the place to go and get completely fed up. This, along with the news that Lee Crahart (London marathon 2008 4hrs 15mins-he would've finished earlier but the race hadn't started then) and Mark Wallis (box of marathons aka snickers, 4mins 15secs) will be joining us at Dover on May 1st, for a long weekend through France down to the Black Forest in Germany.
It's the first time the four of us have ridden together since we met in 2004, completing Nick Sanders Motochallenge GB as 'Team Hap Hazard' finishing in 3rd place! (Team 'Norfolk 'n' Chance' won the event and I believe we would have if only Geoff had agreed on my team name suggestion of 'What's Suffolk Indifference?' Unfortunately, not everyone understands wordplay...) Geoff actually won the northern half of the trip, and all of us came away with an embarrassing array of trophies, except for me as they had run out before I could receive one for 2nd place in the time consistency trial. I'm not bitter, I'm completely over it and will never mention it ever again. Geoff will always be a faster rider than myself, far more experience and 5 stone lighter, but if your after a smooth ride, I'm the man.
As from today I'm officially unemployed for the first time and no, it's not a nice feeling! Absolutely no income and nothing left to sell, so when my money runs out, the trip shall end. Geoff is in the same boat, at least I hope he is when we leave for Calais!
This week we've been busier than a Jehovah's Witness in a World of Doors Store. On Monday I confirmed a send off date of Tues 29th from Farleigh Hospice and a photo shoot Sun 20th (PLEASE DONATE www.justgiving.com/alankelly1 http://www.farleigh.org/) Tuesday had three more travel jabs. Wednesday I received my long awaited worldwide travel insurance and a bank letter stating I was £3500 overdrawn, panic, refrain from 'buttering my britches'. Thursday sort bank problem, ride home from work to pick up passport and business invites from City Sprint to enable us to apply for a 90 day business visa for Russia, as a tourist visa only lasts 30 days, ride to Geoff's with documents, apply for two visas online, agree to pay extra £100 for next day processing to ensure we receive visas before we leave for Darlington, so less chance of panic, pay £50 deposit of a total £235 each. Discover Geoff hasn't received written confirmation of travel insurance. Panic. Go to pub for pie, food not being served, panic. Ride home, cook pie. Friday 6.30am Geoff phones needing a signed confirmation of my visa application, panic. Divert my morning commute to Geoff's humble abode (decidedly more barren than the depths of Siberia after he sold all of his 'objets d'art') print visa app. and sign, continue to work. 9am Geoff phones travel insurance broker to send email confirmation of insurance, prints email, rides to Russian embassy London. Embassy doesn't process visas on Fridays, panic. Visas not available for four weeks due to £50 deposit. Panic. Geoff pays full amount cash with visible sweat and tears. Embassy submits applications for Monday, with a guarantee of available collection by Thursday. We will be in the Lake district that day. Panic. Arrange collection following Monday thus negating extra £100 for next day processing and reinstating original time frame for panicking. Scrape barrel marked 'emergency sense of humour' leave job. Plan Saturday and Sunday. Write blog.
So that's an small insight to worldwide trip planning of you decide to do it in a few months with a full time job. There's still much to do, but now the rollercoaster has almost finished, the ride can begin!
I may even find time to get exited.
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