What’s Missing?

We are getting ready to set off.  Here’s a photo of the van parked outside......what important item have I forgotten?

I better check what we have packed.  I think I have all the important items.  Gin, Tonic, Beer, Wine, Chocolate, yes that’s everything!

Whoops, I forgot to put the bikes on the back.  That might be a good idea!

There is a two stage logic to pack for the whole trip....firstly, we have to pack up for the motorhome trip but secondly we need to pack separately for the cycle tour and whilst we try not to take too much stuff in the van under normal circumstances the packing for the cycling needs to be.....how shall I put it......minimal!  To get the ideal amount the best tactic is to put everything that you want to take with you out on the bed and then remove half of it and voila, you have just the right amount.  I was worried that Janice might want to bring too much stuff but in actual fact she is cutting it right down to keep the weight down.

This is a picture of my clothing.  Not too bad.  I have even found room for my flannel!  For those people that are not aware of the significance of a flannel....I use it in place of a towel.  It’s amazing how dry one can get with a flannel.  I have moved onto a new microfibre flannel which dries out quicker than an old fashioned towelling flannel.  

It is tricky to decide what to pack but we have got a waterproof jacket, a warm shirt, two cycling T shirts, two pairs of shorts, one pair of light trousers and as few pairs of undies and socks as we can manage.  There is also a range of extras like leg warmers, buff, first aid kit, basic tools and toiletries.  Whilst we hope for good weather in Central Europe we are cycling progressively north and into October which means we could get any type of weather.

We will set off in the morning but will stay at St Albans visiting our grandchild over the weekend.  We actually get the Eurotunnel next Thursday.  I will resume the blog as we travel south through France before cutting eastwards to Basel.

random.silly.phrases

I am having silly ideas for this years blog!  Worrying thought isn’t it.  I am considering using two ideas together....stay with me as I try to explain. We enjoy doing a ‘Where Was I’ competition in the Sunday Times Travel section.  The writer describes some places and facts about them and the reader has to guess where they are.  This sounds good in principle but seeing as you already know where we are going, it might be easy but you underestimate my ability to be ‘random’ in my descriptions.

The second idea that I may use is from a new app I have discovered called ‘What3words’.  This is a mapping app that has subdivided the globe into 3 metre squares, each square is given a unique 3 word name....it’s a kind of an easy to remember grid reference without the long list of numbers.  It does generate some unusual word combinations.  Maybe I should stop using place names and use What3words instead of place names......that sounds cruel doesn’t it.  Joking aside, it does sound rather more useful than long grid reference numbers as a method of pin pointing a place.  The app does link into googlemaps so it is pretty cool.  I must let you know I am not on commission for the app, and it is free.  To find somewhere you just type the three words separated by a full stop and bingo there you go.

Back in the real world....  

 One more change for this trip is that I have decided to grow a beard!  It’s a bit of a surprise to me as, at the ripe old age of 58, I have never grown one before.  I was never sure that I could grow one or at least a decent one.  More recently I was concerned that there was too much grey in the bristles which would make me look old but now I am old I don’t care any more.  On a more positive note, Janice has decided not to join me in the beard growing.  We are rather competitive but she has decided that I may have an advantage in the beard department!!   We have been out on our bikes after a short break.  We went up the Kentmere Valley near Staveley, Cumbria.  Its a regular ride for us and it was a great morning for it.  Just for practice with What3words, our location at the top of the valley was saving.icebergs.blogging.  I hadn’t realised that blogging was so good for the environment.  

  It was the morning of the Kentmere Sheep Show and the field was ready for the exciting action.

There was a chap wearing long wellies who was putting the back legs of a sheep into his wellies.  I asked him, politely if he was shearing?  He said “No, get yer own”!  

This is Janice’s bike for the trip.  Its had a bit of work done on it, new cables, chain and new front wheel.  She has had a few problems with broken spokes and seized nipples (this is a technical cycling term for the bit that connects the spoke to the wheel).  I think the previous wheel was only good for flat tarmac.  On the contrary, I have not had any problems with my nipples, they just need an  occasional light greasing!

 Anyway, we had another good ride today and tried to adjust our speed to Rhine touring speed.  That actually means we go slower rather than faster, so we can a) stay in the saddle for longer and b) enjoy the trip rather than just get knackered!

Warming up.

I rarely take notice of guide books but I have been dipping into this one already and have been getting excited.  Cicerone are a local company to us, they are based in Kendal and they do all sorts of walking and cycling guides of Britain and around the world - have a look at them online at https://www.cicerone.co.uk/

Today, we popped down to the market stalls in Kendal on our bikes.  For the first time I loaded Janice’s bike up with two panniers and made her bring all the fruit and veg back home.  She said she could feel the difference.....it didn’t take long for the ‘whining’ to start.  So now you know why I have titled the the blog as I have!

We have had a few practice rides.  Last week we were out with friends on the lanes of South Cumbria.  We had lunch at the Masons Arms, Strawberry Bank in the Winster Valley.  We had fabulous views of the southern Lake District and confirmed what we love about cycling and the area we live in.

We only have a couple of weeks before we start our journey.  We actually set off from home on Saturday 31st August and travel down south for a few days before crossing the Eurotunnel on Thursday 5th September in our motorhome.  I will start the blog proper at that time.  We travel down to a caravan site north of Basel on Wednesday 11th September where I have arranged a temporary storage of our motorhome for 4 weeks at (what seems like) a reasonable price of 10 euros per week.  We then ride to Basel, catch a train to Konstanz and begin the cycling tour properly the following day.  I usually book accommodation 2-3 days ahead so that our itinerary is flexible.  The first three nights are already booked...so lets hope it all goes smoothly.

At the end of the cycle ride we will probably extend our trip in our motorhome for a few more weeks (travelling back as close to the official Brexit date as we dare).  We don't have a plan about where we will go in that time...wherever the mood takes us.

Early Preparations

August 2019

Hi again,

I think it’s the right time to reintroduce ourselves for the benefit of new readers.  We are Richard and Janice.  We are retired and in our 50’s and we enjoy travelling Britain and Europe in our small motorhome and fitting in as much cycling as we can.

Following my marathon solo cycle trip in 2013 along the Loire and Danube to finish at Rome.  I have been harbouring thoughts of another major cycle ride.  This time I have persuaded Janice to join me in a jaunt around Lake Constance (on the border of Switzerland, Austria and Germany) and then a ride up the Rhine to Rotterdam.  Easy peasy I hear you say.....well we hope so.  We estimate it will be around 900 miles.

We set off in early September and aim for a 3-4 week journey, depending on how much sight-seeing we do.

Janice hasn’t done a major cycle route where we carry our own gear in our panniers.  It is starting to dawn on her that she will have to pack an absolute minimum of kit to keep the panniers light.  We have previously visited some places on the river but the vast majority of the route will be new to us both.  Getting excited now.

I will update you with more of the logistics of the trip in the next blog.  Have a look at the links to the Lake Constance and Rhine Cycle Route website links on the right side of the blog.  Please subscribe to the email for regular blog updates.