Just catching up with some people who have been in contact with me and who I have contacted over the past few months….

• George Jemmott continues his journey to Calais and you can read his blog here. It will be interesting to see his GPS data when he finishes
• Laura Birchenough, another WordPress blogger is heading in the other direction after having started her cycling trip in southern Italy she is now in Greece. For accommodation she is using a mixture of camping and Couch Surfing. I’ve mentioned Couch Surfing before (albeit quite a while ago). I’ve asked her how she is getting on with the CS and may well spend a few minutes reacquainting myself with the CS site. I am able to offer a “couch” in my flat now that the lodger has gone…
• Australian Ian Hendry has postponed his trip to Europe for the time being due to personal circumstances but is still hopeful to do the Eurovelo 5 from London to Rome at some point in the future.
• No news from Neil Shirley who contacted me a couple of days ago about cycling from Oxford to Milan but a chap called Vernon Osborne has commented on the post where I answered Neil’s questions. He writes: ” Have chanced upon your webpages and have read your correspondence with Neil from Oxford. I was so pleased to have done so as I too am planning a (charity) cycle from Siena to Valletta in June 2011. I intend following the (west) coast of Italy down to Reggio di Calabria then ferry to Messina and hugging the coast to Syracuse before getting a ferry to Malta. I am desperately trying to get information on the best route to take from Siena to Reggio (like Neil, I am a novice). The information on routes in Italy seems to lessen the further south you get ! I will keep in touch with your progress but would be grateful if you have any advice / information for me. I am doing this trip with friends to raise money for child cancer – CLIC). Training in the UK has begun already !! ” I’ll make sure that I get back in touch with Vernon, hopefully with some more detailed information about the Italian Cycle Network Route 3 than I currently have! The map shows how there is quite a stretch of similarity between his route and mine. He does have 10 months to reflect upon my experiences as he isn’t cycling until June 2011. Watch this space Vern! 🙂

And if you turn to page 146 we will sing Hymn number 23……