Day 2 17.04.2009 Königswinter to Ingelheim
We rose early to a big breakfast and to get away early as we had another place to reach in the evening. The breakfast lasted 2 hours in the end and we ended up leaving at about 11:30. The consolation of the previous nights cycling was that the first 4 or 5km were very easy and all downhill. We were anxious to push on so we decided to make our first stop of the day in Koblenz, about 65km away. We made really good time, apart from a section of one of the main roads towards Koblenz. It was not a motorway so we were certain that we were allowed to ride on it. From the moment that we got onto it the drivers were beeping their horns and waving and shouting at us. We ignored them for a long time, just wanting to get a move on and get to Koblenz. We were on that road for about 10km and after a while it became very unsettling and made it difficult for us to concentrate on cycling. We left the road to pursue other routes but were very angry with German drivers.
On arriving in Koblenz we stopped at the first bakery we could find and went inside to sit down. What happened next is a bit of a blur, but what I can tell you is that we spent 14euros on food and left feeling very satisfied. 14 euros in a bakery is something we would frown upon normally, but we are growing boys.
This part of Germany, Thomas took pride in telling me, is the part that he knows well. Within 5mins of leaving Koblenz we were back on a large road being beeped at by German motorists.
Once Thomas had found his bearings we were back on track.
We followed the Rhine almost all the way to Ingelheim stopping only to refuel(bakery).
As we approached Ingelheim Thomas felt that it was a good time to confess that he had perhaps told our hosts the wrong date of arrival.
He was indeed correct, they had expected us a day earlier and were relieved to see us alive, having heard nothing from us. There was the minor detail of the dinner which they had prepared for us the evening before. Thomas was apologetic.
130km.
Day 3 18.04.2009 Day off
0km
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i wish you luck on your journey
ReplyDeleteman this is so exciting. give'r nine buddy!
ReplyDelete14€ in a bakery sounds orgasmic! I'm looking for a nice map widget for your site. Would be fun to follow you like that. Makes the stalking much easier. No kidding.
ReplyDeleteFair play to u both hope you have packed plenty of vaseline haha!!!! Me and dad keep checking how your progress is going, and as for the german motorists tell em to get screwed its for charity (sad gets!!). Anyway we will keep sending you messages of support keep well and safe lisa and dad xx
ReplyDeletem
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteso i started a map for ya.
ReplyDeletecheck it out here:
http://compleatmap.blogspot.com/
but i also sent you the code to paste into your sidebar gadgets...
Never mind the breakfasts til 11:30.
ReplyDeleteGet peddeling!!
hey guys,
ReplyDeletesorry that it took so long for me to finally write something but it has been a couple of crazy weeks in which i often thought about you and mostly hoped that you weren't attacked by a bear or something (omg my english lässt zu wünschen übrig:)
since you are still in germany (are you?) i guess you are still alive considering all the bears that you guys will "meet" will be somewhere within the russian wilderness..(hope you can use that knife of mine:)
will update you on what is happening here on sunday (because there's a lot going on) but i wanted to stop by and say hi so you hear something from me.
take care
*Birk
Stopping to refuel at bakeries.. I tell you, you can take the boy out of Rossendale but you can't take the Rossendale out of the boy, you're going to have to get more adventurous lads I don't think they've got a Greggs in Ulan Bator.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're making good progress though, good luck with the next few legs and have fun.
James
You did miss a very wonderful dinner that night!
ReplyDeleteGlad you two are still alive. I told my students about the trips and I think you two are their heros now! They will be excited that I am able to give them an update.
Have fun, be mostly safe, and pepper any bears that bother you!
Amanda Sherwood.