The Bikepacker: Bikepacking 2024 - Banstead to Portsmouth

Day #

State of Legs

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	Distance (miles)	Distance (km)	Ascent (feet)	Ascent (metres)	Punctures
Today	73.8 miles	km	4344 feet	metres	0
Trip Totals	73.8 miles	km	4344 feet	metres	0

Today's Route

Route So Far

Travelogue

Today was the first day of our 2024 European bikepacking trip! And what a start (note the amber status assigned to our legs). But first, some background. Here's a transcript of a conversation that took place between M1 and M2 during the planning of this trip. To ensure that there is no possibility of blame being assigned or any other misunderstanding, the already anonymous code names of M1 and M2 have been further disguised and are presented here as Ma and Mb where a could be 1 or 2 and b could be 1 or 2. Confused? That's fine. So are we, much of the time.

Ma - "So, I think we should split the ride to Portsmouth over two days. At 74 miles it would be a long way to ride in one day, especially on our heavy touring bikes (have I mentioned that these bikes are heavy?). Furthermore, we have both the Surrey Hills and then the South Downs to cross. That's quite a lot of climbing. I've researched and identified somewhere we could stay at about the 40 mile mark and...."

Mb (interrupting impatiently) - "I hear you and I respect your opinion in these matters..... BUT ARE YOU SERIOUS???? HAVE YOU THOUGHT THIS THROUGH????!!! I mean honestly, if we split the journey to Portsmouth into two days, we'll only have about 35 miles to ride on day two and we can easily do that in about two hours (Ma splutters at this statement). This means we'll arrive in Portsmouth at about 10:00 a.m. and our ferry leaves at 20:30 in the evening. What are we going to do during that long wait? Really, you just don't think. CLEARLY WE NEED TO RIDE TO PORTSMOUTH IN A SINGLE DAY! It will be easy, we can obviously do that. So that's the plan, agreed?"

Ma - "Errrrr...... well OK, I'm up for doing it in one day if you are and clearly you are!"

So, that's how we came to be cycling 74 miles with over 4000 feet of ascent on *really* heavy bikes (have I mentioned etc etc) on the very first day of our 2024 trip. No blame whatsoever.

Because, enjoyable though much of the first day of the trip was, it was pretty tough going and I think it fair to say we both found it a challenge to say the least!

The route first took us through familiar places such as Box Hill which is the location of most of the pre-trip training M1 and M2 had done, cycling up and down the famous hill as many times as possible to build strength and endurance. Not enough times though, it would seem! M1 managed only 11 "reps" this year, having done 21 in the past. M2 did 5 which was the same as she did last year, so at least she was consistent.

After Box Hill we cycled through the town of Dorking and then onwards on a fairly busy road, passing by and over the Surrey Hills. Some of the route was off road, through woodland which was a nice change.

We'd told ourselves that this was only really a 60 miles ride because it's all downhill to Portsmouth after reaching the highest point of the South Downs. But the profile apparently lied because we never really noticed the joyous 15 mile descent we'd expected, the problem being that while the general trend is down from that point, the road still undulates up and down, up and down. Our poor legs really were getting upset by this point.

At one point, it looked like it was going to rain as well!!!

But it didn't. More exciting stories like this to follow!

M1 ate not one, not two but three Snickers bars during the day! (told you).

Eventually we reached Portsmouth and crossed through the busy streets to the port. We were there at a suitable time and didn't have to wait long. For some reason, M2 got selected for a security search and had to unload one of her panniers so it could be scanned. It would be unwise to speculate as to why she was selected.

Boarding was easy enough and after a wait for cabin cleaning to complete, we were able to get into the cabin we'd booked for the overnight sailing. It looked rather like a prison cell, as these things do but it was comfortable, big enough and had its own shower and toilet. Better than most prison cells (as far as I know!).

We enjoyed the finest food the ship's cafe could provide, namely paninis and crisps, and then retired to our cabin to relax and fairly quickly, fall asleep. The night was uneventful I'm happy to report.

We took a few photos. Here they are.