So, I am on the road at last. Almost literally, as I am writing this from a corner of an autoroute rest area where I have, after 14 hours on the go today, surreptitiously made camp.
It feels a bit surreal. Three months ago this wasn't anything more than a vague desire to see a bit more of Africa, filed in the 'one of these days' sections of my brain. Now, after a snap decision to quit my job and the purchase of a sturdy (fingers crossed) '08 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere it is happening. It has taken more work than I imagined getting here, but after weeks of sorting out visas, bike paperwork, moving all my stuff out of London, learning basic bike maintenance, buying gear and saying goodbyes, it is apparently happening. Such has been my focus on getting the practicalities sorted that I haven't even had time to really think about what I have got myself into, and to be honest I think it will be a few weeks before it really sinks in.
Today was my first full day on the road, though my second day of the trip. The first day, a leisurely half-day marred only slightly by the need for a hasty repack due to weight concerns, saw me cover an uneventful 160 miles or so down to Herne Bay where my supremely hospitable friend Claire was kind enough to put me up for the night, striking distance from the Chunnel.
The short train journey to France was spent chatting to an American/Canadian couple, and after getting only slightly envious of their heated bike clothes I set off due south (for those of you who remember the 90s Mountie/Chicago PD buddy cop series, I have the theme tune in my head now too). 500 miles later, and I've pitched up for the night, still feeling surprisingly fresh, a fact I attribute almost entirely to my numb-bum defeating inflatable seat pad. I've made more ground than I expected and will get well into Spain tomorrow; I'll enjoy the easy days while they last!