I don´t know how I can write today down,- we´ve done 7 times yesterdays distance but the road´s been much better.

The smell of rotting figs wafting heavy in the thick breeze, rolling bruised with approaching thunder after us, pushing us onwards.

After posting a letter, stocking up on tobacco, water and caffeine in Celorico da Beira (even, shamefully, finding out the price of a hostel!)
We´d hardly left the town in the pissing rain when we headed doen a littledirt track in the hope of finding a little bit of field to pitch up in- but ahead was a little asbestos covered shelter with open sides and straw on the ground.

Farmhouse was visible, though, and we were in full view of the track, so Graham took me to ask ´Nos podemos dormir aqui?´ Once all 3-plus generations and the dogs had come out to look at me, they enthusiastically agreed that although it was the other farmers barn, it would definately be absolutely fine for us to sleep in there.

Which is why me and Hannah were so suprised when as we were setting down to cook a nice meal, to the tune of thunder and tuneful churchbells, a car pulled up and a policeman got out.

Shit.

I cautiously approached him- "Boa tarde Senor..."

He asked if we were planning on sleeping here, and I gabbled something about having spoken to the family... He must have seen the panic in my eyes and he laughed, told us it was fine- he´s just locking the gate and what time would we like it opened by in the morning?

I laughed with relief, got a friendly pat on the back and wished good luck and good night.

I´m expecting to get woken up by curious kids or rats so I better get some shut-eye. Goodnight! x

Ferry musings

I´m perched in a litte nook on the windowsill right at the front of the ferry, where no desperate loudspeakered ´entertainment´ hassles me and the seat is comfier for not even trying to be comfy - the sky is hazy blue and I´´m squinting through my eyelashes from the sun (you know when it goes all rainbow blobby?)

I think I anticipated the fear of actually being on the journey so much in the time leading up to setting off that I´´ve got no room left for anxiety- I feel a little drunk and spacey, from lack of sleep and the rocking of the boat, and slightly timeless, having explored the ship quite thoroughly, watched a film, snacked all day...

My time in Bristiol was good if busy- the harbourside festival, where i saw some pretty faces I´ve not seen in a long while and some fireworks and had a good laugh, did some work setting up and taking down from the Invisible circus´´s Swing Thing, it was Ash´´s birthday on Monday which was a fine occasion indeed- overall it was hard work remembering to get prepared for the trip.

This morning I remembered a few essentials, but after a little disagreement with my alarm at 5:40 didn´´t have quite enough time, but I´ve got a good feeling and even gooder friends and I´´m fully looking forward to the journey ahead. The pass I´m thinking of taking is as high as Snowdon on the day I arrive, but I´m only planning on doing about 30k and I´´ve got acouchsurf organised who seems really lovely, so I´m not worried.

In fact I´m REALLY EXCITED!! And looking forward immensely to travelling for at least some of the distance with Nick and Hannah, who are also cycling to Boom, and just happened even to be on the same ferry!!

I´d be out of my mind with boredom already if they weren´´t here and it´´s lovely to have someone else with the same plans nearby.

We´ve been discussing routes, I think we´ll definately cycle together for the first bit- it makes sense to share each others company, slipstreams and luggage; but I´ve also come to terms quite well with travelling alone and may split off for parts of the journey, if purely for thesake of feeling I have. It´´d be good to give them space to travel as they´´d intended, too, and I´ll have more time to write if I´m not socializing :P