I’m checking out my blog in readiness for this year’s trip – and it seems I have written a Postscript to the Loire Trip – but just never published it!

It’s been a very good trip of only 13 days but it seems like I’ve been away for ages. Cycling to Portsmouth, visiting the Submarine Pens or going through Tours seem like years ago, and not even part of the same trip. I think this is the main reasons for writing the blog, to join it all up.

I think Solo cycle touring empties your brain of everything, in a good way. The only things you think about are “where am I going”, “do I have enough food and water” and “I really should have adjusted the brakes earlier” – when hurtling down a big hill .

Being a novice to touring, and only ever toured in the Arctic conditions of Norway, Finland, Scotland and the English Riveria, I think I found the heat difficult. It was very hot, and once it gets to you it really slows you down. Initially I was very short of water, buying bottled water, or getting your bottled filled up, wasn’t really enough. I only had one bottle in a holder with the second holder used by the meths bottle, (which I think is better than having it in a bag with clothes/sleeping bag – you can quickly have a very bad day if it leaks). But when I’d remembered about taps in cemeteries, and having a water bladder in my panniers it got me through. It added a bit of detective work, finding the cemetery and then the tap. It was really nice just to gorge on the water (respectfully, obviously, given the location).

Foodwise the mini trangia performed really well, but burns through fuel quickly in wind (it’s particularly bad in headwinds!) and is difficult to improvise a wind break without risking burning things you need. I tried to alternate between pasta (tortellini, pesto and salad) and rice. Uncle Ben’s precooked is ideal for the trangia pot (in France they have Uncle Ben’s 5 cereals – which was good, with mushrooms, peppers and onions with tinned mackrel (curried) – worked very well.

Breakfasts were always coffee, with my Aeropress, and porridge with banana chips/honey – always seemed to set the day off well.

As I may have mentioned, I have a new tent this year, my previous decathlon ultra hiker was brilliant, but lacked any real storage, and cooking in the rain was tricky (as you couldn’t sit upright), leaning out of the door. On a positive it was around 1.8kg and went up really quick. After a bit of research I spotted the Luxe Hexpeak. It has optional 1&2 person inner tents (or nest!), With the one person giving loads of usable storage space. It only has one pole (which is optional, as it is intended to be used with walking poles) and six pegs (I found another two are useful). It’s simplicity attracted me as well as good reviews for it and other Luxe tents. I think what it really is, is a tarp (or shelter) with an inner tent hanging from it, and there are plenty of options and guying points not used. I added loops of shock cord to two points to separate the inner a bit more, but then I found the joy of pitching the tent higher (the pole is adjustable).

Well I’m glad I found this stray post, and well worth sharing – next post will be an introduction to my next tour!