Roadtrip to Devon & Cornwall (yes, it's really England!)

The Stats of our 5 day Road Trip:
-712 miles (by car, not bike!)
-9 Villages
-3 Coastal Hikes
-2 Campsites
-6 Pasties
-& more beer, meals, ice cream, coffees, etc.















1st stop- Beer, Seiton, Lime Regis

After a pleasant drive down to the south coast, Matt and I found a campsite on a hill above Beer which we called home for 2 nights. Despite going to bed around 9 pm, we managed to sleep in until around 10 the next morning!

We set out the next morning to discover Beer where we chilled on the beach with a newspaper and then enjoyed the first of what would prove to be one of MANY massive meals over the weekend.






















Torquay- the English Riviera!
The next stop on the journey was a day in the bustling seafront town of Torquay. The most memorable part of Torquay (besides the enormous breakfast number 2) was the abundance of palm trees.









Cornwall- Pentewan, Mevagissey, Charlestown- the land of rolling green hills, blue skies (yep, still in England!) and pasties



The next place we set up shop was in Pentewan, and located right on the ocean. We visited the local village pub for a pint and then enjoyed our second coastal walk to the quaint fishing village called Mevagissey...and so the pasty exstravaganza began (thank goodness for the 2 mile hilly walk!).

















The next morning we set out on a hike to Charlestown. It was hands down my favorite walk that I've done so far in England. It was the perfect temperature in the low 70s, no wind, blue skies. The terrain was rolling hills with turquois water below.












We took the river path home where Matt was kind enough to save a few chickens from escaping.

















We arrived home ravenous and enjoyed a picnic on the beach.














Newquay & Padstow- Surfing beaches & more grub (Rick Steins) Our last stops on the trip were to the famous Newquay beach filled with young surfer partying types.







We then visited the small village called Rick Stein/Padstow. We visited Rick Stein's Cafe for lunch, followed by a cake shop and then headed back up to Nottingham.

Another Step Towards the Journey Out West...

Jobless....check.

Homeless...check.

It's starting to become clear that a few changes are in the making. As I sat on my driveway and watched all of my material possessions consolidated and loaded into a smallish truck, I wished them well on their journey across the Atlantic. I left my home on Mapperley Plains with one suitcase in hand (notably, it contains my only clothing options for the next 4+ months!).






So far the most striking observations I have about being jobless for the past 3 weeks (and not travelling extensively) is just how quickly time goes and how the smallest tasks make me feel very productive. For example, a day that consisted of a trip to the bike shop, lunch with Matt and his sister Kate, and a swim felt like I had accomplished a great deal. I've had to ask myself how it was ever possible to work a full day, squeeze in errands, do 2 workouts, and have coffee with friends. Hmmm...will I ever be able to go back to corporate life??

The Capital One send off!

After spending 9 years (i.e. my entire adult working life) at Capital One, I knew it would be an emotional good-bye. Luckily, my team ensured that I would be laughing instead of crying. Kate and Cath were the ring leaders behind the operation and planned my 'leaving do' (i.e. drinks at Canal House and dinner at a Turkish restaurant). I showed up to work on my last day with the entire team dressed in bike helmets and some in swim goggles and some wearing medals around their necks. I thought that was bad enough, but as I looked closer I noted that they were all wearing t-shirts with an embarrassing close-up of me on the front. The back of the t-shirt stated 'sponsored by toffee muffins and vanilla lattes' (my two biggest food vulnerablilities after long training weekends!).

They were kind enough to make a shirt for me and had all signed it.

Camping in Derbyshire

I was worried that after the Ironman I would face that uncertain time of what's next. My past couple of years have been categorized as pre and post Ironman. Now that it's post Ironman, I no longer have the excuse to defer all decisions to after 13 July. That said, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, I've really relaxed and enjoyed myself. Exercise regimes consist of 40 minute swims and my 30 minute commute to work.




Last weekend Kate planned a very last minute camping trip to Derbyshire. I decided that I could use a 40 mile ride into the hills and it would be great fun to have a night in the outdoors. The focus of the night in the wilderness was, of course, eating and drinking. It was no ordinary food selection, however. Brian and Andrea have very sophisticated palates and therefore arrived with an array of delicious food such as fresh vegetables sauteed with extra virgin olive oil, grilled to perfection. Local sausages, tuna steak, cheese and crackers, etc. Needless to say, we didn't go hungry. We also kept our thirst at bay with 6+ bottles of wine and some Anchor Steam beer (lord knows where they find all the American products in Nottingham).





We managed to sleep in until nearly 10 am, and then visit my favorite cafe in Derbyshire- Elton, for some much needed hang-over food. Being a 'cyclist cafe' it wasn't surprising to see Matt's entire cycling team enjoying a cup of tea outside the cafe.