I had not ridden one since starting high school in 1960. I bought a new Schwinn ten speed and had less than a couple of months to get ready. A nearby college was on a hill, so practiced my hill climbing on it, at first rather slow. As it would turn out, that hill was steeper than any I would face in my vacation.

Then it was merely a matter of taking ever longer rides, first in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles, the gradually over the mountains to the deserts further east using the fire breaks through the mountains. Passed a shepherd and his flock. Once I completed a round trip of a hundred miles, I was ready for my trip.

I had planned for a four-month trip, but as I was not spending as much I thought that I would, I extended it another month. Most of my daily rides were between 40 and 70 miles between location, then exploring each location, often the exploring on foot.

My trip out of London up the Thames Valley during a driving rainstorm was my shortest, only twenty miles. I was wearing a rain cape, which kept me and my one small bag dry. I only carried three days worth of clothing. I never felt the need for any more stuff to carry.