I believe I left off at the army barracks in Ede. Since then we have ridden nearly one million kilometers, so this might be a lengthy post. Also, I don't know when I might get internet next (or as the Dutch at one of the campsites called it "za wee fee")... so here goes!
Some pics from the ride to Utrecht:
Talking to the people at Triodos Bank near Utrecht about microcredit, sustainable banking, and renewable energy.
A clothesline and hammock!
The ride to Utrecht, a sunny tree-lined path. So beautiful!
Thursday July 2nd - Vreden, Spvgg Football Club
No pictures from today... left my camera charger behind in Utrecht!! :(
But we were interviewed for the local newspaper, and we got free beer from the club! I was so tired that evening, I barely made it through the group meeting... let alone our first 100 km day.
Friday July 3rd - Munster, Organic farm hosted by the Young Greens
Here we turned a 60km day into a 106km day. We rode through thunderstorms, on highways, up mountains, forested trails, cobblestone streets... and somehow we made it there in one piece, even if we were a giant blob of demoralized, soaking wetness. I was so exhausted I nearly cried when I realized I had left my toothbrush behind somewhere. Our ridiculous day prompted a meeting about maps - because I may not have mentioned, but we've been riding without maps - just lists of towns or end addresses. Too many people riding way more kms than necessary.
Saturday July 4th - Munster, day off
I found a camera charger in Munster, along with some wonderful Aladdin pants (air flow!!). We had such a great day off, just what I needed. We rode into town and explored the churches and a spectacular outdoor market. Then we stopped for coffee and beer at a cute little cafe and stumbled upon an Afrikani festival with live music and dancing where we spent the rest of the day. We also found some bike maps at a bookstore! Later that night our hosts (the Munster Young Greens - did you know the Green party in Germany gets 9-12% of the national vote?!) had a big bbq and we roasted bread on a stick - a German camping tradition (kind of like s'mores for us?) - followed by the best campfire singalong I've ever been a part of. Guitars, harmonica, violin, 30 enthusiastic voices, and tons of songbooks. Amazing.
Sunday July 5th - Gutersloh, Wapelbad Camping
This place was like a resort, complete with volleyball courts, a pool, ping pong tables, and live music playing as we rolled in. My ride day was super laid back and casual, which was such a nice treat... and for the first time - WE DIDN'T GET LOST!!! However Shani did lose the map book we bought in Munster (I have no idea how this happened). Maybe it's a sign that I need to not be so anal and just trust that I can get there. Maybe it's just bad luck... who knows.
We started the best dance party yet and jumped off a nearby bridge into the river (that meant I didn't have to shower). Oh yeah, and the host of the place was also a Young Greens supporter and gave us free beer, fries, sausages, drinks, everything. This place was heavenly. I could have stayed for days! Another interview put us in another German paper and we met up with the Young Greens from Gutersloh as well. Cool cool.
Just our lunch stop :)
On the way to Hoxter.
Monday July 6th - Hoxter, Church hall
This was a tough day for me. I rode with three fast boys and I was sure my leg muscles were replaced with rubber chickens the night before. The whole riding in a pod thing has been tricky to figure out, too. Everyone has such different riding styles and people are still figuring each other out. It's also really easy to get caught up in your own ride and zone out a little bit. Groups have been separated, people have been mistakenly lost behind. There has been a great deal of frustrationg.... HOWEVER, there have also been so many magical experiences that it's hard to focus on the negatives for long before you realize that exciting new things are happening around you every second of every day. I mean, I am sitting here in a church hall in East Germany in a town of 7000 writing this right now. That's crazy.
Okay back to Hoxter. We arrived 2nd - even though we were positive we were somewhere near the back of the pack. This was my first time getting somewhere sort of early, and that little bit of extra time to get settled, find a place to sleep, lock up my bike, take a sink shower (yep, a sink shower), wash my bike shorts and jersey, get dinner started, write in my journal a bit, and have a lucid conversation with someone... well, it was really energizing. We got in around 6:30pm and the last group (called 'sweep') got in at 9pm, soaking wet and completely exhausted. It was really cool not being in that last group! Since I had all my stuff taken care of, it gave me a chance to help people take care of their business and get some food in their bellies. That was a really special moment for me. Taking care of each other is an integral part of the equation if this group is to function in a healthy manner...
Later that evening our host, Marie, took us to the firestation where she is a volunteer firefighter - for yet another German interview. Seriously folks, we're famous over here! I put on some firefighting gear and we all piled into one of the trucks. Fun stuff.
Tuesday July 7th - Goslar, Church hall
Ooooh. This was an intense day. My first shot at being sweep and making sure no one gets left behind! The morning was tough as it always is (I am a cranky morning rider), but the day totally picked up and even though it was endlessly hilly and rainy, I managed to keep my spirits high. We rounded up some strays (Keely and Gala) about 40km from our destination. They had ridden 20 extra kms already, so we greeted them with tupperwares full of cherries that we had just finished picking off trees that lined the side of the road.
With our new crew we ascended mountains (who knew there were mountains here?!) and navigated with shotty German. One guy we asked spoke to us in German for 15 minutes before he finally asked us if we spoke English - which led to a roar of celebration and cheer.
Once back on track we got stuck in a thundershower, but we were so lucky to have great people giving us directions and even a car escort us to the center of town where we were staying at the most beautiful church! The pastor there was so kind and hospitable (as it seems all of our hosts have been) and the city was medieval and breathtaking. I had a tough time staying awake though, and my legs were aching, so I made myself a little fort in the corner and went to sleep right after our group meeting (about following rules and safety first and respect and stuff like that). I really wish we could have spent our day off in Goslar, but that would have meant 6 days straight of 100+ km... and there were a lot of people who weren't so sure they could handle that, especially when 100+ could mean anywhere from 101-140. In the morning before we left we climbed the stairs of the church tower with the preist and were blessed with the best views of the city you can get. Yay!
Wednesday July 8th - Stassfurt, Church hall
This was another really good day. We had such a cool pod, everyone got along really well and had a ton of fun. We also got hear early-ish... just in time for the town hall meeting our host set up for us in a castle nearby. Crazy! Another reporter, another newspaper (still famous). After the meeting, we had a social at the castle bar (what?!) and got free booze and a chance to mingle with some of the townsfolk. Gala, Gene and I spent some time speaking with a German couple who spoke German, English, and Russian (we crossed the border into East Germany yesterday, so now a lot of people speak Russian). Gene is Russian, so that made for a pretty funny conversation in a mix of the three languages with comments being translated back and forth. It was a real treat to get a chance to interact with some locals... I did mention we're in a town of 7000, right? Neat stuff.
Fixing a flat.
We crossed into East Germany and the difference in scenery was immediately obvious.
A castle on top of a mountain!
The church where we are staying.
Okay everyone is going to town, and my bike is making squeaky sounds so I'm going to see if I can get it tuned up. Tomorrow starts our string of 5 days of 100+ km, so I may be too exhausted to write again until our next day off IN PRAGUE!!! I can't believe I'm going to be in Prague in 6 days. This whole trip is constantly mindblowing.
K peace out!
I was looking on your facebook to message you about a writing opportunity (I need a personal trainer of sorts) but apparently you are off on an epic adventure. I'm definitely jealous, although I plan on doing a similar trip "soon".......probably on some kind of motorized bike. But I get it, you're doing it old school.
ReplyDeleteDan.