Letter #25: "Those who forget how the revolution started will not know how it ends."
Letter #25
Having spent much of this week staggering around the house sneezing my skin off or lying in bed wishing my eyes could hold it together long enough to read more than half a sentence, I'm almost ecstatically excited to be sitting once more at my desk, sending all you folks a long overdue email. Don't worry, I am reliably informed that the norovirus cannot be transmitted over digital. (Yet.)
This letter is very much the tale of two bike trips, both of which you're invited to join, although I suspect that prior engagements this summer may restrict your participation in at least one.
Without further agadoo - onwards!
Bike Trip #1: Seacycles
This is actually a series of bike trips, the first two of which you've already missed (told you this email was long overdue). Every month this year, fellow round Britain cyclist Anna Hughes and I have vowed to cycle to the sea. It really is that simple.
So far, we've cycled from London to Southend-on-Sea (report) and Whitstable (report) (arriving just in time to watch Liverpool lose the League Cup final on penalties, but even that couldn't dampen spirits - mostly because nobody else gave a monkey's).
This month we're cycling to Brighton (details). One catch: we're leaving at MIDNIGHT on Good Friday, arriving in time for dawn on Easter Saturday. It’ll be slow-paced, nicely-navigated, well-catered and hip-flasked to the eyeballs.
Date: Friday 25th March – Good Friday
Time: Midnight
Location: Monument
Distance: 56 miles
Projected arrival time: Approximately 7am on Saturday morning
Things to bring:
1. Food.
2. Warmth.
3. Bike.
Things not to bring:
1. Norovirus.
RSVP to this letter if you'd like to come. (HINT: You would.)
Bike Trip #2: Syria?
Yep. I know this sounds like a terrible idea, but stop focussing on the entirely hypothetical end point and look at all the interesting places in between:
(Link to Google map - and yes I know it thinks I'm walking...)
The plan is to leave at the beginning of May and to spend the summer cycling across Europe, talking to her inhabitants about migration. If people are happy to share their stories, I'll be recording and broadcasting to all you guys back home, and all over the internet.
Again, this ride is pretty simple in concept. I expect the execution will be slightly more complicated, however, and could use some help (as always). If you have any spare encouragement, logistics support or technology you can lend me, or you want to get involved in any other way, then I'm ready for ya! RSVP to this letter and we'll get started.
When the ride's on its way, I'll be sharing updates on this mailing list and through my Twitter account. In the meantime, here's a link to my first blog post on the ride. Give it a gander and let me know what you think.
Anyway
That's your lot. Thanks for your attention and I hope to see you next week.
d
PS: If you're wondering about the new naming convention for these letters, then wonder no longer: I nicked the idea from Backchannel by @documentally. I can't recommend subscribing to his mailing list highly enough. Fascinating every Friday.
I have no idea whether Documentally's subject lines are quotes from actual books or just weird things that have tumbled out of his hyperactive brain, but mine are going to be taken from things I am currently reading. This week's quote is from "Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War" by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila Al-Shami, a very thorough study of the Syrian uprising. Recommended.