Western Europe

The Western European Countries (EU, EFTA etc)

The return of the Tilly

Posted by on 21, Jul 2023 in 2023 - Cathedrals, Europe, Tilly the Tandem, UK | 1 comment

The return of the Tilly

Post ‘Op’ Tilly rearing to go… Westminster Abbey People lining the streets around Buckingham Palace… No explanation needed! Navigating the tank traps in Londons Green Belt Guildford Cathedral Life on the Canals… Auntie Barbara… Cathedral stamps Tillys big ‘op’ surprisingly went extremely well. There was one minor issue with the new front fork having a tiny dent on the drop out, so I just used the old fork. With Tilly looking brand spanking new (I even resprayed the stokers handlebar support and racks!) we set off for leg two of our Cathedral...

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A good smiting

Posted by on 13, Jul 2023 in 2023 - Cathedrals, Europe, Tilly the Tandem, UK, Western Europe | 1 comment

A good smiting

Dark Devon days… A very wet Bodmin Wet, wet wet…. Tillys last ‘pre op’ ride into Truro.. Apt craft fair purchase ???? Our carriage home.. We’ve had a series of minor issues this trip, what with Tilly’s frame snapping and my knee giving me gip. We are on a Pilgrimage though and The Lord has been known to have a vengeful streak so it has crossed our minds that us heathens doing a pilgrimage have brought forth his wrath and he’s gone and smited us! But Physco Physio Ben from Bristol is the man for the challenge and his exercises seem to have offset the...

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Kneed to know

Posted by on 2, Jul 2023 in 2023 - Cathedrals, Europe, Tilly the Tandem, UK, Western Europe | 0 comments

Kneed to know

Salisbury Cathedral mirror font Glastonbury Tor If you can’t beat them…. Wells Cathedral grounds Wells Cathedral The Ford! Clifton suspension bridge Sustrans must have known we were coming… Victorian basement of hotel.. Weston super mare Tilly takes a paddle Exeter Cathedral I’ve always had problems with my knees. Some of it may be due to being run over as a child when I dmagaed my knee, but it’s usually not been too big an issue cycling.  I get discomfort but nothing that stops us cycling.  This trip the discomfort has been growing into pain and on our...

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Heading inland

Posted by on 23, Jun 2023 in 2023 - Cathedrals, Europe, Tilly the Tandem, UK | 1 comment

Heading inland

First night in our new home. Hastings net sheds Serenaded by the Salvation Army Paragliders getting a view Brighton Pier..Our 28th Wedding Anniversary ❤️ Victorian Brighton Shoreham beach Chichester cathedral Portsmouth Our passport stamp Portchester Roman Castle Winchester Cathedral Tilly still hanging in there…. One of the best bits of cycle touring is meeting other tourers and people along the way. We’ve not seen many tourers so far but met a Dutch couple heading to Ireland on their tandem which was towing a trailer. They must have had nearly twice the load we carry as the...

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A cracking time…

Posted by on 13, Jun 2023 in 2023 - Cathedrals, Europe, Tilly the Tandem, UK | 2 comments

A cracking time…

Oh dear… ???? Surgeon at work… Alloy weld fix. Back up and running.. ???? Soooooo tempting… ⛴️⛴️ And up another hill to get away… Before we change our minds.. Navigating the steps on the downhill cycle path hill into Dover Battle of Britain Memorial Yay… Sun is out and time for our first ice cream ???? Poor Tilly! 51,005km, 10 years 5 months 2 days old and the chain stay snapped completely through. We think it’s been cracked for a while though as we’ve had an irritating creaking occasionally and despite removing almost every component from the bike,...

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Pilgrims Progress

Posted by on 7, Jun 2023 in 2023 - Cathedrals, Europe, Tilly the Tandem, UK, Western Europe | 1 comment

Pilgrims Progress

Chelmsford Cathedral Try getting a loaded tandem over that! Rochester Cathedral More hurdles…. Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury Cathedral Passport stamps Windy Whitstable.. Trauma for Tilly…. A couple of years ago the English Cathedral Association and Cycle UK put together a UK English Cathedral Pilgrimage route.   They give you (£5) a passport to collect stamps at each of the 42 English cathedrals so this is our summer route.  Why? Well, you may think after our short trip to neo Nazi Bible thumping, book banning, anti trans, gun loving Florida we came back all...

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