Meanderthal

9th septmber, 23.31

Cliff — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:55:22 +0000

Crammed into the tent hiding from the rain again, after an incredibly unsatisfying meal. Possibly the first time I ever thought I’d be sick from food.

I also get the horrible feeling we’ll wake up to find either our bikes or ourselves have slid into the Rhine…
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9th September 16.16

Cliff — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:16:56 +0000

Today has been an interesting day. Yes, we’ve just had a fantastic decent down a mountain. Yes we hit about 60km/h. Yes, we’ve found some interesting looking bugs. But all that only came as a result of Craig leading us on a “slight” detour up a 300 meter ascent. Craig doesn’t get to navigate anymore.
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Turn On, Toe In and Cop Out

Cliff — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:32:25 +0000

Another of our perhaps famous late starts again (granted, the campsite happened to be at the top of a mountain- excellent choice…)
Woke up on time, packed up in time, and proceeded to have a long and leisurely breakfast, followed by many many hours of much needed early stage bike maintenance.
After the first few days of a tour, you notice the things that have worked loose, rattled off, stretched out, and just plain gone wrong.

Among other things was stu’s stupendous brake squeal, a mud guard bridge nearly rupturing the sidewall of craig’s tyre and my untrue wheel.
It won’t be a long day’s cycle…
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8th september, 16.39

Cliff — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:39:47 +0000

The Haribo sickness has set in. With nearly 10kg of assorted goods bought, there was going to be little else on the menu for a long time, and gummi bear breakfast doesn’t really do anyone any favours.
That, mixed with an incredible headwind has made for a very, slow, day.
Its a bizzare journey along the river today, with beautiful nature reserves and castles interspersed with nuclear power plants, run down buildings and factories. The German idea of land management, perhaps.

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Haribo Macht Kinder Froh!

Cliff — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:24:37 +0000

At least the day off wasn’t wasted- a healthy visit to the Haribo shop and a healthy amount of Haribo bought.
Should keep us going a few miles further!

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See and download the full gallery on posterous

One week down…

Cliff — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:31:57 +0000

After 7 days, things have been somewhat slow, not to mention inconsistent. Starting the day’s cycling at midday or later is nothing strange to us, nor is finding a damp ditch by a public path to call home in the middle of the night. Meals have also been… varied, with such delicious offerings as mixed dried fruit in a bowl, to spaghetti and mushroom omelette. All delicious. Apart from the dried fruit.Just South of Bonn now (I think), and with all the wind and rain we’ve decided to stay put for the day, and more importantly make a visit to the Haribo store. Oh yes.

A couple of days behind now, but at least the chance for a good rest would mean that we should (SHOULD) be able to make an early start tomorrow and make up some miles. Its unlikely tho, let’s be honest.
I also keep forgetting to turn the tracker on, so if the locations are inconsistent, it’s not because I’ve disappeared.
But at least this rest day brings with it the inevitable nausea of excessive Haribo-ness!!
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Klexxs Im Hof

Cliff — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:54:40 +0000

Having met Jack in the middle of the night in the city, with no camping ground or youth hostel for miles, we decided to bite the bullet and pay for a hotel. The novelty of sharing a bed with Jack aside, it was a welcome comfort and an incredible luxury.
Amazingly welcoming and people here, and also our first beer(s) of the trip. Which with the owner Toto and the well spoken Andy quickly turned into a lot more.
Be sure to stop by if you’re ever in Neuss!

+49(0)2131 58034

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(Not many people will get the picture ref, but I saw this outside the hotel… And I want one for my bike!!)

The Netherlands is no longer our friend…

Cliff — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:21:01 +0000

Today was generally a bad day. We got somewhat lost, a number of items were damaged or broken, Craig managed to run me off the road (mainly just cuts and bruises, but my wrist and knee are rather sore now), and I got the dates wrong for meeting Jack, and we found ourselves rushing to Neuss.

Ah, at least we’re out of the Netherlands now- the beauty of the countryside and bike paths slowly disappeared when the road became cobble stones and the led us into the middle of nowhere…
Plus its good to be somewhere where I know what everyone’s saying!!

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Flip Flop Fatality

Day 1 in the big brother house…

Cliff — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:52:15 +0000

With the first day over, and with the ferry offering better accommodations than we’ll have in a long time, things still haven’t really sunk in. Everything was left to the last second, with things crammed roughly into bags and items forgotten. The tiredness was apparent from the push off, and I’m still not sure if I’ve worked out how to use my gps tracker… Oh well.

At least I enjoyed the highlight of the day relieving myself after a very uncomfortable stint through london.

All I know is that I’m about to fall asleep standing, and that I’m gonna recoup my money from the breakfast buffet in the morning.
Yum yum.

Poor Preparation Prevents… Something…

Cliff — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:32:19 +0000

Two years in the making and it’s come to a horrid mad dash of moving out of my house, and packing my bike up while trying to stop from falling asleep.

And people wondered why I was so stressed at my BBQ(!) : )

A few more hours, and then it’s off into the sun(rise).

Hopefully while not falling asleep…