03 Camping still in prospect.....

Having tested out the weight of the bike on a fairly long trip to Wooler last weekend, the extra equipment on the bike meant a much slower ride and difficulty in keeping everything well balanced. 

It is probably more suitable for a short trip and while the prospect of doing a full week of packing the bike, unpacking and camping does now hold me some fear, it really is the only option as looking at hotel prices on the way up they are now often booked up or hefty priced for a room as you have to take a double.

While it may reduce my available daily mileage and put me under much pressure to complete long days with a very heavy bike, I'll give it a go.  If I do arrive in heavy rain then maybe I'll grab a room somewhere rather than camp.

So although a cheaper option, it will reduce daily mileage - anything from 50 to 70 miles a day on the way up through France, Belgium and Holland will have to be an acceptable effort.