Day One

It seemed to take an absolute age to get everything packed into the 7 yesterday. Every available nook and cranny was utilised. I wasn’t really sure if I was going to get everything in and in the end a few non essential items had to go. By 9pm all was loaded and the car sat in the garage ready for my 5am start.

After watching the first episode of the new series of Kingdom, realising I would now miss all the other episodes I turned in for the night. I slept well to start with but then had a nightmare about the car over heating with all the addition luggage as I tried to cross the Pyrenees which woke me at about 2am after which I found it hard to get to sleep again but did doze off.

At 4am my alarm clock signalled the start of a journey I had been planning for over a year and I leapt out of bed like a small boy on Christmas morning. Made a very strong think coffee but I was wide awake. I started the day by saying Morning Prayer in my study and praying particularly for the journey and my family that would be left at home.

I had cheated the night before and showered and shaved before going to bed so that all I needed to do in the morning was a quick wash and brush my teeth before putting on my clothes that I had laid out in the spare room so as not to wake Kate. Then the first difficult decision, do I take my old trainers or the new? I opted for the old as I knew they where broken in and comfortable I’ll save the new ones for the trip to the US in August.

At precisely 4:45am I slowly pushed the 7 out of the garage and onto the drive. My gamble not to put the hood up had paid off; it was cold and cloudy but dry. After putting in my ‘Man Bag’ as my wife calls it I went and woke the family gently to say I was off.

After big hugs and kisses and lots of take care from all sides I slid into the cockpit and fired the engine up and that beautiful deep throb indicated that Rocinante was alive and ready to go. With some excitement and sorrow as I would not be seeing my lovely family for a month I pulled up the drive and away.

I decided to go via Bourton to pass St James’ Church to symbolically mark journeying from St James Bourton to St James Compostela. This was done at a snails pace as they had resurfaced the road the day before and there where lose chippings everywhere. It would not have been a good start to puncture the radiator before I had even left the Benefice.

The Vale was shrouded in mist and very beautiful and serene. As I drove I thought of the many different places I would see the sun rise in the coming months and felt the exhilaration of and adventure beginning.

This euphoria was soon lost as it was very cold driving with the hood down even with the heater on full blast and I began to question the wisdom of leaving the hood down. By Southampton my legs were boiling hot through the heater and engine wash while my right arm and head was num so I was overjoyed when I pulled into the Portsmouth Ferry Terminal and about 6:30am an went straight to buy a hot coffee.

Much to my surprise the terminal was packed full of children all going on school trips. So no chance of getting a kip on the boat and I felt my first pang of missing my boys as I saw lads of a similar age already spending the money Mum & Dad had given them for France.

The car was put on the lower deck with the motor bikes as it won’t make the ramps. At least this means I was first on and will be first off. I then encountered the first problem of the solo traveller there is no one to keep your seat so I just had to take a chance and leave my bag and jacket on the seat while I went and got my breakfast.

As I arrived at Cherbourg the sky was leaden so the chance of driving with the hood down was looking less likely by the minuet. I managed to drive for about half an hour before the heavens opened and I took shelter in a Jet Wash of all places which was covered and managed to put the hood up. In order to do this I had to put all may luggage in the passenger seat so it was rather cosy after that. From then on it rained no stop with torrential down pours every so often and I could feel my right arm and side getting wet. I was very please that I was staying at friends tonight and not camping so that I and the car could dry out.

I managed to stop at Coutances for lunch [saucisson beget & espresso] and looked into the cathedral and lit a candle at the Altar to our Lady as a thanks giving for safe passage to France. As the rain got harder there was not much chance look around so I decided the best thing was to head straight to my friends house.

The weather got worse as I continued but on the D40 I came across the tomb of St Leonard quite the most extraordinary place just by the road side. An avenue of trees which was decorated by cut flowers and hundreds of objects many children’s toys.

According to Catholic on Line, he was a Frank courtier who was converted by St. Remigius, refused the offer of a See from his godfather, King Clovis I, and became a monk at Micy. He lived as a hermit at Limoges and was rewarded by the king with all the land he could ride around on a donkey in a day for his prayers, which were believed to have brought the Queen through a difficult delivery safely. He founded Noblac monastery on the land so granted him, and it grew into the town of Saint-Leonard. He remained there evangelizing the surrounding area until his death. He is invoked by women in labor and by prisoners of war because of the legend that Clovis promised to release every captive Leonard visited. His feast day is November 6.

I finally arrive at Acigene at around 5:30pm and was very please to see my old school mate Tom and his family. The car was put in his garage to dry off and I was brought inside and given a Scotch which was most welcome after a hard day in the saddle.

Well day one is over and apart from the rain it has been a good one but hope its sunny tomorrow.