So, many a happy hour has been spent deciding where and when to go, but, at last, all the preparation is nearly over and the adventure is about to begin.

The bikes are gleaming.  Ken’s has new chain-rings, cranks, bottom bracket, cassette, chain, brake pads, a new tyre and a modified stand- nearly a new bike really.  I’m much more economical, I just needed new brake pads and a tyre.  The panniers have been renovated with all the old rivets replaced with new bolts.  We’ve been through the usual futile attempt of going through the equipment list with a view to reducing the weight.  We have updated one or two items but the weight will be pretty much the same as always.  We’re going to carry a solar panel and storage battery to see if we can be more self sufficient (and, hopefully spend less time in toilet blocks with things plugged into shaver sockets).

One big difference this year is that we won’t be setting off on the bikes from our front door.  Having already ridden the route up to the north of Spain twice before we didn’t really want to do it again, so instead we have hired a van to take us, the bikes and the luggage up to San Sebastian on the north coast of Spain for our starting point.  We’re going to follow the Eurovelo 1 cycle route from San Sebastian along the west coast of France up to Nantes, before picking up the start of the Eurovelo 6.  This is a great route which we will use to ‘river hop’ across Europe,  firstly following the Loire, then the Rhine and finally the Danube to Bratislava.