The Writing on the Road: A Tour de France for My Father
1953 - Roy's Preface
This book records the impressions and experiences of a first trip abroad. It was written to remind the author of a most exciting adventure, which was at the same time a very enjoyable holiday. Hence there are included many trivial references, such as details of food, which may convey nothing to the other readers.
No pretence is made to good literary style. The text is really little more than elaborated diary notes. Please do the photographs justice by looking at them in a good light.
Roy Jenkin
No pretence is made to good literary style. The text is really little more than elaborated diary notes. Please do the photographs justice by looking at them in a good light.
Roy Jenkin
by Roy Jenkin, age 21, graduate at University College, Exeter, and Gordon Newbery, age 20, undergraduate at St. Peter's Hall, Oxford. Both educated at Exeter School.
The story really began in January 1953, when I suggested to Gordon that we might go on a cycling holiday together. At that time, I was thinking of a tour of the coast of Britain, but Gordon wanted to go abroad, and I caught his enthusiasm. During the Easter vacation, we considered routes and plans, and in fact the route we finally took was planned almost exactly with only a map in a school atlas.
In June, after my Final examinations, I cycled to Oxford one weekend to see Gordon, and we then returned together to Exeter. We bought two maps, covering North and South France, with a scale of 16 miles to one inch. Later we bought a small one when we went off the edge of the main map. Using these, we had no difficulty with our navigation.
Our luggage, consisting of sleeping bags, washing and shaving kits, spare clothes, stove, fuel, and cooking utensils, food and drink, spare bike parts, plats, mugs, and cutlery, first aid kit, maps, compass, cameras, films, and raincapes.... (Going up! Second floor, carpets, upholstery, furnishings ...) Over 350 items in all, was carried in handlebar and saddle bags, and rear panniers.
The story really began in January 1953, when I suggested to Gordon that we might go on a cycling holiday together. At that time, I was thinking of a tour of the coast of Britain, but Gordon wanted to go abroad, and I caught his enthusiasm. During the Easter vacation, we considered routes and plans, and in fact the route we finally took was planned almost exactly with only a map in a school atlas.
In June, after my Final examinations, I cycled to Oxford one weekend to see Gordon, and we then returned together to Exeter. We bought two maps, covering North and South France, with a scale of 16 miles to one inch. Later we bought a small one when we went off the edge of the main map. Using these, we had no difficulty with our navigation.
Our luggage, consisting of sleeping bags, washing and shaving kits, spare clothes, stove, fuel, and cooking utensils, food and drink, spare bike parts, plats, mugs, and cutlery, first aid kit, maps, compass, cameras, films, and raincapes.... (Going up! Second floor, carpets, upholstery, furnishings ...) Over 350 items in all, was carried in handlebar and saddle bags, and rear panniers.