Getting Real

Started off the day putting up the tent again in the gardens opposite my flat and realised that not only am 2 pegs short of a full set, but the gardens opposite my flat are also essentially a dog toilet. Disgusting, why don't owners just pick up their mess? Anyway, the erection took time but I eventually got there, which is all I ask at this stage. And yes, it looked like a tent.

So, today was all about buying an inflatable mattress, tent pegs, a stove and a trek tarpaulin, which is like a kind of patio conversion for a tent to increase the amount of covered space outside and particularly useful when it rains. I thought I would match that with another piece of tarpaulin for the ground and maybe cover that with a thin sarong to give my ‘patio’ a more homely feel. A tarpaulin outside the tent is also super useful for when you arrive at your camping spot for the night and need somewhere dry to unload all your gear before putting up your tent as well as additional space to take off dirty footwear and help keep the inside of the tent as 5-star as possible. Just make sure it is the last thing you pack so it can be the first thing you unload. Brilliant Barry from Balfes taught me that.

I already had a couple of sleeping bags at home, and I’ve never remembered how I actually came about owning or purchasing them. One of them turned out to be on the threadbare side of flimsy but the other one still seemed to have some life to it. I also picked up my new cycling gloves and a magic rucksack that compacts down into a miniscule ball from my local Amazon collection point, yet another winning practical suggestion recommended by Barry that would prove useful when supermarket shopping or bringing stuff to a laundry. At least that was the plan.

Then thoughts turn to clothing. I figured a couple of t shirts, a couple of cycle shorts, one pair of lightweight trousers, one short sleeved t-shirt, my trusty black fleece that I have owned for at least 15 years and has been everywhere with me, as well as a waterproof cycling top should suffice. It was going to be summer after all, and I would be chasing the heat as I headed down the continent. Along with a couple of pairs of pants and socks, naturellement. If there is one thing I have picked up from my pre-pandemic Camino de Santiago walk and indeed all my travels thus far, it is to pack light and with a healthy disregard for the fashion police. However, it doesn't mean I have to completely drop my standards and decided a light grey colour combo for shirt, trousers and fleece would be practical, ideal and good enough for a jaunt to the opera in Vienna or Budapest.

A trip to Marks and Sparks as they always seem to do something technically wonderful with fabrics and they didn't disappoint with their crinkle resistant cotton. I figured that it was important to bring a non-cycling outfit as I intend to take lots of rest days in awesome locations and the idea of lycra for 3 whole months doesn’t bear thinking about. Oh, I also got myself some stretchy comfort shorts with an elasticated waistband (like I say, ignore the fashion police) for the evenings. I also figured I can buy stuff as I go along. Feeling pretty pleased with myself atm.