My leaving date is 12th August. There was a slight misunderstanding about this due to my post “Gaichtpass” – that was just training. I did another long tour as training this week – from Roppen to Sölden in the Ötz Valley and back – 96 kilometres (60 miles) and over 1000 metres (over 3000 feet) of climb but really enjoyable.
I am finding it extremely difficult to find accomodation with phone numbers on the net. There are plenty of websites with lists of hotels and even B&Bs, but they are intended for booking online and don’t include phone numbers. Obviously, when I arrive at a destination tired on a bike, I won’t want to go from one to another (often miles apart) to ask if they have vacancies and it would make life so much easeir just to look at my list and phone them! On the last big trip I did, I decided after arriving at the second destination at lunchtime already, that I wasn’t going to book ahead again! So if anyone knows of any accomodation guides with phone numbers, please let me know!
As I can stay the first night with friends in Blaichach, I have changed the destination for the 12th August. As this is directly on the route it only makes it slightly further on the first day, but slightly less on the second.
Die Seite über meinen Vater – Don – ist nun auch in Deutsch.
Someone asked me recently, what my Dad actually had to do with the bicycle industry, so I have added another page – Don – about his life and career.
Translation of my first post for my Austrian and German friends:
Am 12. August 2010 will ich mit dem Fahrrad von meiner Heimat Tyrol zum Macmillan Unit in Christchurch, UK radeln. Dies geschieht zugunsten von Macmillan Caring Locally und zu Ehren meines Vaters, Donald Hilton Wright, der dieses Jahr am 19. Jänner gestorben ist. Ich werde zwischen 2 und 3 Wochen benötigen, um die 1200 Kilometer zu fahren. Natürlich hoffe ich auf viele Sponsoren für dieses Unternehmen. Siehe die Spenden Seite um zu sehen, was mit Spendengelder gekauft wereden kann.
Ich werde über meinen Fortschritt auf diesen Seiten laufend berichten.
Today as training I tried the old Gaicht Pass – that’s part of the first leg on gravel – without luggage. It was very tough. I managed to stay on the bike most of the time, but I’ll probably end up pushing considerably more, if I go this way with luggage. I’m still wondering whether it might be better to go the 10 Kilometers or more longer but easier way or whether to take the new Gaicht Pass (road) – there was a lot of traffic – mostly motorbikes- there today, because it was Sunday – it may be better during the week.
It was a great day – the 30°C in the shade didn’t bother me much because of the wind – I did 76 Km (about 50 miles) and 600 hM (1500 ft. altitude). That’s my longest stretch this year, due to bad weather etc., but I have a very good feeling and am really looking forward to the tour.
I’ve been trying to decide whether to take my netbook with me – not exactly easy on a bike – or to get one of these new (i- or similar) phones, that do everything, but I just tried using my normal mobile phone and it works! I’ll just need to get a SIM-card for France otherwise the roaming charges will be enormous.
I’ve made one or two changes to the route (see itinerary – I need a few more days to redo the map), as I have found out that accomodation is much more expensive in the larger towns. As far as possible I want to follow the rivers – e.g. Moselle and Marne. Also I’ve decided to cut off the extra 40 Kilometers of going via Sarrebourg, be brave and go over the Col du Donon. I have allowed myself 2 rest days, but I will take them when I need them and not neccessarily on the 19th and 23rd. If I need more, no problem, my absolute deadline is 5th September and if I’ve not managed it by then, I never will! I know I say 800 miles on my post and we only have 714 here, but experience tells me that it will be more – you often take a detour – sometimes accidentally, on other occasions deliberately – for a quick swim, sightseeing or even just looking for a restarant or a shop to buy food!
Sue4Don 
