Time travelling24 March 2010
Making the journey part of your holiday experience can be fun. It's also a good way of reducing climate changing emissions.
In 2004, Jo and James Magowan travelled to Barcelona - by bike. Here's what they made of it.
Whose idea was it?
It was a joint decision. We were planning to live and work in Barcelona for a year.
The bike trip ended up being the happiest holiday I've ever had.
Jo Magowan
Jo and James nearing the Spanish border
What was the hardest part?
The first hill we encountered - about 100 metres from my front door. I had 20 kilos of weight in my panniers and was out of breath in an instant.
But it got easier. By the time we got to crossing the Pyrenees, we hardly even broke into a sweat.
How long did it take you?
We took around 2 months from start to finish. We turned the journey into a holiday so, as well as cycling, we made sure we had plenty of time to relax.
Admiring the view
What did you get up to on the journey?
Going by bike lets you soak up the places you travel through. I didn't really know France before the trip. But now I've experienced a whole range of different cuisines, accents, customs and landscapes.
We camped under the stars, swam in mountain streams and spotted loads of different wildlife.
How did you feel when you arrived?
As well as feeling fitter and healthier than ever before, I also felt I'd achieved something. We'd arrived in Barcelona by pedal power and hadn't contributed to any of the harmful CO2 emissions associated with flying.
Would you recommend it to other people?
Going by bike is obviously not the quickest way to get to Barcelona. But if you have the time (and a good bike), it's probably the most fulfilling way to travel.
Would you do it again?
Every year if we had the time! The trip made us think about the impact travel has on the environment and effects on climate change.
Recently we went back to Barcelona to visit friends. We took the Eurostar to Paris then boarded the overnight trainhotel. We tucked into a bottle of wine in the restaurant car and watched the sun set over the beautiful French countryside.
After a good night's sleep in our cabin, we woke up in the heart of Barcelona. Easy!
Jo Magowan
Find out more about long distance train travel in Europe at http://www.seat61.com/
© Jo Magowan / Friends of the Earth
