During the reading week, I took the plunge to give my brain a rest, not a normal decision I would make but on reflection a good one.

I felt I was heading into the final project in a position of literary strength, and didn’t feel there was reading to be done to help me chose which project to take forward, of which was the given reason for self-directed study.
However, a break to prepare the brain and energy levels for the final 12-week stint; I’d also wanted to ride my bike around Ireland for years and saw the reading week as a window of opportunity before heading back into the real work awaiting post study.
I do a lot of my reading using audiobooks, and I find listening whilst riding my bike the best combination for absorption of information, This is why a breakaway was a good decision.

My friend Julienne is also a great listener so I know I would have plenty of opportunities to discuss and work through my projects.

I really like touring. Once the organisation has been done; the route planning, booking places to stay on route, the pre-trip bike maintenance, the kit pack, the Brain can relax and enter its flow.
My best creative work is done when I make time to exercise, but for me, it’s been grounded outdoors.

My favourite book is – Einstein & The Art of Mindful Cycling: Achieving Balance in the Modern World  Hardcover – 28 Sep 2012 by Ben Irvine – this book is a fun entry into Mindfulness 

Prep the Kit to wear

 

Take a good pair of ears to listen – Julian my cycling friend, his first touring trip

Prep on the over night ferry – wine O’clock

 

It was a bit early for julian – 6 am

Dawn over Ireland

 

This arch way reminded my of the Ardèche it is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France

A pretty harbour, come on Julian we have miles to munch.

We cycled about 70 miles a day

Good job they grit the roads well in the Irish winters. It was a bit chilly up on the tops.

Back to smiles in the winter sun

Found a bike shop.

Puffy eyes, after leaving my glasses at home – won’t do that again 

Cool bar in Derry – loved the glass wall

Blue skyes – after a very wet and windy morning

The results of a long 85 mile day in the saddle – pizza GONE !!

Last day smiles

The largest in land water in the U.K – not the Sea

Back in Liverpool – we where happy to find the car was still there… we had left it just outside the port in a deralicte waste land (free parking)

I used Strava a cycling app for planning the route as it was easy to share and share with my cycling computer that sits on my bars giving me sat nav style instructions.

Back in Otley time for a run

Back to school