The Plan

Assisi and back on a 50cc moped. About two months on the road and around 5000km of travel. Detouring a lot, stopping everywhere, probably getting lost from time to time. Camping, bunking up in monasteries, sleeping rough under the stars. Praying. That, in short, is the plan.

Sometime in the second half of June I'll be setting off on this quixotic pilgrimage. I've been granted three months of sabbatical leave by Launde Abbey, and I want to use the time to do something both restorative and stretching. At some point, riding my little moped back and forth around the Leicestershire countryside, the idea sprang into my mind: wouldn't it be great to ride right across Europe? So the sabbatical plan formed, and I'm in the final weeks of preparation.

Mind you, to call it a 'plan' is a little bit misleading. I've got a bike, a destination, and a rough idea of the route I want to take. I've got no fixed timetable, no accommodation booked, no definite itinerary (just a list of places I'd like to visit), and no idea whether I'll even get there (or back). Less of a 'plan' and more of a 'dream' really. Should be fun.

Over the next few weeks I'll complete the preparations and post about them here: you'll be able to read a bit more about the possible stops along the way, the kit, the bike, and the pilgrim (me). And then, come late June, you can start following my trail, if you're interested. Join me for the ride, so to speak. It'll be fun!