First internet access!

Feels so good to be in touch with the world again briefly - I'm at the YHA in Bristol, a funky renovated dock house (so funky that there's a very loud TV on in the background...grrr). Arrived here at about 7pm with only one thing on my mind - feeding. I then proceeded to slurp down a panini for starters, a felafel for seconds and I'm feeling those pangs come on again...but in all seriousness - I think eating enough (and healthily enough) is going to be one of the biggest challenges. I think my stomach isn't yet stretched out enough to consume the quantities my body needs right now.
So - in brief: Day one was Penzance to Portreath, day two Portreath to Tintagel (stayed in the most amazing B&B here, run by two teachers, one of whom is an artist - I got to see his studio! and he let me look at all his books on Goldsworthy-esque artists. The view from The Bluff Centre was amazing; the breakfast room had huge bay windows looking straight down onto the sea. I enjoyed the most amazing sunset in the evening.)
Day three - Tintagel to Great Torrington. Day Four Great Torrington - Street. That was yesterday and that was a frigging crazy day. I decided I needed to budget and stay in a youth hostel and the nearest on the route was Street (near Glastonbury)...it turns out that was 130km away. Set off at 8.30 and arrived at 7pm with very little stopping inbetween...It meant that today was the first day I felt any hint of miserableness; it rained a bit, I got a bit lost thanks to the guidebook I was using for the first time, I ached and must not have had enough to eat because everything felt sluggish and heavy. I still managed a respectable 90km though. Some dramatic scenes coming over the Avon Bridge - and a dramatic dropping of my spirits as I realised the other end of the Avon bridge was not Bristol city centre...that was another 7 miles to go. At the end of a day's cycling it's not that great to see the big sign saying 7 miles to go.

All in all - I'm loving it. I'm fitter than I expected, it's going a little faster than expected and people are incredibly, incredibly open, friendly and helpful. Every day so far I've met at least one person who's had a great story to tell, helped me out in some way or had a kind word.

And...madness has crept in just a little bit - on my marathon ride yesterday I named my bike - she's called Cyclecycle and I named my favourite cycle shorts Pink Ass Pants (because the pants are pink, just to clarify). Apparently this 'naming your gear' behaviour is normal when undertaking strenuous exercise on your own for long periods of time (well, I know at least one other person who does it!).

That's my time almost up!
xx