2 days to go

So, last week this side of the Atlantic and the excitement is beginning to build to fever pitch. I am panicking about the right underwear, Massimo continues to have some small leakage issues and Nutting is still in Bali - brilliant! Somehow it all seems a bit close now and I can almost see myself on a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas rising up through the air.............. yeah, well, you know what I mean! Nutting having realised his complete lack of input so far, tried to throw a dog a bone yesterday by saying that he would organise the bike to bike communications. Nice, I thought, a sophisticated bit of kit used by police forces all round the world to ensure a good bit of chat along some boring desert road to help ease some of the boredom, plus you look cool when the helmet comes off and you've got that "Madonna" type microphone streched from ear to cheek. Not a bit of it. Nutting's version is "Walkie Talkies" or "Talkie Walkies" (as they are called in France - I promise!) would do the job apparently. How? You need a free hand, be within about 15 meters and be able to hear what someone else is saying at 60mph with a helmet on? Not sure our Balinese connection has quite thought this through, but he has assured me that after one of the best manicures he's ever had, his nails twinkle like pink diamonds - OMG and I'm sharing a room with him, so why am I laughing??!!


Still on the hunt for some tighty whiteys. Went shopping on Saturday for some and lost my nerve. I thought it would be easy. Short type of style, easy access/exit at front and not too tight. Well, let me tell you listeners, for those that have never tried to buy some, don't. It was quite a nerve wracking experience, my confidence is shot and I'm no closer to buying them. Imagine, I'm standing in the TW section surrounded by no end of shapes and sizes and I'm not talking about the shorts but more the picture on the front. Now, for my part, when it comes to clothing I've always been a Large/X-Large in pretty much everything I own apart from TWs apparently. Do they hire men to model these things to make the purchaser feel inferior because, based on what I saw, these men, in their spare time, use their appendage to do impressions of balloon giraffes and chairlift cables. My sad conclusion therefore is that I think I must be a small-medium at best, all quite depressing really. Plus , white, black, multi coloured, humour, even one pair in army camouflage!! What's all that about?? Anyway, will try again tomorrow when I get some courage back.

It's amazing how much advice I'm being given as well. Some good to be fair and some absolute rubbish. Our painter came up with a classic today who, by his own admission doesn't ride bikes, told me to be careful when riding past something note worthy that everyone is looking at in case the person in front brakes and everyone else, who hasn't braked, smashes into the back of him!! So in other words, look where you're going and don't ever brake if you're in front of others - check. Right, off to go and do some packing less a bag and several pairs of TWs......................