And now I’m in Frankfurt. Getting here wasn’t entirely straightforward. “It’s just straight down the Rhein and turn left at Mainz,” advised my friend in Koln. “Keep the river on…

I’m trying not to make this all about food. Really I am. Partly because that’s already been done (by The Hungry Cyclist, whose idea I wished I’d had first the…

One thing I’d forgotten, or not fully anticipated, about touring is – oh my god, how hungry I get! It’s different from couriering – on the road in London I…

I’m finally across the Channel, and things are still going swimmingly – apart from the other day, which was my hardest on the road yet. I’d found the perfect campsite,…

The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster (Elizabeth Bishop) So, how’s it…

I’ve been saying goodbye to people for months now, because my friends are the kind of people who’ll regularly skip the country for six months or so, or spend the…

It couldn’t have been better. I was worried about all sorts of things. I assumed that saying goodbye to my family would be one of the most harrowing experiences of…

OK, perhaps one more post before I leave… I was walking down the street this afternoon, on my way to pick up batteries and other last-minute sundries, when I ran…

I leave in six hours. Oh dear. I really should be asleep by now. I didn’t actually need to be up this late. As I’ve realized several times over the…

Yes yes, in response to repeated requests (and nagging), there will be a London leaving party. Or, at least, I will be drinking pints at Frank’s (that amazing rooftop bar…