London to Brighton and the train

Saturday we cycled to Brighton. All week had been lovely sunshine and - guaranteed - when I woke up on Saturday with the Kareoke hits of the night before ringing in my ears it was grey and the rain was coming. With luminous jacket and ham sandwiches we set off. The first puncture was just before The Elephant. One spare tube down. The second was in Clapham. Now both tubes were done. Then was a good run though neither James nor I spoke much. We hadn't fallen out - just huge hangovers. Once out of London - Tooting, Mitcham and Carshalton we hit the home counties and towns Reigate and Redhill. Nice hedges. 

The South Downs were beautiful and I took the hills at my own pace. After my knees nearly gave out on the cycle to Cardiff I have decided my own pace on hills will be better in the long run. So..whilst James was miles ahead and whilst Wales was playing in the Millennium stadium for the Grand Slam I sang the Welsh national anthem to the English hills. 

With the sun long set we approached the infamous Ditchin Beacon occasionally blinded by full beam headlights. I kept pedalling and made it with a red face. After a short diversion on the hard shoulder of the A23 we were nearly there. And then .. 'Ah, my bike feels funny' - the third puncture. No more tubes. No patches. The last five miles would be on foot in the dark and in the rain. This is ultimately what our cycling will be about - enjoying the adventure and unexpected. 65 miles - not bad for a weekend ride.

On Sunday morning the sun was shining and the sea was shimmering. The crazy bike man on the beach sold us the wrong tubes. Thanks Rachel, Mark, Eve and Caleb for a great welcome. And with new tyres we caught the train back to the big smoke. Slightly stronger legs and a little bit closer to the bigger adventure. You've got to enjoy the journey.

The beginning

I am an educator. I am a school leader and a teacher of history. I am a 36 year old woman. I am single. I believe in people and their good intentions and their need for love and belonging. I do not believe in God so think this is it. This gives me the motivation to want to leave my mark on the world. I want to leave a legacy that means the world is a little bit better for me having lived in it. Maybe this is just ego.
I have been a teacher for 10 years. I have been part of setting up an outstanding school. Three years on, Ofsted agrees with us. I am the deputy head. I am on the cusp of headship. But or rather AND I have decided to cycle round the world.

People ask me my reasons. My head teacher described my plans as 'travelling' to the governors. I do not expect to find myself. I know myself well. I have what I describe as a you-only-live-once streak. An existentialist tendency. To be defined by my actions.

This is one of them. These will be my words.

I am cycling with another teacher. James. He will write in his own words and possibly in a different colour.

We begin in July - the 29th. There are still many things to do and plans to make but we have our route, our tickets and our bikes. We need a cause that could benefit from our indulgence and more places to stay along the way. Perhaps you could help?

It will be amazing to know that there are lots of friends following our adventures. It's a small world.