I am sitting in the hotel in Bingen trying to catch up with the blogs, and for the first time I am up to date, also for the the first time since the ferry crossing we are back on schedule after a great days ride along the Rhine on mainly very easy paths.
We headed out at our normal time of 11am and soon crossed over to the west side of the Rhine at Linz. We lunched in Koblenz after 50k of easy riding, everyone felt good so we thought we would push on and see how far we could get. Today was the first day that everyone was on top cycling form, no aches or pains and everyone had found their cycling legs after a week on the road. After Koblenz, there was an un surfaced path, followed by some 'Pave', but for most of the rest of the day the path mainly followed the road and was a very good surface. This section is also the prettiest section of the Rhine with loads of precariously located vineyards and 'Schloss or castles' at nearly every bend on the river. After an ice cream in St Goar we decided to ride the last 27k to Bingen. The children formed a peloton and shot off, while Paula and I cruised behind enjoying the views.
They waited for us with about 12 k to go and while I had some more food, Paula headed off to provide a target for the last of the days sprints! The 5 of us formed a peloton and chased her down. When we saw her in the distance Kate immediately attacked, we let her go and tried to set up Sarah to catch her. Our plan was looking good until Sarah over shot a corner skidding to a halt in the gravel and ruining her chances of victory.
Just as Kate caught Paula, Kate punctured. It was our first puncture of the trip, after 500 miles which is 3000 between us we could not complain. We arrived in Bingen at 8.45pm and after showering headed over the road for a pizza. The owner was an extrovert Italian and soon had Rachel making pizzas before performing some quite impressive magic tricks at our table. A great end to a great day
Today's Stats
Distance 119.4k
Time 5.42.11
Average Speed 20.9kph (highest so far)
Climb 242m
Total distance 916k
Thursday, 1 August 2013
Day 8 - Neuss to Bad Honnef
What a difference a day makes, a good nights sleep after an easy days ride and we all felt fresh. We left at 11am, not early, but we are not an early family. We found a good bike track to Dormagen where we stopped for our obligatory ice cream. Just after Dormagen we joined the Rhine path for the first time and we plan to stay on this all the way to Basel, about 500k. Route finding should now be very easy and the vast majority of the route is on cycle paths.
We stopped before Cologne for a picnic lunch, there were now lots of cycle tourists, most seemed to be camping and there were a few young families with kids on tandems or in trailers. In cologne we visited the cathedral which is enormous and very impressive. Chris, Sarah & myself went in first, it was glorious sunshine when we went in, then a storm arrived from nowhere with strong winds, heavy rain. Divine intervention?
For the rest of the days ride it rained lightly, but was not cold. Rachel did not even bother with her raincoat. She is the best person to follow as she rides at a perfectly constant pace, always picking the best line around the potholes, she even puts her hair in a pony tail without slowing. She is also still taking 2 panniers, with Paula only having one and Sarah and Kate none at all. Chris and Kate have a series of "intermediate sprints" Kate attacks from nowhere, gets into a time trial position with her forearms on the handle bars like David Miller and just hammers it. When chris is about to catch her the "sprint" is declared over and Kate goes through her array of victory celebrations ( usain bolt, mo Farrah, Peter Sagan etc). Sarah has also found the cycling easy and is cruising along.
We crossed to the East side of the Rhine and found accommodation in Bad Honnef as darkness was drawing in. A great day on the bikes.
Today's stats
Distance 103.8k
Time 5.23.21
Average speed 19.2kph
Climb 237m
Total distance 701k
We stopped before Cologne for a picnic lunch, there were now lots of cycle tourists, most seemed to be camping and there were a few young families with kids on tandems or in trailers. In cologne we visited the cathedral which is enormous and very impressive. Chris, Sarah & myself went in first, it was glorious sunshine when we went in, then a storm arrived from nowhere with strong winds, heavy rain. Divine intervention?
For the rest of the days ride it rained lightly, but was not cold. Rachel did not even bother with her raincoat. She is the best person to follow as she rides at a perfectly constant pace, always picking the best line around the potholes, she even puts her hair in a pony tail without slowing. She is also still taking 2 panniers, with Paula only having one and Sarah and Kate none at all. Chris and Kate have a series of "intermediate sprints" Kate attacks from nowhere, gets into a time trial position with her forearms on the handle bars like David Miller and just hammers it. When chris is about to catch her the "sprint" is declared over and Kate goes through her array of victory celebrations ( usain bolt, mo Farrah, Peter Sagan etc). Sarah has also found the cycling easy and is cruising along.
We crossed to the East side of the Rhine and found accommodation in Bad Honnef as darkness was drawing in. A great day on the bikes.
Today's stats
Distance 103.8k
Time 5.23.21
Average speed 19.2kph
Climb 237m
Total distance 701k
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Day 7 - Venlo to Neuss
After the epic ride yesterday today was always going to be a struggle. After we managed to lock the bikes away and shower it was 1.30 before we crashed out, and about midday when we left the hotel. I was not prepared to pay 78 euros for breakfast therefore the first stop was a "Subway", a foot long special for everyone was soon devoured. Then followed by a shop in the supermarket for provisions for the day. This task was left to Chris who came out with nearly a trolley load of food, somehow we crammed this into the panniers and headed out of Venlo.
After a couple of miles we crossed the border and entered Germany, even though there are cycle paths in Germany they are not up to the Dutch standard and some of the sign posts are hard to spot. This resulted in the inevitable wrong turns, especially in the suburbs of Munchen Gladbach. Today was always going to be a struggle in route finding as we were crossing one of the most densely populated regions in Europe. Cycling was slow and we were all very tired, certainly the low point of the trip so far.
We stopped in a park for lunch and a game of football. Yes, Kate decided that a football had to be taken, there again she only brought 3 Tee shirts/tops, one of which will probably never be worn. By comparison Rachel & Sarah have brought 9.
We decided we would stop quite early in the town of Neuss, after the stop we found some good roads and soon got to Neuss, as we rode through the suburbs Sarah got her wheel stuck in the edge of a kerb, she managed to get out of the rut only to crash head on into the the fence of a restaurant and only just managing to prevent going over the handle bars. Fortunately the bike was ok, oh and Sarah. Chris was still laughing when he too managed to fall off his bike. I think tiredness was beginning to take control.
We found a good hotel and had a lovely Thai meal, 6 dinners, starters and 6 drinks for 58 euros, Germany is so much cheaper than the Netherlands. A good end to a mentally tough day.
Today's stats
Distance 60.51k
Time 3.20.00
Average speed 18.1 kph
Climb 159 m
Total distance 595k
After a couple of miles we crossed the border and entered Germany, even though there are cycle paths in Germany they are not up to the Dutch standard and some of the sign posts are hard to spot. This resulted in the inevitable wrong turns, especially in the suburbs of Munchen Gladbach. Today was always going to be a struggle in route finding as we were crossing one of the most densely populated regions in Europe. Cycling was slow and we were all very tired, certainly the low point of the trip so far.
We stopped in a park for lunch and a game of football. Yes, Kate decided that a football had to be taken, there again she only brought 3 Tee shirts/tops, one of which will probably never be worn. By comparison Rachel & Sarah have brought 9.
We decided we would stop quite early in the town of Neuss, after the stop we found some good roads and soon got to Neuss, as we rode through the suburbs Sarah got her wheel stuck in the edge of a kerb, she managed to get out of the rut only to crash head on into the the fence of a restaurant and only just managing to prevent going over the handle bars. Fortunately the bike was ok, oh and Sarah. Chris was still laughing when he too managed to fall off his bike. I think tiredness was beginning to take control.
We found a good hotel and had a lovely Thai meal, 6 dinners, starters and 6 drinks for 58 euros, Germany is so much cheaper than the Netherlands. A good end to a mentally tough day.
Today's stats
Distance 60.51k
Time 3.20.00
Average speed 18.1 kph
Climb 159 m
Total distance 595k
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Day 6 - Gorichen to Venlo
Firstly a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Paula, and for a special treat we had such a long day on the bike that we actually finished on the day after her birthday!
The day started with a fantastic breakfast and the hotel managers singing and playing happy birthday on the piano. We also spent time blogging, up loading photos, which is not as easy as it sounds and relaxing, this all resulted in a very late start of 11.45. The start of the ride was along the dykes along the north of the Waal before catching a ferry south and heading to Hertogenbosch. We stopped for a late lunch and carried on south east to Deurne. It was a late Sunday afternoon and there were loads of middle aged ( old people according to the children) out for a Sunday afternoon cycle ride.
At Deurne we ate more pasta before deciding to try to make up for the miles we lost the previous day by continuing to ride to Venlo which is right on the German border. We booked a hotel in Venlo and headed off on the "30k" ride there. As we left the church bells rang out. " It must be about 8pm" I said..... it was actually 9.45pm!!!!!!
The first 25k were great easy riding, but then it was dark and as we entered the outskirts of Venlo we ended up on a road where cyclists were not allowed, and were advised to cycle in some dark woods! This was not an option, too scary! Then we found ourselves in the industrial area, totally lost and no sign posts, we carried on cycling and finally found a sign post saying 4k to Venlo. Once we got to the town centre crossing the river Maas for the last time we had the problem of finding the hotel.
A couple of young guys gave some rough directions which seemed to be going nowhere before Chris said the motorway is on the right lets go there. After another 2 mins, to our relief, we found the hotel at 12.15am!!!!!
Certainly a birthday Paula will not forget
Today's Stats
Distance 133.4k
Time 6.41.48
Average speed 19.9k
Climb 135m
total distance 536k
The day started with a fantastic breakfast and the hotel managers singing and playing happy birthday on the piano. We also spent time blogging, up loading photos, which is not as easy as it sounds and relaxing, this all resulted in a very late start of 11.45. The start of the ride was along the dykes along the north of the Waal before catching a ferry south and heading to Hertogenbosch. We stopped for a late lunch and carried on south east to Deurne. It was a late Sunday afternoon and there were loads of middle aged ( old people according to the children) out for a Sunday afternoon cycle ride.
At Deurne we ate more pasta before deciding to try to make up for the miles we lost the previous day by continuing to ride to Venlo which is right on the German border. We booked a hotel in Venlo and headed off on the "30k" ride there. As we left the church bells rang out. " It must be about 8pm" I said..... it was actually 9.45pm!!!!!!
The first 25k were great easy riding, but then it was dark and as we entered the outskirts of Venlo we ended up on a road where cyclists were not allowed, and were advised to cycle in some dark woods! This was not an option, too scary! Then we found ourselves in the industrial area, totally lost and no sign posts, we carried on cycling and finally found a sign post saying 4k to Venlo. Once we got to the town centre crossing the river Maas for the last time we had the problem of finding the hotel.
A couple of young guys gave some rough directions which seemed to be going nowhere before Chris said the motorway is on the right lets go there. After another 2 mins, to our relief, we found the hotel at 12.15am!!!!!
Certainly a birthday Paula will not forget
Today's Stats
Distance 133.4k
Time 6.41.48
Average speed 19.9k
Climb 135m
total distance 536k
Monday, 29 July 2013
Day 5 - Photos
Breakfast in holland- on a boat in the canal. Kate is happy with her chocolate croissant, with chocolate sprinkles and hot chocolate drink
Kinderdijk
Day 5 - Hook of Holland to Gorinchem
The day started being woken up on the ferry at 6.30 to the tune of "be happy", we docked at 7.45 and headed out on a very warm morning towards Rotterdam. I do enjoy cycling on to ferries, there is a great sense of achievement of having biked there. You always get treated well by the staff and get preferential treatment for embarking passport control etc.
The cycle paths in holland are simply incredible, they are well signposted, cars have to give way to you in nearly all occasions and the surface conditions are excellent. It is very safe, as there is very little interaction between cars and bicycles, an our helmets were soon discarded to the pannier racks.
About half way to Rotterdam, we stopped for breakfast in Maasaluis, and ate on a boat in the middle of a canal, a great start of the day, however we were told that the warm weather would soon turn to thunderstorms.
We got to Schiedam on the outskirts of Rotterdam when the heavens opened, just getting to the underground station in time to take shelter. Paula and myself actually fell asleep on the concrete floor while the kids played cards. I think the last few days were starting to catch us up.
After an hour the rain eased enough for us to continue. I was keen to go to Kinderdijk where there are about 20 old windmills, several of which still operate ( or at least still spin around) on Saturdays in summer. After a few wrong turns in the Rotterdam, adding about 10k, we found the windmills. They were pretty impressive and worth a visit, even though now it was obvious that we were not going to get to Bosch, and settled instead for Gorichem, a pretty town on the north side of the Waal river. Holland is an incredibly smart and tidy country, the gardens are amazing and from the dyke walls where you often cycle you have a good view of many of them. It is expensive to eat, drink and sleep here, but one thing of good value is ice cream. 1 euro a scoop and there seem to be ice cream shops everywhere.
The B&B in Gorichem was simply lovely, a fantastic old street house. It was been temporarily run by a very friendly couple who even washed our cycling kit. We ate pizza in town to complete another long day on the bike
Today's stats
Distance 96.9k
Time 5.05.01
Average speed 19.0kph
Climb 155m (mostly bridges!)
Total distance 401k
The cycle paths in holland are simply incredible, they are well signposted, cars have to give way to you in nearly all occasions and the surface conditions are excellent. It is very safe, as there is very little interaction between cars and bicycles, an our helmets were soon discarded to the pannier racks.
About half way to Rotterdam, we stopped for breakfast in Maasaluis, and ate on a boat in the middle of a canal, a great start of the day, however we were told that the warm weather would soon turn to thunderstorms.
We got to Schiedam on the outskirts of Rotterdam when the heavens opened, just getting to the underground station in time to take shelter. Paula and myself actually fell asleep on the concrete floor while the kids played cards. I think the last few days were starting to catch us up.
After an hour the rain eased enough for us to continue. I was keen to go to Kinderdijk where there are about 20 old windmills, several of which still operate ( or at least still spin around) on Saturdays in summer. After a few wrong turns in the Rotterdam, adding about 10k, we found the windmills. They were pretty impressive and worth a visit, even though now it was obvious that we were not going to get to Bosch, and settled instead for Gorichem, a pretty town on the north side of the Waal river. Holland is an incredibly smart and tidy country, the gardens are amazing and from the dyke walls where you often cycle you have a good view of many of them. It is expensive to eat, drink and sleep here, but one thing of good value is ice cream. 1 euro a scoop and there seem to be ice cream shops everywhere.
The B&B in Gorichem was simply lovely, a fantastic old street house. It was been temporarily run by a very friendly couple who even washed our cycling kit. We ate pizza in town to complete another long day on the bike
Today's stats
Distance 96.9k
Time 5.05.01
Average speed 19.0kph
Climb 155m (mostly bridges!)
Total distance 401k
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Day 3 - more photos
Highlight of every day - Food! In this case at the nags head in moreton, easy of Harlow
Day 2 - photos
Celebrating reaching the Thames
Dinner with Emily
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