The here and now

It's slowly dawning on what I'm getting myself in for. Waking up this morning (over the course of about half an hour - I despise snooze buttons), I realised that I didn't much feel like cycling today. Only problem is that the cycling to and from work only racks up 20km/day. There does appear to be a small discrepancy between this and the 80km/day that I'll be expecting to cycle on the planned route from India back to Ireland! Added to this little shortfall is the rolling hills of Leicestershire, compared to one or two mountain ranges in Asia; the weight of my carrier bag to work, compared to a fully laden touring bike; and of course the weather!

Having said that, I now realise that I don't even know what the weather is going to be like!

That aside, I think it's fair to say I can't wait to start. Since the first suggestion of a mildly adventurous cycle by Will back in November, it hasn't been too far from my mind. It's only been in the last couple of months that the trip finally started to become reality, and with plane tickets purchased and visa (easily!!!) obtained, everything's in place. I don't think I'd ever have come up with the idea myself - I've always enjoyed cycling, but never really gone too far. I guess that's all about to change.

It's strange looking back and seeing the series of events that have led up to my imminent departure in under three weeks.
If I'd never:
gone to Newpark (I wouldn't have met Will or probably even...)
gone to St Andrews (I wouldn't have met Alex and so wouldn't have...)
gone to the Himalaya (and so wouldn't have...)
gone to Mick's house just before I left (where I wouldn't...)
have bumped into Will (who I hadn't seen for about 2 years and so wouldn't later have...)
emailed him about the Himalaya (where he was planning on going [without a bike at the time] and so he wouldn't have emailed back...)
"fancy cycling from Bangkok to Dublin?"
Which then, of course, kicked started the events that lead me to here and now.

It's a series of events that lead me to believe that were I on particular mind-altering drugs, that are sometimes known to increase paranoia, I would think that life is being shaped for me by some unseen force. Of course, being the atheist that I am, I simply believe that we make the best of any situation. Opportunities were offered and I was fortunate enough to be in situations that I could make the most of them. It was these opportunities that finally have led me to being in my final week of work (4 days left after a year working in the business of rocks) with 9 months of saddle sores ahead.

Like I said...

can't wait!