alarm is at six thirty, breakfast is planned at seven, because we need to take the train back home. we pack up for the last time and ride the three kilometers to the train station, arriving way too early, especially as it turns out our train is delayed by twenty minutes. no panic, we should… Continue reading back home
Tag: bike trekking
perfect conditions
since we just passed the divide we can start our day at the highest point of the whole region. we cycle on a bicycle path on top of the canal tunnel until it pops out again and we can rejoin the tow path. blue skies, good asphalt, downhill along the locks: pretty much ideal cycling… Continue reading perfect conditions
cycling 700 km around Burgundy
we did a small bicycle trip last year, cycling 450 km from home to Reims in five days, but this year we have bigger plans: a 650 km tour around the Burgundy area in France, following canal towpaths and through the vineyards. half of the success is of course in the preparation and this is… Continue reading cycling 700 km around Burgundy
LE CHESNE – CAUREL: 60 KM
For breakfast we get a baguette, margarine, jam and a knife (no plates), so we’re done pretty quickly. We get a baguette from the bakery for our lunch and set off. This time we’re able to follow the canal road, since it’s used as a service road for a series of 26 locks, closely spaced… Continue reading LE CHESNE – CAUREL: 60 KM
CHARLEVILLE-MÉZIÈRES – LE CHESNE: 50 KM
It’s a short day, so we get up a bit later, take our time with breakfast and leave around 9h30. We get turned around leaving town, but once we find the right waterway we’re off. The weather is still stormy and windy and we’re expecting rain, but it’s a beautiful road along the Maas river.… Continue reading CHARLEVILLE-MÉZIÈRES – LE CHESNE: 50 KM
GIVET – CHARLEVILLE-MÉZIÈRES: 85 KM
We follow the Maas river south the whole day on the Trans-Ardennes route, though fortunately the river loops back and forth so we don’t have the wind straight in our faces the whole way. The weather is pretty stormy with fast moving clouds and occasional rain squalls. When it rains, it rains a lot but… Continue reading GIVET – CHARLEVILLE-MÉZIÈRES: 85 KM
GELDENAKEN – GIVET: 95 KM
to Namur Today is the longest day (counting in kilometers), so we have breakfast at 8 and leave around 9h30. The first stretch is supposed to be really easy, since it follows an ancient railroad, however it seems that though the incline is small, it’s significant and continuous, so it’s basically a long way slightly… Continue reading GELDENAKEN – GIVET: 95 KM
LINT – GELDENAKEN: 82 KM
to Leuven We packed most of our gear on Saturday, got some new t-shirts etc. and checked the bikes, so on Sunday morning we just need to have breakfast, load up and start cycling. I go to the bakery to get pistolets for a carb-rich start of the day and we try to finish off… Continue reading LINT – GELDENAKEN: 82 KM
to Alpheton
Up early and another breakfast of cornflakes, bread, bacon and eggs. We leave in a good mood and drive out of Cambridge on the bid road and a ring road, before driving past many small villages. Fulbourn, then Brinkley where we stopped for groceries, we have the wind in our backs the whole way. We… Continue reading to Alpheton
A swim, a visit to Cambridge and a giant ice cream
We sleep long, because it's a rest day. We get up at eight thirty, have corn flakes, bread, egg, sausage and bacon and then went swimming in the public pool. We could swim as long as we like, but we wanted to see the city. We vist a few colleges, that takes a long time… Continue reading A swim, a visit to Cambridge and a giant ice cream
to Cambridge
I fell asleep yesterday while solving cross word puzzles with my dad. We get up early again, have a quick but tasty breakfast and jump on the bikes. We ride on a red road (note from 2021, this refers to the red color of the road on the map, indicating that it's a national road).… Continue reading to Cambridge
To East Harling
It's cold but I slept well under the warm sleeping bag. We play some more with the Dutch kids we met yesterday and fed the swans before leaving to Diss. Dad went out to get a map and Mom for groceries, when Dad gets back he looks at the map and shakes his head, saying… Continue reading To East Harling
to Hoxne
We get up early, because it will be a busy day. We have a quick but tasty breakfast at the tent, then pack up everything and leave around nine. We stop in Halesworth for groceries, it's already quarter to eleven. I was starving but mom said we would only eat at 12. We had the… Continue reading to Hoxne
A day off in Southwood
We did not sleep very well, because we were cold. We will stay here for another night, so we have a lot of time and we sleep late. My mother proposes to go out for lunch and we all agree. We first go to the sea, see sailing boats, my father takes a picture of… Continue reading A day off in Southwood
to Southwood
Slept well, we were tired from yesterday and rose in a good mood. Back to Leiston for grocery shopping, my sister guards the bikes while the others shop. We drive to Eastbridge and then through a nature reserve. When we got hungry, we sat down and had a picnic. We ride to Westleton, it's very… Continue reading to Southwood
to Sizewell
Please note that this text was written by me and my mom in 2021, based on the journal written by my sister, who was then 9 years old. We don't sleep well, but then you never do the first night. The tourist office is open, but they don't have a good map so they send… Continue reading to Sizewell
Public transport to Felixtowe
Up at six thirty, then a quick breakfast before the short trip to the Herentals railway station. Our neighbour is kind enough to drop us off, the bikes and bike luggage on an open trailer. We have to switch trains twice (once we only had 17 minutes to transfer) but everything goes smoothly. In Zeebrugge… Continue reading Public transport to Felixtowe
Introduction
This is the oldest trip for which we have actual daily notes, so I figured I would start here. The notes were written in Dutch by my eldest sister who was nine at the time of the trip, so I haven't made a literal translation, but rather tried to keep some of the basic facts… Continue reading Introduction
Febe writes 