Both Ends of the Spectrum Part 1
For some reason I feel compelled to express some sort of negativity about early starts to my trips. I don't know why; it is my choice to do this as it gives me more time in my chosen destination on that first day. Yes, it's a slight inconvenience in getting up, sometimes, in the middle of the night, but there is certainly nothing negative about it. So, as my alarm rattles off at 04:45, I pull a face and wish, for a split second, that I could have another hour in bed. That wish passes as soon as it came and I'm up and into the bathroom for shaved head and face, brushed teeth and a shower to wake me up. Dressed, in the car and on the road for 05:30 as planned. Google Maps had predicted 5h 15m for this journey yesterday but, at this time of the day, that forecast has gone down to less than 5 hours. Of course, with a couple of stops on the way and, more than likely, a traffic queue at some point, that time will extend, but even 6 hours will get me to my first destination in ple...