Bucketeer Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 I think the next plan is follow the Meuse down towards Venlo.Onwards. chaseracer, Psycho Charlie Knobcheese, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer and 13 others 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcars Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 is Santa stuck in the basket on the back of the bike? Mally, DeeJay, willswitchengage and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 ^^^^^^^First time I've laughed for a while. HMC, holbeck, Junkman and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Epic. I've missed out on this thread for a while, good to see you're well on your way Alex! Which route are you taking south? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 I got a decent start out of Nijmegen this morning. Pedalling feels good, my legs are feeling stronger already. I had worn my wellies for the last two days, due to my trainers becoming too wet. The wellies are a bit tight, so this morning they got stored in their appropriate compartment. And back on in their place are the wet trainers. They're not too bad actually, and my feet have been cold but bearable. The cycle paths took me out into some great countryside. There's actual slopes and everything. At one point I had a good two minutes of proper downhill freewheeling (shouting 'wheeeeeeee' all the way down obvs). Passing through towns can be a bit of a drag but there's more chances of spotting some old heaps. I'll own up here, and say that despite all advice I have been wearing a rucksack. My big one is in the trailer but I've had this smaller one on for the whole journey so far. It's not been a bother. Yet. Junkman, Lacquer Peel, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer and 25 others 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 And you've got a camelback, that makes three Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcars Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Those cycle paths look great. Six-cylinder, richardmorris, egg and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Epic. I've missed out on this thread for a while, good to see you're well on your way Alex! Which route are you taking south? Mostly east and a little north so far! richardmorris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 Yeah, I suppose I've technically got three rucksacks but winter outdoors requires bulky items. The cycle paths are (mostly) great. Even cycling on main roads you always have your own section, often disconnected to the side. I have been thinking that the cycling is not going to get any better than this. A cycle friendly flat country. As for route south, I dunno. I have a friend in Cologne who I would like to visit for a couple of days but that is a fair sized detour away from the general direction I want to be headed. I'm undecided. In my experience, it's best to grab a decent looking camping spot when you see one, no matter how early in the afternoon. It's much preferable to panicking as it starts to get dark and you're struggling to find anywhere.On that note, I found a nice spot earlier this afternoon and put my towel down. I haven't done huge mileage today but that's fine. I had a relaxed dinner. Watched the barges go by. And I just got the tent up as darkness was falling about 30mins ago. I will just say, I don't think the pictures don't convey the cold. It's freshening up a treat at the moment but, so far so good, I am managing to keep warm enough. coalnotdole, forddeliveryboy, chadders and 37 others 40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saabnut Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Excellent! Enjoying this, so please keep the updates coming! oldcars, HMC and egg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeJay Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Put a couple of carrier bags over trainies and tuck them into the legs of your pants to keep your feet dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Put a couple of carrier bags over trainies and tuck them into the legs of your pants trousers to keep your feet dry. Edited for English not yankiedoodlebollocks oldcars, puddlethumper, John F and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeJay Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 I'll remember that when I go to buy my Y-front undertrousers. jumpingjehovahs, Clanger, puddlethumper and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 That's 2 laughs in one day. oldcars and rantingYoof 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyG Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Nothing says Christmas more than a giant inflatable Santa and a damp corpse of a VW Caravelle, I’m starting to think I’d like living in the Netherlands. chadders, John F, purplebargeken and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Scenery looks great so far. If damp!Can you light campfires at all to dry the shoes and keep warm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 kadett oof x 2 id have slept on the bench in the two sleeping bags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirley Knott Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 I'm thoroughly enjoying the pictures and reading about your exploits thus far Sir, keep 'em coming! TBH I thought you were crazy for doing this, now as I sit with a shirt and tie on tapping away mundanely at a computer sat next to people I don't really care much for and gazing out of the window longingly at the carpark, I have to ask myself who's the crazy one..? Logging on whilst at work to see what you've been and seen is helping break up the monotony of my days at present, muchas gracias. Sheefag, oldcars, loserone and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrett Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 I haven't had a holiday since 2011. The idea of fucking off for Christmas on my jones is hugely appealing. I would die if I tried to ride a bike, though. Insanely jealous and disappointed in my own lifestyle choices in equal measure. Cheers! loserone, DeeJay, solid61 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Palladium Sports finished yet? Chuck a sleeping bag in the back and get on your way. You could send intermittent reports back, like that chap did for Performance Bike 20 years ago when he was banned from the roads and spent the entire duration of the ban riding round the world and telling stories of his lucky escapes when chewing Coca leaves riding through Colombia. I'd even subscribe to read that. blakey79 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy18s Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Dan Walsh was the only reason I bought that mag,his reports were quite "interesting" as he and his bike got closer to self-destruction loserone and blakey79 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrett Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Never heard of Dan Walsh, just ordered his book. The Palladium will probably be a bit limited for long distance continental journies, but I would really like to 'get away from it all' in the Ami when it's working a bit better. I can't think of many cars I'd rather drive across France than a twin-pot Citroen, and I reckon with the rear seat out I might even be able to kip in the back... Cavcraft and loserone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Apart from the idea of putting wet shoes and socks on in the morning, this trip sounds flippin fantastic to me. How I would love to just set off and leave my friggin dull-as-shit office, half-fettled house, tedious robotic home-life and never-ending list of 'stuff that needs sorting' behind and just FUCK OFF OUT OF IT in the hope of ending up feeling something like as 'human' again as I did just a few years ago. I imagine clearing my mind enough to actually read and absorb a few decent books, instead of reading the same page over and over while my mind wanders off to some nonsense like 'fucks sake how long are we realistically going to be eating microwave meals if I want to renovate the kitchen???' What do you think you'll do when you get to somewhere sunny, any gut feeling about how you'll fill up your days? Dick Longbridge, Norbert, DeeJay and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 I can't think of many cars I'd rather drive across France than a twin-pot Citroen, and I reckon with the rear seat out I might even be able to kip in the back... You will! I fit in the Dyane... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Mr_Bo11ox, on 13 Dec 2018 - 11:07 PM, said:'fucks sake how long are we realistically going to be eating microwave meals if I want to renovate the kitchen???' About 2-3 years, based on my own experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 I'll remember that when I go to buy my Y-tho undertrousers. Edited for imagination. spartacus, The Moog and LightBulbFun 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 14, 2018 Author Share Posted December 14, 2018 What do you think you'll do when you get to somewhere sunny, any gut feeling about how you'll fill up your days?Good question. Maybe get a bit of work. Maybe never cycle again. I've really not thought that far ahead. I'm just going to see how far I can get and see what happens along the way. Shit answer I know. chaseracer, Cavcraft, Jerzy Woking and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 14, 2018 Author Share Posted December 14, 2018 Yesterday morning was cold. My camping spot was very scenic but the outer tent was frozen solid when I came to pack up. The trailer stayed frosted over all day. I cracked on cycling towards Venlo. Out in the countryside, down a track, I found a tower. There were good views up and down the river from the top, once my legs had recovered from the climb. I cycled on through Venlo and over the border into Germany. The first German vehicle I came across led me false hope. I saw no more spots all day. Much disappoint. I found a nature park mid afternoon and got my camp on. The tent was still frozen from the previous night. I got a little fire going but my heart wasn't really in it, so I just got in the tent and slept for twelve (cold) hours. I arrived in Monchengladbach a little while ago and I'm going to have a wander about to see if I can sniff out some decent spots. Coprolalia, Cavcraft, Mrs6C and 30 others 33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Is the cycling getting easier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 14, 2018 Author Share Posted December 14, 2018 I think so, yes. My aching backside is the weakest link, followed by legs. Surprisingly for an unfit 43yr old smoker my lungs have been fine. The Moog, oldcars, Squire_Dawson and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now