Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela  March 20- April 6 2023 634 km     15 Cycling days    3 Rest days Weather : Rainy days: 1     Coldest 6C (Coimbra)      Hottest 26C (Santarém) Bike weight 16kg: FOLDING Bike Friday New World Tourist 2022 – Wheel size 20″ – Gears 18 – Disc brakes) + padlock. Belongings weight 22kg: Clothes/bike…

The bell of Lisbon’s Cathedral is tolling 8am as I pedal the first of 630km of the pilgrim’s trail towards Santiago de Compostela. As I bump over age-old cobbles on my well-laden bike through the first lanes of this old city, the historical basis to my coming journey is already clear. While navigating the cobbles…

I’m here at the bus station here in Varadero, cash-in-hand, waiting to buy a ticket back to Havana. Despite the online booking system on my phone, within Cuba I can’t reserve a bus ticket. The US blockade of Cuba, in place for the past 61 years, means use of my VISA card is blocked. With…

“If you are in difficulty, tell them my name, ‘Ernesto, Professor of Plant Breeding’. They will find me,” advises this extraordinarily caring stranger I met just 15 minutes ago. Here at this roadside stall, he warns me against continuing my journey. “The road is very bad,” explains Ernesto, backed up by nods from those assembled.…

“I knew you’d come back, Granny”, said Grandpa Bear. His voice sounds a bit weak: he’s been lying alone on the cold ground for well over an hour. I could choose to blame this whole event on the Squirrel Man. If I hadn’t admired his rebellious spirit – every day, with a packet of almonds…