Barbs's Big Bike RIde

This year I have decided to stay and enjoy an English Spring. It has been a long time coming but at last it is here and I am off to explore my own back yard. Well actually travelling up the UK mainland as far north as possible before 21st June and see how close I can get to the Midnight Sun.


After my travels along the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain last September on my trusty old iron donkey, I have bought a lighter bike in the hope that I can get up a few more hills and by going from Lands End to John o Groats (LEJOG) I can avoid the killing headwinds of the Spanish meseta.


So here she is, we had a jolly naming ceremony on Saturday and hopefully the good friends, food and weather I enjoyed will carry me through to the farthest northern climes. Thank you all for a great send off, admirably topped off with one too many pints The Village Bike listening to Mojo Triangle.


And she is called Eleanor, isn't she beautiful, I hope I still have such tender feelings after 6 hours in the saddle, but probably only in the nether regions I fear.


The map link on the right will show a rough itinerary and route and I will try try to update with my actual route, if I can work out how and where I am as I go along, you know there will be little correlation but I will get there or somewhere in the end!


If you want an email update, submit your address in the box also on right and hopefully it will find its way through the ether to you.

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Monday Morning Sandakan


Having breakfast by the sulu sea, a beautiful way to start the week although tinged with a little regret as it will be my last. I am treating my self to a little luxury of a nice hotel on the waterfront,  it seems remarkably busy this morning with more genteel tourists than normal.  I think they may be passengers off a cruise ship which had a fire off the Philippines and now towed here.  
My last weekend has been fun and girlie with Simmone's visit. 
 We had  fabulous Kinabatangan river cruise with Linda and Eleanor who have looked after me so well at the rest house. 

Because we had a big rain storm earlier in the week which kept the river level high we were able to to up the smaller Menananggol tributary and get a real feel of the backwaters and its myriad vegetation.
After a blissful evening of red wine and chocolate an early start to Sepilok and the orangutans.  I was so busy trying to get my camera to work (still no screen view so excuse the interesting angles and focus) I didn't notice a young mum and babe rushing to breakfast and none too pleased at the crowds of visitors in her way, she was within 1m of me, but of course no picture:-(.  I was surprised at how small she was but it confirm that I did see one on my first visit to the rain forest centre.
We also visited here but a little disappointed that half the canopy walkway was closed but did climb the hornbill tower all 25+m and guess what? We saw hornbills.  It was also good to see it in the sunshine.


Back to Sandakan and shopping, 2  hours of massage, almost as blissful as red wine and chocolate.  We missed out on our clubbing date due to late diner and lack of stamina, actually too chilled from the massage I think!

Simone had another early start as she had a date with a fisherman to collect some particularly large and well wrapped tiger prawns to take back to KL

And so our girlie weekend was over.  Thank you Simone for ar great time hope you got back safely with the prawns.


I had a lovely treat from Mr Chee of proper tea at the English Tea House, which is located in the former governors residence.  We had smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off, cream scones beautiful tiny tarts and cakes and real milk for the tea.  yet more bliss, thank you Mr Chee.
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