Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Cycling For a Better Life

Posted: May 13, 2013 in Cycling, training, Travel
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The weekend just gone saw the 6th organised training ride as I prepare for the 550 mile cycle challenge from Hungerford to Ligueil and back from the 7th July this year. Starting in week 1 at just 14 miles, week 6 saw me doing 36 miles over some hilly terrain. Each week, the distance will increase to acclimatise me to the long distances required.

Now, as you read this, and having read some of my past adventures, you may be a little confused: after all, I’ve done some pretty significant rides in the past. So, why is it so different this time?

Well my last big ride saw my heart rate climb to 250+ and stay there for too long to be comfortable. In addition my breathing was getting more and more laboured. These two ‘issues’ took me off my bike for two years. Okay, I got out occasionally but always found it a struggle and suffered for a good 2 to 3 days after each ride.

Numerous hospital appointments decided that as far as my heart was concerned, although I had slight arrhythmia I was ok, phew. My breathing however was another issue with the diagnosis being COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or as I like to call it, Codgers Old Puffing Disease 🙂

Numerous test showed that my lungs were only 48% effective and I was told that they would not get better but they would deteriorate. Well, that was a pretty sobering thought and one that kind of concerned me a bit. But then I decided that these doctors know nothing 🙂 and I decided that I was going to prove them wrong. That is why I’m undertaking this challenge. And do you know what, it seems to be working. Where I was once laid up for 2 to 3 days after each ride I can now go for a ride the following day. And I’m getting stronger each week. Better still, the ride is for charity so other people benefit as well.

So, Codgers Old Puffing Disease I may, or may not, have but I will prove to myself that I can still ride a bike.

As the weeks progress, hopefully so will I. And, as the weeks progress, I’ll post such progress here.

In the mean time:

Go Podge, Go

http://www.justgiving.com/kevin-stirzaker
http://www.wheelsforrotary.com

Riding Through France

Posted: September 16, 2012 in Cycling, Festivals, general, training, Travel
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Ok, here it is. The event I’ve been wanting to kick off is to become a reality.

I moved into Hungerford some 9-years ago and have recently developed an almost uncontrollable urge to [do something for the community]. For those that know me, you’ll have already guessed that cycling was going to be central to such an urge. So, following on from the theme of another well know event annual event, I looked for a possible cycle challenge for anybody who wished to [prove that they can] complete the event.

What is the event?

Well, Hungerford is twinned with Liguiel in France, just south of the Loire Valley; so why not cycle there, and back. Better still, why not time the ride so as to coincide with the Hungerford Carnival? So that’s the event / challenge (the carnival bit is still to be confirmed). Hungerford to Liguiel and back. The ride will hopefully comprise of 30 – 40 riders (more if we can manage it) plus 2 – 3 support vehicles (to carry luggage and look after the riders)

The purpose of the ride is [in conjunction with the Hungerford Rotary] to raise as much money as we possibly can for two very worthy causes:

End Polio Now

&

Bruce Trust Barges

Two very worthy cause which will hopefully encourage lots of interest and support.

When is the event?

The ride will  depart Hungerford on the 7th July 2013 (Sunday) and return on Saturday 13th July, having cycled 550 miles: The proposed itinerary is thus:

Sunday 7th July

Depart Hungerford and cycle (60 miles) to Portsmouth ferry terminal for overnight crossing to Saint-Malo.

Monday 8th July

Depart Saint-Malo and cycle (55 miles) to Rennes.

Tuesday 9th July

Depart Rennes and cycle (86 miles) to Angers.

Wednesday 10th July

Depart angers and cycle (80 miles) to Ligueil.

Thursday 11th July

Depart Ligueil and cycle (80 miles) to Le Mans.

Friday 12th July

Depart Le Mans and cycle (110 miles) to Caen – regrouping at Pegasus Bridge before heading for overnight ferry to Portsmouth.

Saturday 13th July

Depart Portsmouth and cycle (60) miles back to Hungerford for end of ride celebration. If possible, we will try to coincide the home coming with the Hungerford Carnival.

If you feel that you might like to take part in this event, then please do let me know of your interest (this does not commit you) and I shall add you to the mailing list.

Ride Route 2013

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car, only a high will impress you, and you’ll have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.

Ernest Hemingway.

Today’s Number shall be 6

Posted: June 27, 2012 in Cruising, Festivals, P&O, Travel
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Tom Mix – Tom’s tricks – Chopsticks – In a fix – Number 6.

In tts form the number 6 is a continuous curve without angle, without line. It is the total love. It is almost spiral, it is on the point of going towards the infinity.

6 is also the number of the indecision and the choice that is required.

6 is also the number of jars in which the water was transformed into wine by Jesus at the wedding of Cana.

But, as you’ll probably have guessed, to His Podgeness, 6 represents:

6 more sleeps to go,
6 more sleeps to cruising,
6 more more sleeps till the fat big feller Gets on that boat,
With his bird, and her boy,
6 more sleeps to cruising

I’m so excited, I could just sing:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is His Podgeness
Welcoming you aboard the A34 Express,
To Southampton Cruise Terminal,
We will be driving at one heck of a rate of knots,
Though at a ground speed not greater than 70 miles per hour,
Refreshments will be served at Hedge End, so;
Kindly tie up your safety belts,
Sit back and settle into the state of great joy & happiness, cos: –

Whooo, I’m going to The Fiord’s;
Whooo, I’m crossing the Great North Sea;
Whooo, I’m going there with me girl friend;
Whooo, a Cruising we’ll all be.

I don’t want to be a Commuter all my life;
I’ve seen too much of Railways, day and night;
So, sail away on P&O Cruise Lines;
I’ll dump the car, so take me far;

I look all around, and I see seven ships sent,
It looks like being one Grand Event
Lets sail away on P&O Cruise Lines;
I’ll dump the car, so take me far;

Whooo, I’m going to The Fiord’s.
Yada Yada

I’m floundering now, the excitements getting to me….. Oooooooooohhhh.

Today’s Number is 7

Posted: June 26, 2012 in Cruising, general, P&O, Travel
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The number for today is 7, and just for today, the number is also 1.

For the Indians in the prairie and the “Pueblo” Indians, the number 7 represents the cosmic coordinate of the man.

The dice symbolises the 7: the dice itself, 1, having 6 faces.

For the Indians in the prairie and the “Pueblo” Indians, the number 7 represents the cosmic coordinate of the man.

The number 7 also means ‘Red 7’ of the Red Arrows

For His Podgeness, the number 7 means:

7 more sleeps to go;

7 more sleeps to cruising;

7 more sleeps till the big fella gets on that boat,

with his bird and her boy;

7 more sleeps to cruising.

As for Number 1!

Well just think, this time in 1 week, I will most likely have been up before even the cows got up (I don’t actually have any cows but you get my meaning), and certainly before the Oceana and the Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Oriana & Ventura arrives in Port: bags and satchels will be lined up ready for dispersal across two cars (yes, we really are taking two cars) and i’ll be starving. The plan is to brunch at M&S Hedge End before the final push to the Cruise Terminal.

Now, serious question: Do I need open toed sandals without socks or close toed sandals with socks for Norway? Will I need a Parka?

Oooooh, I’m sooooo Excited.

Possibly, I’m too excited as for the last 72 hours I’ve been suffering with Pharyngitis and am now floating in a cloud of analgesics (Paracetamol, Codeine and Ibuprofen) 🙂 Hopefully I’ll be back on all cylinders tomorrow.

Single Digits – At Last

Posted: June 24, 2012 in Cruising, P&O, Travel, Uncategorized
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The number 9 is seen as the number of the man, as a numeral symbol of his gestation (nine months).

The number 9 is the expression of “the power of the Holy Spirit”, according to Etchegoyen.

The freemasons have made the number 9 the eternal number of human immortality.

The number 9 number was considered as sacred in Egypt and in Greece.

To His Podgeness however, the Number 9 simply means:

9 more sleeps to go;
9 more sleeps to cruising;
9 more sleeps till the big fella gets on that boat,
with his bird and her boy;
9 more sleeps to cruising.

And after that 9th sleep, there shall be much rejoicing and coming together of all P&O’s l_u_v_e_r_l_y cruise ships and I, His Podgeness, will be one of the chosen ones who will be joining the historic celebrations, along of course with She Who Must be Obeyed. 😉 plus of course, many many others.

Today, I will be venturing into the loft / roof-space / attic, to retrieve the many cases and carriers that I just know we’ll need. As a minimum, I reckon we’ll need 2 full size suit cases, 2 medium size suitcases, 1 hard shell suit carrier, 2 ruck sacks, 2 (bulging at the seams) camera bags, and a couple of carry on bags (hand luggage). within these items there will be at least 7 hand bags with, each no doubt, matching shoe’s and of course some serious shopping bags with good strong handles. 😉

The preparations are now in full swing.

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