After waking up at 5.30am, and after a coffee, I packed up and was on the rode nice and early. Rather than going on the roads I followed the coastal path, which after about a mile ended. So was left pushing dragging the bike along the beach until I could escape onto an actual road. This would not be the first time today I would realise how heavy a loaded up bike is. I did finally manage the 5 miles into Hunstanton where I grabbed some breakfast: a lovely sausage sandwich.

After breakfast I headed towards Wells-next-the-sea, it was about 20 miles on small country roads. A lovely few hours annoying car drivers in Norfolk.

There I took a little break in a coffee shop to decide on a ‘plan’ for the rest of the day. Although last night’s wild camping was a success I fancied needed a shower. So after a bit of googling I found a campsite in Cromer, close to the town, booked it and jumped on the bike to cycle the 21 miles.

I now know how Hannibal felt crossing the Alps with his elephants. This was not the easiest cycle ride. There were bloody great hills everywhere, twice I had to get off and push the bike up them! At the top of one of the mountains I stopped to buy a bag of tomatoes from a lovely old boy. We had a little chat and he wished me ‘good luck’ on getting to Cromer. I did wonder why he wished me good luck. All was soon to be revealed.

So it took slightly longer than anticipated. When I did finally reach Cromer I found out there is some sort of mahoosive carnival going on, there was traffic everywhere, people everywhere and kids everywhere.

So I was thankful to find the campsite, which, given the trillions of people in town was pretty quiet.

It’s a pretty basic campsite, although it does have showers. So after a tin of Heinz sausages in spaghetti (fuel for cyclists) I headed to the shower block keeping my fingers crossed that firstly, they worked, and secondly were hot.

They did work, and they were indeed hot. For all of about 2 minutes. Must remember that in the morning!

I had a stroll into town early evening – there was a carnival going on – it was rammed. They were queueing in the street for fish and chips. They were queueing in the street for kebabs. In fact, people were queueing for everything.

I bet Hannibal didn’t have to deal with that.

I didn’t hang around in town for long, just long enough to take some pictures.

I wandered back to the campsite to see if I can come up with a plan for tomorrow. Slightly worried about the weather, the BBC app said ‘heavy showers and breezy’.

Wish me luck.

65 mile cycle today. Due in part to me going the wrong way about 25 miles in – the fens all look the same! The slight detour added about 40mins and an extra 6 or so miles!

Apart from that one error, today has been a complete success.

The journey to King’s Lynn through the fens was pretty repetitive, just those long flat roads. But once in King’s Lynn and following the cycle route it was much more interesting – although somewhat slower when you don’t know where you are going. Just followed the signs. Cycle Route 1.

Made it to Snettisham Beach, found a lovely spot for a bit of wild camping. Just by the sea but tucked away and sheltered from the wind. The bears will never find me.

Cooked and eaten dinner, had coffee, and pretty much ready for an early night. The ride was hard work in places – pretty much on it all day except for a break for some lunch and a coffee when I got to King’s Lynn – so the legs are aching a bit tonight. I’m thinking early night and then an early start. Tucked up and ready for bed.

No real plan for tomorrow….except for keeping the sea on the left and riding the bike.

I like to run. I’ve been running for ages. I love the fact that you can just whack a pair of trainers on and leg it out the door. So the fact that my latest challenge is taking place on a bike is slightly out of my comfort zone. But that’s good right? I’m always telling my students to get out of their comfort zone, try something new, live a little.

It is only in the last month or so that I have been giving cycling ago. In fact, the longest I’ve ever ridden is 40 miles, so to suddenly go from that to a weeks cycling is probably a bit much. But that’s what is going to happen.

So tomorrow it begins: 6 days cycle touring the coast of Norfolk.

The actual plan looks something like this:

• Leave early tomorrow morning and cycle the 40 odd miles to King’s Lynn.
• From there cycle the 10ish miles to the coast, near Hunstanton, and look for somewhere to wild camp.
• Then ride. Camp. Repeat. Following the coast until Saturday.
• Thinking of doing a Parkrun somewhere Saturday morning (there seems to be plenty in the area)
• Then head home. Camping somewhere Saturday night.
• Getting home Sunday.

As you can see there actually isn’t much of a plan. It’s all very fluid. This is deliberate, I like the idea of just winging it.

I have done some preparation. I’ve got a bike.

Right…off to pack…

Big day today. Running? Nope. Cycling? Nah.

Mowing. That’s right: today’s submission for Juneathon is cutting the grass.

I even tracked it using Strava:

My reward:

Today’s mileage = 0.4

Total Juneathon mileage = 68 running, 36 cycling, 0.4 mowing, some gym action, hungover dash to catch train and panicked run to cashpoint.

Another busy evening after work: an Endure 24 meeting to finalise arrangements.

Therefore, it was a quick run to the allotment to do a bit of watering. One mile there and one mile back. I lost count of the trips to and from the water trough I made during the watering process. That could have been today’s activity!

Today’s mileage = 2

Total Juneathon mileage = 68 running, 36 cycling, some gym action, hungover dash to catch train and panicked run to cashpoint.

Back on the bike after work today: a big loop of Bourne. 12 miles. A lovely evening for a pootle on the bike.

Had a lovely conversation with a fella at work who cycled John o’Groats to Land’s End, so I’m feeling enthused to try and do some sort of cycle touring adventure in the summer.

It definitely will not be Land’s End to John o’Groats – I’m thinking maybe a week’s adventure. Considering a bit of wild camping and/or B&B and/or hostels for overnight accommodation. Not decided yet.

Another idea is to plan the route to coincide with staying at friends or family. Here’s my first thought:

• Amy’s in Leicester
• Jill’s in Edenbridge
• Mum’s in London
• Kev’s in Norwich

I’m not entirely sure how far that is. 250 miles? 300 miles? 350 miles? It’s probably not the most scenic route, I’m not even sure if it even is an actual route – don’t particularly want to cycle down the A1! It’s only an initial idea and subject to change.

Today’s mileage = 12

Total Juneathon mileage = 66 running, 36 cycling, some gym action, hungover dash to train station and panicked run to cashpoint.