Update and Kieran's thoughts

Hey there, unfortunately Cian has had to withdraw due to time constraints over the summer, but we have invited Kieran Murphy (Dave may write up a profile on him later) to take his place. Below are some of Kieran's thoughts on the trip:

"Been thinking about the L to Z trip.

Bicycles:

I don't know if the ones we have in the shed are built for what we are looking at, which is a fairly constant use of a bike in various weather and terrain, and more than likely with baggage on it.

Realistically there will be a breakage- punctures, breaks, gears, saddles, crashes, chains falling or breaking etc. We'd need things to repair them with and to have a decent working knowledge to fix them. Falling off bikes at fast speeds (which is likely to happen when a bunch of amateurs go at it, probably weary and hungry!). With a flight booked from Zurich and with the huge uncertainties of the journey already built in, any added accidents like a puncture could add enough time to the journey to make us miss the flight!

Cycling is strenuous enough, more than you would think. Especially if we have stuff to carry, and Dave was talking about having a cart attached. That will be tough going. Even the slightest incline on a small hill will make it hard. People train for months for similar cycles I would say.

Add to that the fact that we will be running to the deadline of the flight, and probably a bit of macho-out-manly-ing each other I can see muscles or ligaments been pulled or whatever, and that kind of thing is rather difficult simply to just suck up and get on with.

Walking:
I think we should consider the advantages of walking rather than cycling.

Ultimately it is just as adventurous, and physically tiring. But it doesn't involve either the financial problem of getting a bike, or maintaining it, or falling off it etc.

Injuries are less of problem when walking, and falling will hurt less.

We don't have to learn how to fix and maintain bikes, or worry about the delays that might cause.

We know how to train for walking better, and could do that training in less time than bike training I would think.

Walking is less strenuous, it just doesnt put the same strain on the muscles so pain, cramp, pulling muscles etc. are far less likely (blisters more likely I grant you). Also, given that food may vary we may not be the strongest as the journey gets to a close and it is easier to wake up and trudge along for a day than it is to sit on a bike- it hurts down below, worse than the Dead Sea I'd say!

None of us have much experience cycling. Dave doesnt even like it! But Dave has experience at a marathon, and Ross has marched- knows how to take care of feet and their ailments - I hope so anyway! (talc to stop them rotting in the rain etc.) We'd also have a better feel for how tired we would get over X period of time, how much we could carry, how far we'd get in a certain time etc.

When cycling we'd be alone effectively because we'd probably have to go in single file and keep a bit of distance. Walking we can walk side by side and chat. The banter will make it go faster, and is surely part of the trip. You see more walking than cycling, because you dont have to work as hard you can take your time. It will be easier to meet people and see useful things and places when walking. I think there would be more of an adventure in the walking to be honest.

Also, with cycling you'd need a decent peripheral vision, which I can't really have unless I get wrap around spectacles, which I dont think they make...

In short bikes are things that do need getting used to and experience, particularly over a long distance. If this were a cycle from Cork to Waterford like it'd be grand, we could get the bus if something went wrong or whatever. What we are talking about does need a bit of biking expertise and experience. I've no doubt we could get that. But probably not in the month or so we are talking about.
We have a certain amount of expertise with our feet and walking, and it seems to provide better opportunities so maybe consider the walk over the cycle?

If we did the walk I think we'd do it from once we got off the ferry to Zurich, so cheat from London to the Ferry basically, by bus or whatever. Otherwise we'd have to add a fair bit more time to the trip, and I really cannot afford more than 2 weeks or so away from working on the thesis.


Also in terms of numbers I think 4 may be the optimal number. With 3 you either have a 3 way conversation or leave someone out. And it's rare to get a road where 3 people can comfortably talk, there will usually be someone left out. 4 people means you have 3 others to talk to, and that 2 conversations can go on comfortably, and even a 4 way conversation possibly sometimes. In terms of accidents etc it also makes more sense to have that extra person. 1 to go for help 1 to mind the injured party, 1 to make food or deal with whatever else needs to be done. 4 people just means you have that extra person to help when things go wrong-even having 2 people to help you walk if you have a sprain while the 4th goes for help, or walks with an extra bag from the person too injured to walk unaided. All those kinds of things 4 seems better to 3 to me.

In terms of money. Im not sure how much stuff we can bring with us and how much we can get there. Realistically we do need to be well fed to keep up the physical effort. Given that we are leaving a lot to chance we should try to ensure we can have a steady supply of food to keep us going. Having a limited budget of money for the trip may be useful. It can be limited enough to still be a challenge but not so much that it's easy.
Having a bit of money means we dont have to carry so much stuff too. We can buy a bit of food here or there if we get stuck. Or pay for some tourist attraction we think is worthwhile. Or buy a plaster for a blister when we get one rather than having them just in case. Even the SAS are given gold sovereigns so they are not completely fucked like!

In any case I do think we need to work out more clearly what the rules are in terms of bringing things with us etc.

As for surviving when there I was thinking a few of the following things:

-Stay near rivers: for washing, drinking, cooking.
-Dehydrated foods eg. soup. It takes up little space and doesn't weigh much.
-Vitamin supplements- regardless what we find to eat in a day at least we'll have the minimum to function and wont get scurvy, and wounds will heal faster and not get infected etc.
-At the end of the day bakeries may give away their produce free or cheaper
-Supermarkets have to throw out their produce once it hits the sell-by date. So rooting around in the rubbish bins of supermarkets can land you good food, packaged utterly perfect except the date says t might be a bit off, but usually isnt. I think it's popular in some places in Britain actually to go to Tescos and salvage perfectly good food that's been thrown away!
-Busking/singing for money or food
-Hippy hostels- there are probably places around where you can stay for free
-Convents/pilgrimage places there may be some thing like that around to make use of
-Do a bit of work on a farm in exchange for a bed for the night or a meal etc.


Walking more so than cycling needs a bit more preparation, partly because we can't go as quickly so we may have to stay in X town, or X field because the next suitable one is too far by foot. So, some planning of routes etc is probably needed. But I think even a well planned trip will still be random enough, with enough variables and unplanned things to be an adventure.

The worst thing would be to not make it because we were a bit too romantic about it and didn't have enough planned. Plenty of unexpected things will happen regardless!

July 14th is Bastille Day, which would be worth being in a decent sized city for.

Either of ye feel like doing a triathlon at some stage as well by the way?

Them's been some of my thoughts anyways. Hope ye have some ideas, and hope ye are both keeping well too!!!

Regards,
Kieran"