Conclusion
If you have any doubts about a trip like this, cast them aside and go for it. I was fortunate enough to have wonderful weather. It rained once and that was when I was holed up in Paris. It was cooler than I expected and a puffy jacket would have been an added luxury. But that being said, I was never shivering or in danger of hypothermia. I had gloves but I never used them. I probably could of slowed down, stopped at more sights, explored abbeys and more fortress churches. Sometimes I arrived late in the day at locations and there wasn't time enough to check out sites before they closed for the day. Not having an English guide book available for the specific EuroVelos I was on was a drag. Although the distance charts in the bikeline publications were invaluable for day to day planning.
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I should have sent copies to Ashley of the Maas section. Much of the riding was in the Dutch, Belgium and French countryside. The smell of cows and the view of wildflowers dominated the senses. Utrecht, Maastricht, Namur, Compiegne and Paris were wonderful cities.
The best riding was with Ashley, and later with Martin and Ben in London. Having someone to share the experience with made a difference. I found it a little lonely on the road. I missed my wife. I'm a gregarious person, but you can't chat up a stranger if you don't speak the language. Modern tech made getting around and the acquisition of the basics pretty easy. I charged almost everything, a few of the Dutch ferries wanted cash as did the vendors at the street markets. I spent on average $160 a day, before Paris. Two nights I didn't pay for accommodations. In Paris I spent almost $300 a day. Booking.com made finding and reserving accommodations fairly easy. Sometimes the rooms were cheaper bypassing the app, sometimes not. Google translate was helpful for basic communication and reading menus using the camera. Ride With GPS was my mapping app of choice and it worked really well. Sometimes there were lapses in the EV signage. I did realize that I was pretty dependent on the phone and watching it take a beating on the handlebar holder going over cobblestones was a bit disconcerting. A dedicated GPS or spare phone may be in my future. I supplemented the phone with a power bank.
Riding to London was an aspiration and as I approached Paris I didn't want to rush. I took the EuroStar to London. That was a great experience compared to anything Amtrak. My buddies Martin and Ben put me up and showed me a great time.
We rode around Surbiton, Hampton Court, the enormous Richmond Park and historic Kingston. I used Martin's Dawes Galaxy that he said I could borrow any time. I hear Paris and beyond calling.
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Thanks for stopping in Bruekelen and showing us their version of the bridge. I’ve got roots in The Other Brooklyn so that made it fun for me.
Thanks for taking us along.
4 days ago
4 days ago