Mel & Trinity

The last two weekends have certainly all been about figuring out what does and doesn’t work. The latter probably being more important.

Last weekend’s trip to Exmoor National Park taught me the following:

• Don’t camp next to a river (certainly not in the UK). It’s it absolutely freezing.
• My Kriega US-30 dry bag is great as a weekend bag but it’s not going to work as a tank bag. It’s therefore staying at home.
• Don’t try and get onto the bike when it has luggage on and not have it on the stand. I dropped Trinity as a result. That would have been fine except I learned I can’t pick her up (well at least not the way I was trying to do it).
• Air compressors at the petrol filling stations do not fit Trinity’s wheels. I decided to buy a portable air compressor as a result.

Given my very eventful weekend last weekend I thought this weekend would be a breeze. That was my first mistake. The important lessons I have learned this weekend (so far) include:

• Do not start a trip at 6pm at night. It’s not fun in peak hour traffic on the motorway; you cannot see that well; and it’s not great knowing it’s getting dark when things go wrong.
• Take a spare USB charger for the bike and a wall charger.
• Take a paper map.
• Having to check in with people is more stressful than just dealing with the issue at hand.
• I don’t like having so much “stuff” with me. I love simplicity and all this gear to worry about is a pain. I need to look at how to simply what I’m taking with me.
• On the positive side, I love the Welsh countryside. It is simply stunning!  and And I am also very grateful to be learning all these lessons before I head to the U.S.
• Finally, I’ve completed this post from my iPhone and it was fine so I think my iPad will stay at home. Result! One less this to carry.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is rain all day. That should be interesting. Bring it on!