He's arrived !

Just got a text from Dad. He arrived at the Casa (B&B) in Havana just after midnight last night.. He's got a big double bed - I hope he's not thinking of taking that bike bed with him !  Talking of which Dad says his bike has got a bit damaged on the journey but it's gone together ok! He ought take a photo of the damage and claim on his insurance.

Today his plan was to go and sort out the tourist bus.

A few more photos

A couple more photos of Dad at Gatwick this morning courtesy of Andy.

Bike from car, to trolley, to plane ...

Suspicious parcel in departures

Dad waiting check in at Gatwick

Just been tracking his flight and his flight was delayed 45 minutes on departure. He should land in Holguin first and then onto Havana arriving 10.00 pm local time (3.00am BST).

Gatwick Airport

He's on his way. Checking in a Gatwick Airport (thanks for the photo Andy). I doubt he'll get that box in the overhead luggage holder !

Updated to say ... he's all checked in and he didn't have to pay any excess baggage.

Cuba here he comes

Well the day is nearly upon us. Dad and his bike set off early in the morning (courtesy of Andy Swindells - thanks Andy) for Gatwick. His flight is just after 2.00 and he'll arrive in Havana 10.00 pm (their time).

He's booked into a Casa Particular (B&B to you and me) in Vedado. His plan is to have a couple of days around Havana and then catch the tourist bus down to Santiago de Cuba. He'll then have a day or two around there and then cycle along the south coast in a westerly direction. Apparently the winds in Cuba are from East to West so he wants to have a tail wind ( a couple of curries will do the trick for a tail wind I think) !  He'll head along the coast towards Manzanillo. From there it'll either be Bayamo and Holguin or he'll head direct to Les Tunas. He'll then pick up the north coast and head back towards Havana.

Dad will hopefully be in touch as often as he can ... I don't think he'll get a very good mobile signal even though he has taken it with him and I think pay phones will probably few and far between. Time difference is BST - 5 hours. I'll update the blog as often as I can.

The travel agent ... AKA me !

Well I've been put to good use tonight and managed to dial through to Cuba and now Dad has accommodation for the first couple of nights when he arrives in Havana. He's booked into http://casa.wordsweave.com/  Looks a nice place to stay and most importantly it is "bike friendly" and has some where secure for Dad's bike !  Dad's not daft ... he managd to wangle the phone call onto my phone bill !

Well the trip is all coming together nicely which is a good job cause it's only 9 days til he goes !

Cuba trip

Well at least now I know what Cuba looks like ! Dad has been and purchased two maps so at least now I can look at where he's planning on going but first he's got to get to Gatwick. It's proving a bit tricky. Parking for a month is extortionate at Gatwick, train is out of the question as he'll have his bike boxed up. National Express will only take the bike "if there is room" which isn't much use because what will happen if there isn't any room ! A friend recommended http://www.parkatmyhouse.com/ and we have found somewhere close to Gatwick. Also looking at option of taking the shuttle down from Manchester, or finding a willing driver to ferry Dad there and back so there are a few alternatives to look at.

Next problem is his mobile. Dad's basic Nokia is a dual band and he needs a tri-band for Cuba. So now we are on the look out for a cheap and simple to use tri-band phone !

Now he'd have none of these problems if he cycled around Britain again !

Cuba

Well the next trip is in the planning stage ... well in fact we are further on than "planning" as flights are now booked. Dad is off to Cuba in April. So anyone fancying a cycle trip around Cuba get in touch with Dad !