Now, that I’d fathomed (I think!) I could arrive in Spain, next was the planning on getting to the UK. That was straightforward 🚵‍♂️ I’d cycle.

When I came out, for the first time I’d travelled without a tent 🎪 On this trip I had no reason to bring it along as my plan was to extensively cycle day trips … perhaps my fault and I’d jinxs the planet!

Not just my tent, on top of that my camping/cooking gear too 🍳 bloody hell!

So, help came from a friend who gave me a tent and a sleeping bag. I also purchased a Thermorest mat. I try and not scrimp on this. It can seriously cause all the difference to a warm/cold, comfortable/uncomfortable night! Then, AliExpress for my cooking gear. I opted  to try a pot with a heat-exchanger … Fire Maple 1l.

My cooking gear in the past I’d invariably used my trusted Trangia stove (meths). This has served me very well. It’s slow, but sure, like me. This time I was opting for gas canisters. Was it going to match up?

The tent 🎪 remains a tried and tested system, an MSR Hubba Hubba NX. I initially possessed the older version which died a death with UV and use! The sleeping bag was getting old, but I rejuvenated it with a good hand wash and dry in the Ozzie sun ☀️ That didn’t take long in 35degs!

Changing flights with Qatar Airways ✈️ involved a little bit of stress, as I didn’t know whether they’d adhere to their word of a free-date-destination-change (airlines aren’t known for been this helpful without emptying the wallet even more) … with time to spare they did. Qatar Airways came through for me. A big thank you to the customer service team via Twitter.

The day arrived. A walk into the Perth International departure terminal expecting to see at least a few people. Wrong. It was abandoned.

A couple of check-in agents and two ominously (grumpy as) regional police officers staring me down as I approached. The senior male grump 👮 asked for ‘my papers’ to leave … my papers, I laughed 😆 Didn’t go down well with the senior grump and his trainee grump (👮‍♀️) gave a scour! I informed them I’m British 🇬🇧 Not happy with that, senior Grump asked to examine my Australian 🇦🇺 passport. Once again, I said, I’m British! A bit of key-pressing on a laptop, senior Grump informed me, I was leaving permanently. I asked, permanent to what … life time or a few weeks? No answer except, you’re free to depart! I dragged my bike box to the check-in desk with senior Grump and trainee Grump staring me down once again! 👮 👮‍♀️

As ever travelling with a bike on an aircraft, weight is paramount. They couldn’t even be bothered to weigh it and just asked how much it weighed? FFS! I could’ve got away with everything I had and not posted a large box back to the UK! I asked how many on the flight … 15 was the reply. I nearly fell over! All my lifetime Xmas and Birthdays had come at once! 🎆

I’m on board a brand new-straight-out of the box A350. Pretty much occupied a section to myself. A Whiskey was the first port of call, then a ground black coffee … repeat, then again!

As with all good flights, uneventful is what we’re after. It was so!

Changed flights in Doha for Madrid. This time an older 777 and a lowly figure of 50’ish soles on board!