No time to stand still

 

It seemed so far away when I booked my flight in March. The route was planned, my objectives clear. And then I forgot about it, November seeming a distant date on the horizon. 

Around the beginning of September , I thought it was time to revisit it. 2 shocks lay ahead. The first was the realisation that I had 6 months left on my passport for the beginning of my trip, but not the end! Would that prove problematic for getting back into the UK... Or transiting through Dehli? I read the advice on the government website about passport turnaround times... Allow up to 6 weeks... cutting it fine. So I got my arse into gear quick sharpish and within a day had applied online, uploaded my new photos, and sent off my old passport, fingers crossed.

I needn't have worried because within 2 days I had a nice shiny BLUE passport, coveted from afar since Brexit changed the colour from boring European Red to British blue.

The second shock came when re researching the route and travel in Nepal when I came across a news item...

'ALL trekkers MUST have a guide'! (New rules from April) 

HUH???? 

But I didn't want one😂

I looked at my options with despair... I could try sneak into the Annapurna conservation area and except a fine if caught (about £80)..(not a bad option)

I could hire a guide and send him on ahead to wait at a pre determined location... 

Or I could sack the circuit and find a route that didn't require a permit, which would almost certainly mean no high mountain passes. 

Fortunately during my research, an Annapurna trekkers group on fb saved me. From all accounts of people out there at the time, it seemed that it was a very well publicised ruse of the trekking companies to get more business. It was a good one.

I breathed a sigh of relief and carried on with my prep. 

October passed in a blur of a lot of night shifts, intespersed with kit organisation and animal care plans.

Suddenly without warning I walked out the door of work, saying goodbye for a month. 

Shit. 

Another last minute panic had ensued with my dynamo hub (which charges my phone as I ride) giving up the ghost. Too much cold water in Iceland maybe, I crossed a lot of freezing cold rivers on foot there.

So a quick call to AW Cycles. 

Rob had had my bike in a few days before to give it a full once over whilst patiently re teaching me maintenance things that I had forgotten. Once again I called upon them.

Lewis was awesome, diagnosing the problem, finding a part with next day delivery... (Thanks Amazon), fixing it to my bike (more about the fantastic Whyte bike I have en route.) and then keeping the shop. open until I finished my day at work so that I could pick it up.

All that meant was that today I was running round like a blue arsed fly (BAFFING). I had to squash my bike and kit into the bike bag and keep my fingers crossed that it all fit and was under 23Kg. It was only when I rechecked my ticket that I realised I had been sensible. and booked 2 bags, so my sleeping system in my handlebar bag became my second checked bag.

Wheels off

Pedals off

Handlebars off

Seat off

Put in brake spacers and wrap all moving parts with bubble wrap. Protect the mec hanger at all costs. 

Then a game of jenga to fit it all in the bag AND still be able to close the zip... don't forget the saddle! 

Finally after 30 minutes of sweating and rearranging and making sure Skittles my kitten didn't end up as hold luggage along with my bike, the zip groaned shut. 

2 hours till Dad was coming to pick me up... just enough time to sort the menagerie of animals. Fresh water for all, water plants, feed the frogs, feed the kittens, clean up. 

I'm knackered.

Saying goodbye to my kittens for a month is probably the most traumatic bit of the whole day. They didn't care, they had their noses in a food bowl. Massive thanks to mum, dad, Paul, Helena, Wendy and Christine for agreeing to be the army of carers required.

 

Heathrow... apparently now lies within the new ULEZ zone so not only do we now have to pay to drop off at Heathrow, but now also to go there.!  Not the cheapest journey in the world. Still with a bike in a bag, it still beats the train or the bus.

Then check in. The gentleman checking me in kept asking what was in the bag. Bike I said at least 3 times.  Can't take your helmet as part of hand luggage! I think I can, please check... yup no problem. 

Then escorted into the back corridoors behind the scenes, to drop off my bike. Tagged with a fragile sticker, hopefully it will get there in 1 piece. Also my other bag had to be checked in there as it was too small... one too small, one too big... heyho! 

Fortunately once through security and sitting in the waiting area, I didn't get another shock like last time. There is only one Kathmandu and so I am pretty certain that this time, I'm heading to where I think I'm supposed to be going. 

And so it begins... no time to stand still. 

A daily grind of gears up some pretty big 'hills'. 

As usual the suffering is for your. kind sponsorship to raise money for Love Hope Strength Foundation, a rock n roll Cancer charity. And once again, those who sposor me have an option to send me a name to write on the prayer flags to take up the pass and leave flying at the top. 

https://www.justgiving.com/page/lydia-franklin-1694429224102

I hope you enjoy the blogs and the photos as you follow along once again on a journey with me

LOVE HOPE STRENGTH

and as always... 

Go With the CraZy!