Tuesday, May 08, 2007
The journey has begun...
hello there.. how are you all?
well, cos we are being a bit slow on the "offical" bike ride website, and cos I have a spot of free internet at a lovely community centre I thought I would say hello and a quick update on the journey thus far.
All going fabulously, just over a week in and loving it. After a frantic week preparing and building bikes, and a wicked goodbye party (also very sad of course!) we left London for the world.
2 days cycling to the ferry port and enjoying the English country side at this time of year, yellow fields and bluebells. Then over to Holland and the first night slept in the dunes... really warm weather and great cycling - cycle paths everywhere and bikes rule over here (and its flat!). For the first week we were joined by a mate Dan who came as far as Amsterdam, good little posse and we had a blast. Amsterdam was beautiful, canals, green parks, sun and good times.. caught up with a mate Paddy whom we used to live with and his fellow Irish pal for a night of silliness.
Then 3 became 2 just briefly as Tabs and I cycled to Utrecht to meet the G8 bike caravaan. About 20ish people on it so far. First day for us was a critical mass around the town.. all happy and good vibes until the riot police showed up and arrested the lot of us!! 115 taken to the cells in what appears to be a carefully planned and strategic opperation, it was totally bizzare.
I made it extra difficult for myself by not lawfully having ID on me. Handed over to the foreign police and kept for 8 hours till it was brought to the station. We were all charged with not cycling on a cycle path and disobeying police orders.. hmmm. Also our bikes were impounded and had to go collect them the next day. Fun times but actually quite bonding!
Then got to have the first day cycling with the ride - in the rain!! Came to Nijmegen yesterday and drenched through. A welcome hot meal and accomodation was waiting for us though, very well received. Today we continue and the weather is set to stay wet but ah well.. good for the trees.
Hopefully more will be up over time on the webite - www.tour-de-world.co.uk
Until next time, big love xx
well, cos we are being a bit slow on the "offical" bike ride website, and cos I have a spot of free internet at a lovely community centre I thought I would say hello and a quick update on the journey thus far.
All going fabulously, just over a week in and loving it. After a frantic week preparing and building bikes, and a wicked goodbye party (also very sad of course!) we left London for the world.
2 days cycling to the ferry port and enjoying the English country side at this time of year, yellow fields and bluebells. Then over to Holland and the first night slept in the dunes... really warm weather and great cycling - cycle paths everywhere and bikes rule over here (and its flat!). For the first week we were joined by a mate Dan who came as far as Amsterdam, good little posse and we had a blast. Amsterdam was beautiful, canals, green parks, sun and good times.. caught up with a mate Paddy whom we used to live with and his fellow Irish pal for a night of silliness.
Then 3 became 2 just briefly as Tabs and I cycled to Utrecht to meet the G8 bike caravaan. About 20ish people on it so far. First day for us was a critical mass around the town.. all happy and good vibes until the riot police showed up and arrested the lot of us!! 115 taken to the cells in what appears to be a carefully planned and strategic opperation, it was totally bizzare.
I made it extra difficult for myself by not lawfully having ID on me. Handed over to the foreign police and kept for 8 hours till it was brought to the station. We were all charged with not cycling on a cycle path and disobeying police orders.. hmmm. Also our bikes were impounded and had to go collect them the next day. Fun times but actually quite bonding!
Then got to have the first day cycling with the ride - in the rain!! Came to Nijmegen yesterday and drenched through. A welcome hot meal and accomodation was waiting for us though, very well received. Today we continue and the weather is set to stay wet but ah well.. good for the trees.
Hopefully more will be up over time on the webite - www.tour-de-world.co.uk
Until next time, big love xx
