tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15370898981000502292024-03-13T12:31:06.198-07:00Trans European Bike RideSteven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-56399299194321890452007-07-04T02:53:00.000-07:002007-07-04T06:02:00.206-07:00FinishedHello people, I can not believe it but I have finished. I have covered 4932 miles through 14 countries in 84 days of cycling. In this time I have had 3 punchers on the front, had to buy news tyres for the front and back twice, replace the braek pads for the front and back, had 4 spokes snap on the back, replace the rear pannier rack and get some new peddals. Quite a trip really. I am so happy that I have now finished and am now chilling in "FINLAND, FINLAND, FINLAND the place where I want to be"<br /><br />Anyway this is the week up till now<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wed 27th May (Day 82)</span><br /><br />I set off from Tallinn just after 11am. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm0O8K9PPNerocKoPGHtUi9vmgo1u7DKcqTX-fr2NHnj0zRFv58TlBMqBhgi4muSlmtqz72_-dP_0mbRjnwvQJTgqawU1BJQHs8iNJ1-fVJQNfVt5lr1L8MbicZI1iAR3pxXno0-ngZrr/s1600-h/IMG_4550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm0O8K9PPNerocKoPGHtUi9vmgo1u7DKcqTX-fr2NHnj0zRFv58TlBMqBhgi4muSlmtqz72_-dP_0mbRjnwvQJTgqawU1BJQHs8iNJ1-fVJQNfVt5lr1L8MbicZI1iAR3pxXno0-ngZrr/s400/IMG_4550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278666057012418" border="0" /></a>Not a very eventful day, infact I was a little depressed really. I had had such a good time in Tallinn over the past 3 days with the crowd at the hostel (Big shout going out to Norma, Josh & the Chuck) that I was sad to leave. I found quite a nice camp site at the end of the day which had a sheltered area which was good because it rained.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj5mUASNBLIOh5WhxLXsz-ljispr4jqkCUh7cD0Zwv1xYXEPPmebz6pE-x0YIKUBOwni4-OL037h-TKFc7DKyoqOyNypW0bA_gtpSrzzPwO1et6Yol1CfhRPlijdWImbGqT5AiLlb14g-/s1600-h/IMG_4554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj5mUASNBLIOh5WhxLXsz-ljispr4jqkCUh7cD0Zwv1xYXEPPmebz6pE-x0YIKUBOwni4-OL037h-TKFc7DKyoqOyNypW0bA_gtpSrzzPwO1et6Yol1CfhRPlijdWImbGqT5AiLlb14g-/s400/IMG_4554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278666057012434" border="0" /></a>The camp site was also by the sea. But I think as the Boltic Sea as a big lake. How can you acall it a sea if there are fresh water wreeds growing in it?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWu6HXM5jr66keq5UUKacJYfAjC0gxQ56_EJH8Y6uSCBfZl0yFhba2wa2_6QPiHLJsehlwTJb06yQCW5kxVZqWn1-snprDo9G2Us_2DQGagp9K6rVM0bpgGVFJEA5_0bKyG8zw2yswxv9/s1600-h/IMG_4555.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWu6HXM5jr66keq5UUKacJYfAjC0gxQ56_EJH8Y6uSCBfZl0yFhba2wa2_6QPiHLJsehlwTJb06yQCW5kxVZqWn1-snprDo9G2Us_2DQGagp9K6rVM0bpgGVFJEA5_0bKyG8zw2yswxv9/s400/IMG_4555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278550092895346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thur 28th June (Day 83)</span><br /><br />A really nice day. The weather was nice and I was in a good mood. I started by cycling through a national park on some quite forested roads.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaHGVJJMKxsk0zizwvPVOUyR25sHj4iI9NPU_6uO5rk75hh5jaR1Zc2_KzZizCWB0Tzf8VcFnj7fU8Nzkg-xUxR0IU4otdPbtD__qaFSMRLyLlJ2hu4Wg2qsryPh8sLtMPMi8YpD9REdQ/s1600-h/IMG_4557.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaHGVJJMKxsk0zizwvPVOUyR25sHj4iI9NPU_6uO5rk75hh5jaR1Zc2_KzZizCWB0Tzf8VcFnj7fU8Nzkg-xUxR0IU4otdPbtD__qaFSMRLyLlJ2hu4Wg2qsryPh8sLtMPMi8YpD9REdQ/s400/IMG_4557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278550092895362" border="0" /></a>I had a little stop and chilled next to a cool river for a bit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlYPEnnMK9uhrdbM8zOECqicQmTcOY9mcZk_sGXUFmOR2StLT7BtjOmq01wGlKFUVczms40vLXWZD3RdUckwH9oZnSYuV0M0AqM1OQoTq53VEJY-0PMwKtznckofdNdELcrW9CsFgmDFa/s1600-h/IMG_4560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlYPEnnMK9uhrdbM8zOECqicQmTcOY9mcZk_sGXUFmOR2StLT7BtjOmq01wGlKFUVczms40vLXWZD3RdUckwH9oZnSYuV0M0AqM1OQoTq53VEJY-0PMwKtznckofdNdELcrW9CsFgmDFa/s400/IMG_4560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278554387862674" border="0" /></a>Throughtout the day I came across some interesting settlements bt the coast with classic Stalinest type buildings from the 1950´s. They are extreamly run down but people are still living in they. I should imagine that they looked very grand when they were new. I was happy to see lots of the building having a bit of work done to them to improve the area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaANJxtieGieZVXojUIHX6UYcmGU1reFgA_vK7laZRt78rOHNEtvwIwjAJQ5ivI8LsmFnvJ4_yZ-i-0e620cH6wSlO4Y7-cXstpRgaxeQLj95U7WK1roZH5MLXDx9JANEmlEd7Sqc4oElt/s1600-h/IMG_4575.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaANJxtieGieZVXojUIHX6UYcmGU1reFgA_vK7laZRt78rOHNEtvwIwjAJQ5ivI8LsmFnvJ4_yZ-i-0e620cH6wSlO4Y7-cXstpRgaxeQLj95U7WK1roZH5MLXDx9JANEmlEd7Sqc4oElt/s400/IMG_4575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278558682829986" border="0" /></a>These places were towns that were built near chemical facturies for the soviet industries. Very secrete places because I found out that they were not shown on any maps so they could remain hidden from the rest of the population. Any way I found a great little shop where I bought the most amazing pastry for 50p.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lVNmpsGHeuO-msd4cApnbWrnmTOHMT3-yV3y0DN9h5pPUO45qWw-bsCXgP4q4fA1_0sMUdOEiy8wbRcr8UkWc_RGHpWzrbM4yZLdHr8OkEGBA0oYK0MvhKPVcy2Q2_3qzN5CuLAt9nPW/s1600-h/IMG_4577.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lVNmpsGHeuO-msd4cApnbWrnmTOHMT3-yV3y0DN9h5pPUO45qWw-bsCXgP4q4fA1_0sMUdOEiy8wbRcr8UkWc_RGHpWzrbM4yZLdHr8OkEGBA0oYK0MvhKPVcy2Q2_3qzN5CuLAt9nPW/s400/IMG_4577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278558682830002" border="0" /></a>Other great thing of the day is that I started so see some hard lithology by the coast (Cliffs in other words). I had not seen coastal cliffs since I was in the south of France. This made me quite happy because there was now a bit of a different character about the coast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9ToVKewTvl2azTP7m2znVfWVOEvc4dgN1bDLyJmZQm2LpKlcM3EbqPhJIz8GGhZ7rtqbTfXh091TrLeXaIokUZ8RJGG_O8lGvVGNr8LyzmQgfPyXsWjV4Vu4sfI3gSglRKPHh9GN7HMh/s1600-h/IMG_4581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9ToVKewTvl2azTP7m2znVfWVOEvc4dgN1bDLyJmZQm2LpKlcM3EbqPhJIz8GGhZ7rtqbTfXh091TrLeXaIokUZ8RJGG_O8lGvVGNr8LyzmQgfPyXsWjV4Vu4sfI3gSglRKPHh9GN7HMh/s400/IMG_4581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278369704268834" border="0" /></a>Again I found a nice camp site by the sea and went down to the beach fior a bit of the evening.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix1j4FIQjIoXyNVqsfafjrLzL5lj73Jj4wBQtTLE8LPNBplOD8XAyWJkWshpoeV4Rdk0N_2Hi7D8AgpwTgurF1WDuTfqlAXZo-ISMXNvC3gmk3UKKEKdEq0FHWec6J2zWkkzen6cL-2dM/s1600-h/IMG_4588.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix1j4FIQjIoXyNVqsfafjrLzL5lj73Jj4wBQtTLE8LPNBplOD8XAyWJkWshpoeV4Rdk0N_2Hi7D8AgpwTgurF1WDuTfqlAXZo-ISMXNvC3gmk3UKKEKdEq0FHWec6J2zWkkzen6cL-2dM/s400/IMG_4588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278373999236146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fri 29th June (Day 84)</span><br /><br />I started out by cycling along another gravel based road.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXvIVOBka8YTJJqwbwL3c2lEyL5IbB5pdiuYrct5Zr9UN3shrmvkjumWcb6WzL653-nhpIv8yQjfM4QMnLJHT0TnTq844IfMX4d4Q4oj5W4cxiW5nk5d7GOGT6Gg6lOlNoqQ1Vt-ptl2k/s1600-h/IMG_4594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXvIVOBka8YTJJqwbwL3c2lEyL5IbB5pdiuYrct5Zr9UN3shrmvkjumWcb6WzL653-nhpIv8yQjfM4QMnLJHT0TnTq844IfMX4d4Q4oj5W4cxiW5nk5d7GOGT6Gg6lOlNoqQ1Vt-ptl2k/s400/IMG_4594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278373999236162" border="0" /></a>I was heading to a place called Narva-Joesuu on the coast. This provided me with my first views of Russia across the river Narva.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RW9NRI6-mnDE0dRsjqXrC6TENC7aUOWwESnBxe7uIB_0ie4xt518rUqBwiXNMtMLqGSz7EqoGE0oVS46XEenryWrgQZe-AcShzCxgSI-wSEoSs5r4eTc1iHzJBiGasDLVID-cwhnTvYl/s1600-h/IMG_4608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RW9NRI6-mnDE0dRsjqXrC6TENC7aUOWwESnBxe7uIB_0ie4xt518rUqBwiXNMtMLqGSz7EqoGE0oVS46XEenryWrgQZe-AcShzCxgSI-wSEoSs5r4eTc1iHzJBiGasDLVID-cwhnTvYl/s400/IMG_4608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278378294203474" border="0" /></a>I was very temped to swim across just to say that I put my foot into Russia, but the frequency of the guard towers and the thought of AK bullets being fired at me made me descide against it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu96kowI42uFB04qDBcRvNxBCLThqvRgeYIYPglHP2goWE-Ox-cKR00gyzZGZx2bD0DPbPCsoL67vDM8_ZYKj_Abzf5svMB5WLEFf42wgpNILen55YVbGWsNiDxVDsZHnMo7SiysSNiRwu/s1600-h/IMG_4612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu96kowI42uFB04qDBcRvNxBCLThqvRgeYIYPglHP2goWE-Ox-cKR00gyzZGZx2bD0DPbPCsoL67vDM8_ZYKj_Abzf5svMB5WLEFf42wgpNILen55YVbGWsNiDxVDsZHnMo7SiysSNiRwu/s400/IMG_4612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278378294203490" border="0" /></a>I followed the Narva upstream for 10km to the Town of Narva which is the border crossing into Russia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHw7FOsUCIvoyv9msS3ZyW2YzEKHhmP86RhpjPoGe2V7qykVhibrQiIVznJGOG-7rLyPh9dq5jK1241KAj8Pt0oKThHRLr9hD82d358Yegdbbn9A7cGm4H10zVmTklH3EDMVZ0lWIH73h/s1600-h/IMG_4617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHw7FOsUCIvoyv9msS3ZyW2YzEKHhmP86RhpjPoGe2V7qykVhibrQiIVznJGOG-7rLyPh9dq5jK1241KAj8Pt0oKThHRLr9hD82d358Yegdbbn9A7cGm4H10zVmTklH3EDMVZ0lWIH73h/s400/IMG_4617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278206495511506" border="0" /></a>This was the furthest I could go and the end to my trip. The 4932 mile mark, I thought that I was going to cry before I got there but I didn´t. I was really happy and cheerful. I sat here for about 30minutes and looked out over Russia thinking I will come back one day to cycle into it. I then had a little look around the town and was not to impressed. I knew that the only train was at 6:30am the next morning. So I went to the train station to find out about it, but it was closed. The bus station is next to the train station. So I just went to ask if you couold take bikes on the bus and they said yes. I asked when the next one was and they said 20 minutes. Fantasic back to Tallinn it was. If it is one thing that I learnt from the Lands end to John O' Graots trip from a couple of years ago, it is not to mill around at the finish point because then the major anti-climax kicks in. A wise move because as soon as I got on the bus it started to tip it down. So it would of been a crap afternoon in Narva. It was also on the bus that I started to realise what I have just finished. I had cycled across mainland Europe, there were then a few tears. Not many though because I´m hard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XSXCtaU9AN0EY4Pt83W3EFof0KPzgel2SuD8qx36v9Mloh1Qkm2Ewl-m37_5KDHoCCJhNHv6Bff7wZeETBKcESa7QBORRKvFED2CvZK4dClyHibl3QxYw5q_HZW2hB-51Vo1yEhO4LIn/s1600-h/IMG_4626.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XSXCtaU9AN0EY4Pt83W3EFof0KPzgel2SuD8qx36v9Mloh1Qkm2Ewl-m37_5KDHoCCJhNHv6Bff7wZeETBKcESa7QBORRKvFED2CvZK4dClyHibl3QxYw5q_HZW2hB-51Vo1yEhO4LIn/s400/IMG_4626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278210790478818" border="0" /></a>I got back to Tallinn and booked into the same hostel, in the same bed infact. But all of the guys I had previously socialised with had already left (Norma you should of stayed one more night so we could of talked about Red Dwarf more). I got chatting to some other guys and went out for a few beers with them. After we were suitably drunk I showed them the spinny round things. Chuck where were you dude, I needed you there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sat 30th June (Day 1 of the trip back)</span><br /><br />Woke up a bit hung over and a slight twinge in my ankle. Guessing that I stacked it a little harder than I thought off the spinny things the night before. I went to the port to get on a ferry to Helsinki. I ended up on the fast boat which is more costly but it turned out for the best.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGcX7BLZYWtpp0zrTHq0D0sWsw2_IPdm-QXLD0CmJD9c5nNmdGb3K0CoXCwUhe4tYg5DzGkGxgjozEC2dH-AtY-ImzWJME_suRuw5ChXR2SN9b-teYLExeqIePVsph7SRtIbwDq8KwZpb/s1600-h/IMG_4629.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGcX7BLZYWtpp0zrTHq0D0sWsw2_IPdm-QXLD0CmJD9c5nNmdGb3K0CoXCwUhe4tYg5DzGkGxgjozEC2dH-AtY-ImzWJME_suRuw5ChXR2SN9b-teYLExeqIePVsph7SRtIbwDq8KwZpb/s400/IMG_4629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278210790478834" border="0" /></a>I arrived in Helsinki at 3pm and I love Finland. When i got off the ferry the first thing I saw was a large strrt map. Great I new the way to the tourist information with in 5 minutes of being in Finland. On the way there, there were two tourist information officers just walking around the street. How cool is that. I love this country. Only problem that I arrived in the middle of a rock festival at the weekend so there was no accomodation anywhere. Even the camp site was full.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhng_SFX-ij_nqk1sInQb9FM0q45bQzHz8QgnjfABurN_YT0xP-SmII1ZxFy_7bb9QhACRdVkVRqkF_FPiQRqYrAuARnc6l7CjDsNvooVb2qbwxx_acpk9Wj_11cDKAqR4TaOqGjuF3qDld/s1600-h/IMG_4632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhng_SFX-ij_nqk1sInQb9FM0q45bQzHz8QgnjfABurN_YT0xP-SmII1ZxFy_7bb9QhACRdVkVRqkF_FPiQRqYrAuARnc6l7CjDsNvooVb2qbwxx_acpk9Wj_11cDKAqR4TaOqGjuF3qDld/s400/IMG_4632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278210790478850" border="0" /></a>So with the help from the tourist information office we worked out the best thing to do was get on a bus to Porvoo which is 50km away. They take bikes on the bus as well. COOL.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMFvOSeqKOLzVgDR11PQVc9dC59KQYAPBf9ak8KuI03inFWIVtmz9VJAto4nIS2OVV3YRlJo1SFqeBYDP4TVmPr7Vj8m92vpg41f2vrxhUnVbxytJsdWJlFiGZakTjGFcoKOfKHjURvk1/s1600-h/IMG_4634.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMFvOSeqKOLzVgDR11PQVc9dC59KQYAPBf9ak8KuI03inFWIVtmz9VJAto4nIS2OVV3YRlJo1SFqeBYDP4TVmPr7Vj8m92vpg41f2vrxhUnVbxytJsdWJlFiGZakTjGFcoKOfKHjURvk1/s400/IMG_4634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278215085446162" border="0" /></a>So it was a good job I was on the fast ferry so I could get on the bus to get to Porvoo for 6pm. I then camped here for Sat and Sun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RxBvmSlopEpbIz7dUXpaIMQu0fscPF5PwyEerhtvuehNrtGUfeh2R4vJJAjIcv0I2CG56hdExyaiLwGRe23dTANch_Dk1nlPWRVIyMc4pm0eDmgLvLzg-71-QEkbHvfCtGaS29PiAnYv/s1600-h/IMG_4635.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RxBvmSlopEpbIz7dUXpaIMQu0fscPF5PwyEerhtvuehNrtGUfeh2R4vJJAjIcv0I2CG56hdExyaiLwGRe23dTANch_Dk1nlPWRVIyMc4pm0eDmgLvLzg-71-QEkbHvfCtGaS29PiAnYv/s400/IMG_4635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278026106884994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sun 1st July (Rest Day)</span><br /><br />I cycled to the local beach in the afternoon which is 20km away. It was a good ride, I did not have my speedo or GPS. It felt great cycling not constantly working out how much further I have to go if I continue at the present speed. I had no idea of how fast or how far I had left. All I did at the beach was to go for a swim, read my book and fell asleep for most of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mon 2nd July (Helsinki)<br /><br /></span>Did I mention that I love Finland. I cycled to helsinki in the morning and checked into the hostel. I had a walk around the town and saw some sights<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOkhPqImo7dMr6XNRon1F5AgT-OfLbiBlNHQakeyrV7djCEVQWTxZ8UjeSj2j2b-onrgYUHilYbeTpw09gbShAUVzXkqZQod_Ku2hPVXVRLSUSLSN5jDqSgjF2sbmUuiT0R90RhAM7vMJ/s1600-h/IMG_4647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOkhPqImo7dMr6XNRon1F5AgT-OfLbiBlNHQakeyrV7djCEVQWTxZ8UjeSj2j2b-onrgYUHilYbeTpw09gbShAUVzXkqZQod_Ku2hPVXVRLSUSLSN5jDqSgjF2sbmUuiT0R90RhAM7vMJ/s400/IMG_4647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278030401852306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA-uNmnVg2m-fq0gYf8NdIFp769bPlp27HExVGzVCs6uPvxC0m7seRa083yZWaeS4WD0bdAiY3e1FQL7SYkZcZm39APzl-iOWYvS-L9vI3Bwe65uq3arDhiY5FjJQNKrFfuLWGPm8sRYU/s1600-h/IMG_4650.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA-uNmnVg2m-fq0gYf8NdIFp769bPlp27HExVGzVCs6uPvxC0m7seRa083yZWaeS4WD0bdAiY3e1FQL7SYkZcZm39APzl-iOWYvS-L9vI3Bwe65uq3arDhiY5FjJQNKrFfuLWGPm8sRYU/s400/IMG_4650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278030401852322" border="0" /></a>In the evening I had arranged to meet up with the guys I met in Riga at 5am in the morning outside a bar. The Dude from Taunton who now lives in Helsinki and his work mate. It was a Monday night so I was only expecting a couple of pints. I should of known better, this is Finland and these guys work in the bar/nightclub industry. So a few drinks turned into more drinks which then turned into random Finnish shots that I can not pronounce. Some where nice others were an expirience I will try to avoid in the future. Lydon had to leave early but Lumi took me to meet more of her mates which then included more drinking, at which point I ran out of money. Quite expensive, but they kept plying me with yet more shots till I looked like this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2luGBvC29V3tJziLxRFvHAo_j_dqzMdI27hVm9c1lzjX1hSlTbg8_lbttsK5cowVnU8ecomDIMhbv4iwTrt8cBgQOmxwW6_ruUAYgx8GvMgljGropveZs9H2QdgcKN7IfGcJzYNQwIep/s1600-h/IMG_4658.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2luGBvC29V3tJziLxRFvHAo_j_dqzMdI27hVm9c1lzjX1hSlTbg8_lbttsK5cowVnU8ecomDIMhbv4iwTrt8cBgQOmxwW6_ruUAYgx8GvMgljGropveZs9H2QdgcKN7IfGcJzYNQwIep/s400/IMG_4658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278034696819634" border="0" /></a>I thought of you Speare when I had this photo taken, I was surrounded by beautiful Finnish girls buying me drinks. This does not make you jealous at all does it? I then saw this dude slumped in the corner and thought what a legend I have to get a photo with him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta8l083j6gte49VrAN6Hu8Bf5dlHky4i6G_uC_niYutcCQfTDwKHikQnOgrXY4A5Ak3ma4blIV8nnkGkj4La0jHf3H7rKGe6qk-tDv4SnOqhBYHzfVQm2TAvx_VP6KUi9O8LpD_oZEvIF/s1600-h/IMG_4661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta8l083j6gte49VrAN6Hu8Bf5dlHky4i6G_uC_niYutcCQfTDwKHikQnOgrXY4A5Ak3ma4blIV8nnkGkj4La0jHf3H7rKGe6qk-tDv4SnOqhBYHzfVQm2TAvx_VP6KUi9O8LpD_oZEvIF/s400/IMG_4661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083278038991786946" border="0" /></a>When we left the club there was about 7 of us that got into a taxi, 6 in the back. There was me saying that this would not be legal back in the UK to which I got the answer that it is not in Finland either. They asked me where my hostel was and I said it is on the street that begins with U. So they then asked what it was called and I said that it is the one that begins with E. To which I got the reply that I was useless. To which I said that I´m sorry but I can´t speak Finnish. But being a geographer with great spatial awareness I was able to describe it rather well and I got dropped off and into bed at 4:30am.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tue 3rd July</span><br /><br />Rather a relaxed day really, I went round to Lydon´s in the afternoon/evening for a sauna and some traditional Finnish food. Sauna's are cool, quite an expirience really. The thing that made the sauna though was the sausages heated on the hot rocks whilst drinking a cold beer. But I feel that the true iceing on the cake for the evening was playing Goldeneye and Super Mario Kart on his N64 (RETRO).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wed 4th July<br /><br /></span>The main thing that I have done today is to update this web site (Probably for the last time). I will meet up with Suvi and Tuomas the couple I met in Slovenia later and then tomorrow head to Turka further along the coast to stay with Tim. The dude I met on my last night in Poland.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Plan Now</span><br /><br />Not a 100 % sure, but something along the lines of when I have finished in Turka, I will cross into Sweden. Then I will catch a train to the artic circle. Then hopefully cycle into Norway in 24hr daylight then get on a ferry back to the uk.<br /><br />Cheers people and I will see you soon<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-12466286915217424472007-06-26T08:56:00.000-07:002007-06-26T13:14:08.698-07:00Final Hard Yards<div>Hello people I am now in Tallinn after covering 4761 miles. The situation as I mentioned in the email yestureday. Russia is off, I would of had to wait 5 working days which including the weekend would be a 7 days. I can not afford to stay in one place for that amount of time since I have to get back to the UK for mid July. If I wait for the visa it will be getting to close to the deadline for getting back. I feel that I do not want all that stress and worry in the final weeks. Every one I have talked to about a Russian visa has got their own horry story so I just know that it would not go smoothly. I am dissapointed but but not suprised. So what I will do now is to cycle up to the border which will be another 2 days of cycling then catch the train back to Tallinn and go across to Helsinki. If anyone does feel really strongly that I have not completed what I had set out to do. Then I will refund your donation, it better be a good argument though. I can not beleave that I am only 2 days aways from finishing the ride.<br /><br />Other interesting point about trying to get into Russia that I just found out. You are not alowed to take in a GPS. It would of been confiscated at the borer.<br /><br />Anyway the week so far since Riga.<br /><br />Wednesday 20th June (REst day Riga)<br /><br />Had a good walk around and saw some nice buildings<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410540987182290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODKdKUmYGeqNCJXnyQANLbtPCfly_uLHJ50D9N9h4v48gkv16zNIJogUM8uhgw5jQfRXnzmuXBZLkLkfF3fZdCQeb56JLvl6vsXBucv9fyR3mQnNvmiU6xbQhGtIl98apod5pYNRvbmZM/s400/IMG_4424.JPG" border="0" /> Which had cool view from the top.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCzZRf_um2DLW4-Evzv22UEerKIxOYOQNcDN-QFxhyhViD4yTm9zoRgU8XKOfMoTjtQqQTTX1cE8UdxI4Pg-b2pXHeIFxhBWN7M2ABAQZI5eKTcRsNUWlGJLE4k2YvRbUDEZAuzM7lqso/s1600-h/IMG_4429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410540987182306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCzZRf_um2DLW4-Evzv22UEerKIxOYOQNcDN-QFxhyhViD4yTm9zoRgU8XKOfMoTjtQqQTTX1cE8UdxI4Pg-b2pXHeIFxhBWN7M2ABAQZI5eKTcRsNUWlGJLE4k2YvRbUDEZAuzM7lqso/s400/IMG_4429.JPG" border="0" /></a> I then found a cool church.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm1l0iLPxEu_BfgmUvskAOG47vpnycBV3PADGOo4z3LfoLuY-ZIppP7mt46iVv3A6eipQkwRbnPQaCi-asbt6UaueP2zMGbcFeGdpoZakjzO1jLUWX6JjX3m3gZ1Dwk1J_2SMnKAhQvg2/s1600-h/IMG_4432.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410540987182322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm1l0iLPxEu_BfgmUvskAOG47vpnycBV3PADGOo4z3LfoLuY-ZIppP7mt46iVv3A6eipQkwRbnPQaCi-asbt6UaueP2zMGbcFeGdpoZakjzO1jLUWX6JjX3m3gZ1Dwk1J_2SMnKAhQvg2/s400/IMG_4432.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFieif3gHz7oBCCQ-0oUWqoioJyD98yoFawm0t-ZghKyDtDAhsRTn80CPnN7wAYTtEBd_XjFx3FfUJVDj05yu0YkX0b6bQS9PTfmkJPi0GMSgvYHLoksjuVqX33GTJoKuA7w0cACoapwf/s1600-h/IMG_4433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410545282149634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFieif3gHz7oBCCQ-0oUWqoioJyD98yoFawm0t-ZghKyDtDAhsRTn80CPnN7wAYTtEBd_XjFx3FfUJVDj05yu0YkX0b6bQS9PTfmkJPi0GMSgvYHLoksjuVqX33GTJoKuA7w0cACoapwf/s400/IMG_4433.JPG" border="0" /></a> Riga was a great stop. Not really very rested because I went out fr the 3 nights that I was there. All were good nights and I did not get to bed any earlier than 5:30am for any of the days. This was my final morning in Riga after about 4 hours sleep just before I jumped on the bike. The red eye is not due to the flash but due to being bloodshot.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ho_wZ3zSGANIU6N1Od_uLruSKjA21uqsIiS-M2pQ-vVsycoNjk-U2h8lxD65Yq47BFzx92VzZYMNRtx6-t_OV72pPBssIZC0Zt2bCZSHNqa7vi1xE59dlwgTdqaeuk-EdxwAdEPY4NWv/s1600-h/IMG_4440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410545282149650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ho_wZ3zSGANIU6N1Od_uLruSKjA21uqsIiS-M2pQ-vVsycoNjk-U2h8lxD65Yq47BFzx92VzZYMNRtx6-t_OV72pPBssIZC0Zt2bCZSHNqa7vi1xE59dlwgTdqaeuk-EdxwAdEPY4NWv/s400/IMG_4440.JPG" border="0" /></a> Thursday 21st June (Day 78)</p><br /><p>I left the hostel at midday and went to find a bike shop to find a new back tyre for the bike. It probably would of lasted but I thought it best to be safe and get a new one and keep the other as a back up. After I got it sorted I sarted to head north along the coast. What do you know, another spoke went on the back wheel. Did not take any photo's of it because you have sen it all before. Finished the day at a cool camp site by the beach. This was the first time I got on a beach since Gadansk in Poland. So I felt really chilled out. </p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU53Uj_upC5GH-XhQlSz0UdfTOhpS8lLzVIAzkctSFqG0NYcn7X-8VN9PXV-H8_Tht87JsCBrVXH0N5IX8mndwRiY1cK_E_jqpUrurjUAQPRckDUrm1-NMI6PxZN9G7d5Ie3xDP4Sf-Ya/s1600-h/IMG_4448.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410218864635010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU53Uj_upC5GH-XhQlSz0UdfTOhpS8lLzVIAzkctSFqG0NYcn7X-8VN9PXV-H8_Tht87JsCBrVXH0N5IX8mndwRiY1cK_E_jqpUrurjUAQPRckDUrm1-NMI6PxZN9G7d5Ie3xDP4Sf-Ya/s400/IMG_4448.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N52HZJI-UYbiVQdxaXRq9G-W4i6lO8zxF9-MO8wLD9IC41-qK-io1rQYzavnyaYn1XY-yx0gV6q923HzZ9EmFzb9RYX36jtJk1XDnzK1qQAxBuVdhr8_ftnig6q0QCxQL5Tg3hfYOW4L/s1600-h/IMG_4449.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410218864635026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N52HZJI-UYbiVQdxaXRq9G-W4i6lO8zxF9-MO8wLD9IC41-qK-io1rQYzavnyaYn1XY-yx0gV6q923HzZ9EmFzb9RYX36jtJk1XDnzK1qQAxBuVdhr8_ftnig6q0QCxQL5Tg3hfYOW4L/s400/IMG_4449.JPG" border="0" /></a> Friday 22nd June (Day 79)<br /><br />Well I started the morning by taking the broken spoke out of my back wheel. Even though I have got spares I could not put another one in because the one that snapped is on the side of the gears and I can not take them off because they are in the way. If it was the other side I could of fixed it. BUGGER. After that I thought I might as well take apart the derailer and clean it. I should of known better and I do know better because I took it apart whilst I was on the grass. I lost a small part and searched for ages but could not find it. I really was not happy with myself. I just ad to pt it back together and hope for the best because metal would be grinding on meal.<br /><br />After a bit of cycling I came to the border, I got a little emotional after I crossed because it made me think of how far I have came so far. I will admit it, I shed a few tears.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAS9FlTNTujGK7POIVNE2nNnDsofI4gxVM7mrXXJqDYNjfr9RwviJWWEM8j6wBg73gvds8P7r6J2UIaMu-uVandm9S7Oj89XOwv_mhoCtBgNH1AKTu6JN3Z3-ySnG_gDw1V0qdRt1baMBj/s1600-h/IMG_4460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410223159602338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAS9FlTNTujGK7POIVNE2nNnDsofI4gxVM7mrXXJqDYNjfr9RwviJWWEM8j6wBg73gvds8P7r6J2UIaMu-uVandm9S7Oj89XOwv_mhoCtBgNH1AKTu6JN3Z3-ySnG_gDw1V0qdRt1baMBj/s400/IMG_4460.JPG" border="0" /></a> All through the day I saw these cool cars pass me traveling in the other direction. It turns out that they were part of the Peking to Paris ralley.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevwu-Juz-i6OBT8hBAWpAUnNrLI_WuSuR7ckKMhWIw5QgFHU6V0yXo0mHnWXfbLGyr7GSjbfcxwj64hchEwfIhrz8LuqRS7k5KaH9A9uG8U0s-vq-v2OQTIbvo7WN3JDzYXb_YpfmOaf9/s1600-h/IMG_4471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410223159602354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevwu-Juz-i6OBT8hBAWpAUnNrLI_WuSuR7ckKMhWIw5QgFHU6V0yXo0mHnWXfbLGyr7GSjbfcxwj64hchEwfIhrz8LuqRS7k5KaH9A9uG8U0s-vq-v2OQTIbvo7WN3JDzYXb_YpfmOaf9/s400/IMG_4471.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409892447120434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUIiV8vMe6cCkrCtG8y-XwmeLb8m4Zaz2rH9vnBulJSEfM141vUaL07sJqMoNUwumic54Bd1WSyghZjcopL6Y3-lc2vLQvdPWkbJyJKeJWZzhKORNv3CW2ktgLI1WFIce6dnUR9ZfPWW0/s400/IMG_4479.JPG" border="0" />Other cool point of the day, I found these little wild strawberries. So I went a little bit Ray Myers and collected a few. They were about the size of a pea<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCXGaMYPEA-o7_XFufIdMMq2m5xl85-A5mHR1RK04DNahfDLfVD-mDinwf02Njo3iFkxfY5foD18HNYuixDhVCFMCUjxGwXuGte86xGhoDLX-BIqaBHF-H1NIremjOfZvugGrdDTPSqcz/s1600-h/IMG_4472.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080410227454569666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCXGaMYPEA-o7_XFufIdMMq2m5xl85-A5mHR1RK04DNahfDLfVD-mDinwf02Njo3iFkxfY5foD18HNYuixDhVCFMCUjxGwXuGte86xGhoDLX-BIqaBHF-H1NIremjOfZvugGrdDTPSqcz/s400/IMG_4472.JPG" border="0" /></a> I finished the day in Parnu. A nice little coastal resort and I was really happy when I found a place where I could get some lasagna. So it was quite a good day for food in the end.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP5R_0IZsvCvp4p86RwhAzLw3Iqvq5eCJ1p7Rsje-QGln8mB7ErjL1ZrYvWR6zNHsS9N88H_cHisKcLQy8mf2GkoPaKkoZhLN40vNHxFPjVTLwNSfTEIu7hM6J8xz6kmv0g2bfxzPdrNu/s1600-h/IMG_4491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409892447120450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP5R_0IZsvCvp4p86RwhAzLw3Iqvq5eCJ1p7Rsje-QGln8mB7ErjL1ZrYvWR6zNHsS9N88H_cHisKcLQy8mf2GkoPaKkoZhLN40vNHxFPjVTLwNSfTEIu7hM6J8xz6kmv0g2bfxzPdrNu/s400/IMG_4491.JPG" border="0" /></a> I had a cool view at sunset from the camp site.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bCOm7AugDTk12ifqprybuyMn5bPLbMenfPBMcTS7hMYpMOkzi3I53GOUPNO7cfybCncBO55LsE4tuqsqzsg9oFkbhcrP3Shat6VhuBbfFyC6QIBQYcrb-vrHDX4l3PJWkgG49QIlVdQi/s1600-h/IMG_4494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409896742087762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bCOm7AugDTk12ifqprybuyMn5bPLbMenfPBMcTS7hMYpMOkzi3I53GOUPNO7cfybCncBO55LsE4tuqsqzsg9oFkbhcrP3Shat6VhuBbfFyC6QIBQYcrb-vrHDX4l3PJWkgG49QIlVdQi/s400/IMG_4494.JPG" border="0" /></a> Saturday 23rd June (Day 80)</p><br /><p>Nothing to say about this day. The bike shop was closed due to a national holiday so I could not get the spoke or derailer sorted. I was slightl worried about this because I did not know how long it could go with a part missing and metal on metal. I talked to a dude at the camp site and he just went and got his old mountain bike and let me take the piece out of that. How cool is the kindness of strangers. It is slightly to big but it works a treat and will last.</p><br /><p>Sunday 24th June (Day 81)</p><br /><p>The ride to Talinn. Isaw a cool road sign on the way they made m want to bust a move on the street.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG3pXgNNzPQlL8IPkMg1gtUNuX4Bwu-cZHvrpnLC5MSxXmKtv9VLdU6SoP4Wlm-EWxD1TV11fG8gsIso-mHpbDtgRI5nz5qWHac14WAwSlWzOeSfnyUfxy6RycUuuOTmVfE7MHU9drNbJ/s1600-h/IMG_4501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409896742087778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG3pXgNNzPQlL8IPkMg1gtUNuX4Bwu-cZHvrpnLC5MSxXmKtv9VLdU6SoP4Wlm-EWxD1TV11fG8gsIso-mHpbDtgRI5nz5qWHac14WAwSlWzOeSfnyUfxy6RycUuuOTmVfE7MHU9drNbJ/s400/IMG_4501.JPG" border="0" /></a> I got into Tallin at about 1pm.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H3ncuy2At52n57lAjjTMXkVP3xeGTVTa1z6CYq92YgysJPdmzLUg0rNsZVpiewAsf-ElUbf4xAsG7gOd96E6H4enOmrn8Ce5uet_2Xmr7tdrThWbWi-Q2L8pWTdAX1tUXXj8rqpinhAV/s1600-h/IMG_4503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409901037055090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H3ncuy2At52n57lAjjTMXkVP3xeGTVTa1z6CYq92YgysJPdmzLUg0rNsZVpiewAsf-ElUbf4xAsG7gOd96E6H4enOmrn8Ce5uet_2Xmr7tdrThWbWi-Q2L8pWTdAX1tUXXj8rqpinhAV/s400/IMG_4503.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409462950390770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ni1Ox7FXGhimyNH9B1xJMrH3YPld37_u9QSxDLmMXLVuPaJtGceEa0hXPG47zf0lVOgWZAq-JDgIMeLPuOWujyDzrSkNSDf3H5mYWU2YZJs8BGZuWB5zTN_8PXbooenZqLXRY6pZrFvQ/s400/IMG_4510.JPG" border="0" /></p>What a great city, it has its old central part with really modern development spreading out.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeSzr0PEljL9KV2J9hcfdtW5BwRqY2UDIdCu2FG-UrAFZo47sZqHLRKczX8Ymxj1DjVuQheqab9paqktdf9wu-gO4oOHIOY8AVeLtURWHYXqpVEar9-snQ8cIUTek-TJhymnbLEcd3k9L/s1600-h/IMG_4509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409462950390754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeSzr0PEljL9KV2J9hcfdtW5BwRqY2UDIdCu2FG-UrAFZo47sZqHLRKczX8Ymxj1DjVuQheqab9paqktdf9wu-gO4oOHIOY8AVeLtURWHYXqpVEar9-snQ8cIUTek-TJhymnbLEcd3k9L/s400/IMG_4509.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is the view from my room in the hostel.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQaEYRmMGU3ZmZbWnYpYEcwYjKXWV_sQF1wxjzx2jhlXM0FtrhFJr3mcRfwmfIWHVeBgWLsZQmPVn1E1eIGs-NdFCe5U-s3kHz83MXXKBcvVRuVarzngOubHHBdXLfRRniK32VOMZQZE3/s1600-h/IMG_4513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409467245358082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQaEYRmMGU3ZmZbWnYpYEcwYjKXWV_sQF1wxjzx2jhlXM0FtrhFJr3mcRfwmfIWHVeBgWLsZQmPVn1E1eIGs-NdFCe5U-s3kHz83MXXKBcvVRuVarzngOubHHBdXLfRRniK32VOMZQZE3/s400/IMG_4513.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are some cool shoots from around the old town<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqu11VtqH0srC76gBPIcSVSZ4JVK69gd5pxj9fRiIKg2KbsZzF30hIv9rk5HqSZSfZ1I2qGRRUjjljQDML2rW6ta_wadteW1AN60FHLZlcmqnVozY7g3NCWYh2z09hq1V_10U-j3Pq6XG/s1600-h/IMG_4516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409467245358098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqu11VtqH0srC76gBPIcSVSZ4JVK69gd5pxj9fRiIKg2KbsZzF30hIv9rk5HqSZSfZ1I2qGRRUjjljQDML2rW6ta_wadteW1AN60FHLZlcmqnVozY7g3NCWYh2z09hq1V_10U-j3Pq6XG/s400/IMG_4516.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKVwY5F1dwyFofUDa-Rja_xaVlvErEyEfR1dew6nzP1sHKJPpJ42BHjDQ7QVTN8he-T6XjXIdRK4H82-Pe7yAfvKqGhvq7DA8ku2yTZeanFboNqd8PHS8NEUUCdAwxX63hLq0Nnen0rlK/s1600-h/IMG_4522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409471540325410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKVwY5F1dwyFofUDa-Rja_xaVlvErEyEfR1dew6nzP1sHKJPpJ42BHjDQ7QVTN8he-T6XjXIdRK4H82-Pe7yAfvKqGhvq7DA8ku2yTZeanFboNqd8PHS8NEUUCdAwxX63hLq0Nnen0rlK/s400/IMG_4522.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409046338563026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bI9CRNIQt62chKHb53gDwyDsPhZiEPe5xYoYx82Wd7CKsafQiY3_W2Ijh1BBoxUo74vAEct2s-CEai2lPSaTXwEEnyFiuFHEt2qmVpp7jnccDC29Q6gHqcYl0yVDFyNGgODxeexpGS4K/s400/IMG_4544.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA8w6x-UFIpDbPkT6RG6ja5IJjMIZMgeOeiceEhR-MtqUmE0r68sz2tswGKD741PRjilDhYsa2fwSkdIULK9aObkmNd7DIviX0IxdykjDNaPfurGhNLAjseqbQQEIRsVmdLRtWrULK0Eg/s1600-h/IMG_4524.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409037748628370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA8w6x-UFIpDbPkT6RG6ja5IJjMIZMgeOeiceEhR-MtqUmE0r68sz2tswGKD741PRjilDhYsa2fwSkdIULK9aObkmNd7DIviX0IxdykjDNaPfurGhNLAjseqbQQEIRsVmdLRtWrULK0Eg/s400/IMG_4524.JPG" border="0" /></a> A shot tha shows the old peoples housing next to the modern development<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5P5BMm5wT18mc8FdjjG3z3O5qNflz4XVlHBKiCBitY9fiCgdqDOFq7IvzXSimNQOaXGqWwwq87s1kbHejHa4489wJaZYcsgPrM6kpJC8tX_1jc9B-uNSRWikmZvTsxhOgSJEknBsUPlQ/s1600-h/IMG_4527.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409042043595682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5P5BMm5wT18mc8FdjjG3z3O5qNflz4XVlHBKiCBitY9fiCgdqDOFq7IvzXSimNQOaXGqWwwq87s1kbHejHa4489wJaZYcsgPrM6kpJC8tX_1jc9B-uNSRWikmZvTsxhOgSJEknBsUPlQ/s400/IMG_4527.JPG" border="0" /></a> A shot of the cool people I have been hanging around with for the past couple of nights. A little more reserved than Riga, I have been getting to bed at 2am rather than 5am. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080467951815028018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-iLOYrKzLvKuLhfZ_Cs50MdM4t_Mrmz51GGQpZvV137QxMtSVG_4O8tDrLh3MrijF35N7YLuGwMHbz047tLBQA6nAw5ZEs8s2NOSnSwhnf3DtZWbunlg9GwgDo9Bqa67iR-6SIF1r_Aw/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QFJHhdzTliMAY79sdutaKpIwHvFKlSuqRQjYH27vD2Hesc1HkjlMMzXr9lz0DJ2a2OI8GSw4irJSAvH9YPhS3jWv3dUXIyqr4UXlybC_RLFg4DjFpS1TjpObM04_n3MXHctf6kL1-niJ/s1600-h/IMG_4535.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409042043595698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QFJHhdzTliMAY79sdutaKpIwHvFKlSuqRQjYH27vD2Hesc1HkjlMMzXr9lz0DJ2a2OI8GSw4irJSAvH9YPhS3jWv3dUXIyqr4UXlybC_RLFg4DjFpS1TjpObM04_n3MXHctf6kL1-niJ/s400/IMG_4535.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080467956109995330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE1U_3CJlZW76fw2La-bLKuaS_QZ2qNH_uVdyaFc4QiDKIrQgWEktRAtABDp_BQRO9wG6PlqyPZulsrVBTsQutsXzFzezM04YB1N64zmsLl0zG5VZp0EBmSmaGwZHKdZ4_Zp_MGHnHu8n/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /> Saw this cool sign but descided not to imitate it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Is9JRtXqhBUKM0FWPkte7_fEB8uK4jeaKo1Zrb-gUD1W4HzMOcUHURI8QXqiCUTp0wxpT-Jyvu9FMGbhVJypy2uaGbVJs3pV4ZafrR1jUIu3yRnPqEURsmATVI3ydJAR-lDhTN03Tx2m/s1600-h/IMG_4540.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080409042043595714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Is9JRtXqhBUKM0FWPkte7_fEB8uK4jeaKo1Zrb-gUD1W4HzMOcUHURI8QXqiCUTp0wxpT-Jyvu9FMGbhVJypy2uaGbVJs3pV4ZafrR1jUIu3yRnPqEURsmATVI3ydJAR-lDhTN03Tx2m/s400/IMG_4540.JPG" border="0" /></a> I have had a great few days in Tallinn. A few beers in the evening and playing on those spinny things in the day (Refer to the videos).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080467947520060706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJM959u1CW0WzBXIQ_ZJMf4WEvgRfb20ZM0RAuERiCgmzlE3jY-jY8qybKeyXPdkFVPdOEK7MBW5MKYedcY9dY507lG_a8q-TCKyMYJNFDL-wSDef8YYgagaEvya15IXXxsW0kegDJfSE/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /> As I started to mention at the start I will finish the ride at the border. I wil then catch the train back to Tallinn then the ferry over to Finland. I then think I wil spend 2 weeks coming back to the UK through Finland, Sweden and Norway then jump on the ferry to Newcastle. I think that will be much more fun that getting a flight.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Cheers people and the next time you hear from me I should of finished this ride after covering in the region of 4900 miles.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-77339038504269185612007-06-19T05:30:00.000-07:002007-06-19T09:23:26.958-07:00Rest at lastHello people.<br /><br /><br />I am now in Riga, and I am now on a rest day at last. As I said in my last post I was worried about time, so I have been cycling every day since I left Berlin. That has been 15 days on the bike. In this 15 days I have covered 1583km, that is almost 1000 miles. This puts my total up to 4536 miles. I would say I have 8 cycling days left, 4 to get to Tallinn and then a further 4 to get to St Petersburg. So things are looking good. I just do not know how long I will have to wait in Tallinn to get the visa sorted. If it is going to take more than 4 or 5 days then I may change my plans and just cycle to the border then hop across the Finland for a bit. I just do not know yet.<br /><br /><br />Anyway changing the subject, here are some interesting facts I have worked out about my trip.<br /><br /><br />1. I have not used a phone since I left the UK over 3 months ago now.<br /><br />2. My home for 2007 will officially be my MSR Hubba tent. I have worked out that it will be the place that I have stayed in for the most nights for the whole year (56 nights so far and assuming that I still make it out to Africa traveling for the rest of the year from September).<br /><br />3. I have not been for a wild poo yet, I have always seemed to be near facilities when I have needed to.<br /><br />4. I have started talking to my bike like she is a person.<br /><br />This is what has happened since my last post.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday 10th June (Day 69)</span><br /><br />After I finished the last post I walked back to the campsite along the beach and stopped in a bar for a beer and this is the view I had.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IVGv49dTXLDhfQqj46P7K_yRJe7yY03kOJyDn15-DCadgOtxKQOkDIOW9LBnNOlt0SBki6e4x0P4IR3g7JQ-5vqdbaUJRXxZuTfkm9Kp4D09i40lpWFxXT81j0uktNuZNO6ipv-xmvr5/s1600-h/IMG_4314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IVGv49dTXLDhfQqj46P7K_yRJe7yY03kOJyDn15-DCadgOtxKQOkDIOW9LBnNOlt0SBki6e4x0P4IR3g7JQ-5vqdbaUJRXxZuTfkm9Kp4D09i40lpWFxXT81j0uktNuZNO6ipv-xmvr5/s400/IMG_4314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077754000635390818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 11th June (Day 70)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>When I set off from the camp site in the morning I bumped into another cyclist. He is also from England and on a Dawes touring bike with Altura Dryline panniers. It would of made a great advert. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkbCfbAkzKN5zbdk_vk_vMekJ7Wy2V_4sYreh0SGLTDWD1WPWV1q0IobYiYKYEwtHVvBH2zQd4KG6767v6uIbnBPDrolcmkj0iPUzGIohlYtN1sk6NDFecInSBvVn6wlum31QOD5fWnb7/s1600-h/IMG_4316.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkbCfbAkzKN5zbdk_vk_vMekJ7Wy2V_4sYreh0SGLTDWD1WPWV1q0IobYiYKYEwtHVvBH2zQd4KG6767v6uIbnBPDrolcmkj0iPUzGIohlYtN1sk6NDFecInSBvVn6wlum31QOD5fWnb7/s400/IMG_4316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077754009225325426" border="0" /></a>It turned out we were both heading in the same direction so we cycled together. I thought to myself that I may of gone a little bit fight club. I noticed that I had started to talk to Georgia (my bike) so I wondered if this dude was a figment of my imagination. Anyway we had some interesting cycle tracks with not much room for error.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh14VY6Hznof8tRd1k-V-SKZPavplco5jyY_-_et6BnosWfvI-yMvqCGwGrNAAvITv3hhuob10rOMLHLHizg0CxsAm0p1II4bcgGFJDOhq2l9iMUgc1JgEnGr8r65UBaF9wWcXwLj9KJHB/s1600-h/IMG_4320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh14VY6Hznof8tRd1k-V-SKZPavplco5jyY_-_et6BnosWfvI-yMvqCGwGrNAAvITv3hhuob10rOMLHLHizg0CxsAm0p1II4bcgGFJDOhq2l9iMUgc1JgEnGr8r65UBaF9wWcXwLj9KJHB/s400/IMG_4320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077754013520292738" border="0" /></a>This was also quite a momentous day because I passed the 4000 mile mark.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSxE64n2Oenk8p_nrazXNd2ImPbmkEQ-21-BZDl3EfM8fvVsg76vfDXTgHibv9rMYNON3pevpLV3mPtjDrz7XAB1sj8YfnTYjC78yVX_LRNsJ8x9QLkU8TmxlrYHSoZaVvf3L00s3kwXp/s1600-h/IMG_4321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSxE64n2Oenk8p_nrazXNd2ImPbmkEQ-21-BZDl3EfM8fvVsg76vfDXTgHibv9rMYNON3pevpLV3mPtjDrz7XAB1sj8YfnTYjC78yVX_LRNsJ8x9QLkU8TmxlrYHSoZaVvf3L00s3kwXp/s400/IMG_4321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753764412189458" border="0" /></a>But some of the roads we cycled on were the worst I have ever cycled.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGjbQ5WVq1t48aWD1ss0YL3tAKx1y9RoKLDpjwJvl9wKJkAx64lveCSG1faaexl4K6uSFuLkgBl0afe1-U0KOWdUqNA3wSQGrqd_WjDhpo_57hHGGkCqEZ70YXlpNh9XN2Yix9riR6jRO/s1600-h/IMG_4326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGjbQ5WVq1t48aWD1ss0YL3tAKx1y9RoKLDpjwJvl9wKJkAx64lveCSG1faaexl4K6uSFuLkgBl0afe1-U0KOWdUqNA3wSQGrqd_WjDhpo_57hHGGkCqEZ70YXlpNh9XN2Yix9riR6jRO/s400/IMG_4326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753773002124066" border="0" /></a>This patch work of filled potholes really killed my ass. Every one was like a harsh speed bump. I swear that if they took all the tarmac that has been used to fill the pot holes and spread it evenly across the road, there would be enough for a really good surface. Any way at the end of the day we ending up in Malbork which has a cool castle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVJSeqzwZRIZs_GcEk8cfEd9BhuMjQKxgC2Vqw2T_X7jTeNJCI0WfPpW7O68JYx9Gy7kPockBR458tQhP09LoRDlZ7UCVjJx7QnaDqWkhofP8iBl94_Q1FEOZxFjhuS5YPYQmBERRp99M/s1600-h/IMG_4329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVJSeqzwZRIZs_GcEk8cfEd9BhuMjQKxgC2Vqw2T_X7jTeNJCI0WfPpW7O68JYx9Gy7kPockBR458tQhP09LoRDlZ7UCVjJx7QnaDqWkhofP8iBl94_Q1FEOZxFjhuS5YPYQmBERRp99M/s400/IMG_4329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753781592058674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday 12th June (Day 71)<br /></span><br />Do not know what it is advertising, but it is the smurfs and it brought a smile to my face and memories of the staff conference 2005 and Dartmouth regatta 2006.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uDqyeQWR_dSphflOTdBk4rYrmvDP7oXRmew5OAAPgiXzxcV_Y2lEZomug4LDZt10VMC43Q8s-GXvXYseVi2SY0ruRq6Y3-RWsspI-VndYcNDH8w2jii96vVhzUTZf6j5dFFXNmzVMSbd/s1600-h/IMG_4334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uDqyeQWR_dSphflOTdBk4rYrmvDP7oXRmew5OAAPgiXzxcV_Y2lEZomug4LDZt10VMC43Q8s-GXvXYseVi2SY0ruRq6Y3-RWsspI-VndYcNDH8w2jii96vVhzUTZf6j5dFFXNmzVMSbd/s400/IMG_4334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753785887025986" border="0" /></a>An uneventful day really but we found a nice camp site at the end of the day by a cool lake where we went for a little dip.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMSfdU9rqsRracD3pvLsgGfRiQj_KBM-cn7DFUdVGlYBidR6JmSmRbyckG-Nu7LEfsMD4v2RzjSyaWQG1FYTzqH776tK-2X1-iQ79fpGg7ezhzmxeXNUW5mZOl5jhr-C42v-C6G6hF-Lp/s1600-h/IMG_4345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMSfdU9rqsRracD3pvLsgGfRiQj_KBM-cn7DFUdVGlYBidR6JmSmRbyckG-Nu7LEfsMD4v2RzjSyaWQG1FYTzqH776tK-2X1-iQ79fpGg7ezhzmxeXNUW5mZOl5jhr-C42v-C6G6hF-Lp/s400/IMG_4345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753790181993298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 13th June (Day 72)</span><br /><br />About 20km into the ride I heard a little ping come from the back wheel and another spoke had gone. Unfortunately it was right next to the other one that I failed to get fixed in Berlin. 1 is ok but when 2 next to each other are gone then you start to get concerned, especially while carrying heavy panniers. Bloody European cobbled roads<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbSEulHewj98IuWgmbYa8o8Gp7fJUvNnPFJq2dmiXfz9_VBziV0UBuIaAyMlcjj7-y-G-oheob9ihARyFHFYhTYsEVwlI97IhFxwAnXzHlQfXB1_xwsYTeOG2COTs7Gg1GEOElIAkDchN/s1600-h/IMG_4348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbSEulHewj98IuWgmbYa8o8Gp7fJUvNnPFJq2dmiXfz9_VBziV0UBuIaAyMlcjj7-y-G-oheob9ihARyFHFYhTYsEVwlI97IhFxwAnXzHlQfXB1_xwsYTeOG2COTs7Gg1GEOElIAkDchN/s400/IMG_4348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753364980230850" border="0" /></a>Quite a good celebration considering that this day was the 3 month mark.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 14 June (Day 73)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>Because of my back wheel we set of early to Gizycho because Ian's cycling book said there was a bike shop there. On the way I noticed that I started to have a bit of a bumpy ride so I looked at my front tyre and found this.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fKV3MhZfbzhjJOw8R2NBV9ljoC6KOnM65jbilCJ8Qs2gIw4ERRCghzinP_-ks811SG3G6tR3Ka4yzAV6pSlG06UAA2co_cmKYnt475Caqf-EfUsiYvKy_6aTwMIH_vjaz-lelI58kvpA/s1600-h/IMG_4353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fKV3MhZfbzhjJOw8R2NBV9ljoC6KOnM65jbilCJ8Qs2gIw4ERRCghzinP_-ks811SG3G6tR3Ka4yzAV6pSlG06UAA2co_cmKYnt475Caqf-EfUsiYvKy_6aTwMIH_vjaz-lelI58kvpA/s400/IMG_4353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753373570165458" border="0" /></a>Good job I noticed on the way to the bike shop and not after I had left it. This was the back up tyre I had resorted to using because that new one had gone a bit like this as was seen on the previous blog. But once at the bike shop the dude fitted 2 new spokes for me whilst I put on a new tyre on the front wheel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxguHKZq_W8_iTs-AUcQsl2hwWhvm07F4oJKKljgi8_jQE1EGX8w2oiF3uqXYFyYCeUOESmqCaGl0ssruFo8Z5iV-Mb59VFv3HjvtU2byUEjekCWy8hew75jjOA5Lj5-iwWFTGb1ED8vZ/s1600-h/IMG_4354.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxguHKZq_W8_iTs-AUcQsl2hwWhvm07F4oJKKljgi8_jQE1EGX8w2oiF3uqXYFyYCeUOESmqCaGl0ssruFo8Z5iV-Mb59VFv3HjvtU2byUEjekCWy8hew75jjOA5Lj5-iwWFTGb1ED8vZ/s400/IMG_4354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753373570165474" border="0" /></a>All of this, tyre, replacing the spokes and I thought I better get a couple of spares came to 42 ZL. About 8 pound, can not complain about that. I was so happy to have spare spokes. The day before Ian had explained what this funny little bit attached to my frame was. For the past 3 years I have had the bike I have always wandered. But now I know. It is to carry spare spokes. How cool is that. I love touring bikes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizehoyAyCe6ecsVdETDJQmoNWfQxlh1tWCS_F-GqA0Pfn5RQjL6eXM5VrJpUzwbQrZmDRLk83wWdG6Jlouun9koTBpnW_I_b-UhuULwWoKjAGRAx2ula3qXQEmMT-k6GrXRrBVX8X85beq/s1600-h/IMG_4355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizehoyAyCe6ecsVdETDJQmoNWfQxlh1tWCS_F-GqA0Pfn5RQjL6eXM5VrJpUzwbQrZmDRLk83wWdG6Jlouun9koTBpnW_I_b-UhuULwWoKjAGRAx2ula3qXQEmMT-k6GrXRrBVX8X85beq/s400/IMG_4355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753382160100082" border="0" /></a>Soon after this we went our separate ways after 3 1/2 days of cycling together. I made a push for Suwalki near the border and Ian continued to cycle around the lakes. It was really good having a bit of company for a few days.<br /><br />I got to Suwalki and found a small camp site. Basically it was some guys garden who has a guest house and cabins. I thought it was going to be a quite night, but then I saw a couple of motorcyclists turn up, a Scotsman and an Englishman. It made me think of "Long Way Round". So I ate dinner with them and had a fews beers as you can see.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6931PGWjzXXQ3cNChYWM17dXbMTy8mW2YB_MvyvAtG6tSOfW-yRhMAk_QU3e2ETBYhzax4CV7BPmVOHVunc4P4W58SQhKOFweFtAmhyphenhyphenRX62x_W-vfe1lB15cyE-KH813MOVWQnpGL2Zh/s1600-h/IMG_4359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6931PGWjzXXQ3cNChYWM17dXbMTy8mW2YB_MvyvAtG6tSOfW-yRhMAk_QU3e2ETBYhzax4CV7BPmVOHVunc4P4W58SQhKOFweFtAmhyphenhyphenRX62x_W-vfe1lB15cyE-KH813MOVWQnpGL2Zh/s400/IMG_4359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077753386455067394" border="0" /></a>It turns out that they both live in Finland so I seem to be building up quite an address book for that part of the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday 15th June (Day 74)</span><br /><br />I knew I had a big ride ahead of me so I got up early, 3:45am to be exact. Not the best thing to do when you are a little hung over from the night before. I only had 5 beers but that hits quite hard when you are a little dehydrated from covering a 100km earlier in the day. Anyway I saw the sun rise a bit then set off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDdgIpTob_CX4uFuR4Fd1UT5BP2aDblYYa3dlYac9M3mH7Hv11Ju6PUbfPDAvGaEFDk6DJ-JRLGxcTfHutNk2EzQfCyUkn3h83CZWMdbcFeit7Jksyclc2YdLilauPfbf0ziTzoyJICF5/s1600-h/IMG_4360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDdgIpTob_CX4uFuR4Fd1UT5BP2aDblYYa3dlYac9M3mH7Hv11Ju6PUbfPDAvGaEFDk6DJ-JRLGxcTfHutNk2EzQfCyUkn3h83CZWMdbcFeit7Jksyclc2YdLilauPfbf0ziTzoyJICF5/s400/IMG_4360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752823814351474" border="0" /></a>I crossed the border into Lithuania just after 6am.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRXiLOL57JbD9mDkvyEEgzZTnmjFCdOos07eV4q7z4M2DY9czvFbLaC7MnPFM2eLj7Xz5nb0zFH73W5IGw6a7PFZiW-yIWIR4pOIgpvyjsx5QIk_OmTwHdMUhPaNBgpf6dwr0DyEvDZ73/s1600-h/IMG_4364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRXiLOL57JbD9mDkvyEEgzZTnmjFCdOos07eV4q7z4M2DY9czvFbLaC7MnPFM2eLj7Xz5nb0zFH73W5IGw6a7PFZiW-yIWIR4pOIgpvyjsx5QIk_OmTwHdMUhPaNBgpf6dwr0DyEvDZ73/s400/IMG_4364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752828109318786" border="0" /></a>Quite a challenging day because not all of Lithuania's roads are tarmac. So I had about 12km in total cycling along loose gravel. Hard work on a loaded up touring bike. Quite technical, my wheels where digging into the gravel and I was sliding about a bit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI6lQ0_hFFCPiADN7aa3qPN0Ig7Be6FyXe7oWCUGB6FmL13xpEXZMYX3mf9Fiq5M9-yUy_adxCEf2gD5ZqGu0rVmV9YhbTbda4Y7ss9jnHuNTFQwzyu3Hvl0zqH-vCNZTXIvAPELWTYog/s1600-h/IMG_4367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI6lQ0_hFFCPiADN7aa3qPN0Ig7Be6FyXe7oWCUGB6FmL13xpEXZMYX3mf9Fiq5M9-yUy_adxCEf2gD5ZqGu0rVmV9YhbTbda4Y7ss9jnHuNTFQwzyu3Hvl0zqH-vCNZTXIvAPELWTYog/s400/IMG_4367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752828109318802" border="0" /></a>Found this amazing hostel in Kaunas at the end of the day. It was in some old Soviet peoples housing tower block. Here is a shot of the toilet facilities to show how classy it is. I just love the plastic taps and the way the same water point is for the sink, bath and shower. But it only cost 6 pounds and it was my first night in a bed for over 2 weeks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKelBZ-SinPK23VX8DtqFVt-zDhxJ-zEVHooSrpS8EfMF5LIJO0CK_IOyjopSDLv4uP4WvrOJq5Oww5Ew9N1QN6aSFIViwfhIDsLuJex6VASQDc_IKeEDXI-oMse1hzgIVMuuaT1fjHinQ/s1600-h/IMG_4374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKelBZ-SinPK23VX8DtqFVt-zDhxJ-zEVHooSrpS8EfMF5LIJO0CK_IOyjopSDLv4uP4WvrOJq5Oww5Ew9N1QN6aSFIViwfhIDsLuJex6VASQDc_IKeEDXI-oMse1hzgIVMuuaT1fjHinQ/s400/IMG_4374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752832404286114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 16th June (Day 75)<br /><br /></span>Set off early in the morning with another big ride ahead on the way to Panevezys.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhzkcdgEoAySm6edtloiTNc2SIsHP2afTMxZhdAmcXQcvZLDyD8gJ-PPoJtGQnEfs9oA_nD8Ci2EU4GLwwKWFOti1-cJcgIDmsdjGn_-r8gL6EvOhwbkZdwNpAlc5aLeJ9sW1cyqdkntD/s1600-h/IMG_4380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhzkcdgEoAySm6edtloiTNc2SIsHP2afTMxZhdAmcXQcvZLDyD8gJ-PPoJtGQnEfs9oA_nD8Ci2EU4GLwwKWFOti1-cJcgIDmsdjGn_-r8gL6EvOhwbkZdwNpAlc5aLeJ9sW1cyqdkntD/s400/IMG_4380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752832404286130" border="0" /></a>Followed a really nice river on a road that hardly had any traffic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4YdkOWEPVnYH3uZRbDCt4xZjld43OaIb8bZH0ZllrwOBCCahVozsHf0ef_JrYGyNRxx_LAEMlVA7I6OerjNm_J8CVcjUm_zs07a3c4cMQfiyPVJDyhP9rp7wUfH88qrLIRVnYLIcgRIJ/s1600-h/IMG_4383.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4YdkOWEPVnYH3uZRbDCt4xZjld43OaIb8bZH0ZllrwOBCCahVozsHf0ef_JrYGyNRxx_LAEMlVA7I6OerjNm_J8CVcjUm_zs07a3c4cMQfiyPVJDyhP9rp7wUfH88qrLIRVnYLIcgRIJ/s400/IMG_4383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752574706248226" border="0" /></a>For lunch I was very happy to have a little slice from home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJA7571CsQ8v7TyepQj6wnXyLoinguHV-FfqE_K7i21rVxhHebaCJPriREx5m3nDPh0BUGoF9L-ivkqnfz9-nhXjQOVNXIOeqEZdYEnBJceM8XQtihPPn6Rh-Ztx3Ai3PNQoJVWIvsHxh/s1600-h/IMG_4384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJA7571CsQ8v7TyepQj6wnXyLoinguHV-FfqE_K7i21rVxhHebaCJPriREx5m3nDPh0BUGoF9L-ivkqnfz9-nhXjQOVNXIOeqEZdYEnBJceM8XQtihPPn6Rh-Ztx3Ai3PNQoJVWIvsHxh/s400/IMG_4384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752579001215538" border="0" /></a>But obviously I had more than just chocolate. I got to Panevezys just before 4pm. It being Saturday lots of the places were closed including the tourist information. So I just checked into the nearest hotel. That is right, a HOTEL. 14 pound for a room with a view like this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDs8s_zYV_IPMX6paPP7UG9TKxmPKh24t4g3uZElhorAtrFqre5sKaHk3Q5pTpcwG8cTXCkE4uEaxFWrzFgCBtxJGVZgCvqT7XXkCyBbXZbK2czwBf2Yn29SvGSNC4f3UtYFqBBQn-y8F/s1600-h/IMG_4395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDs8s_zYV_IPMX6paPP7UG9TKxmPKh24t4g3uZElhorAtrFqre5sKaHk3Q5pTpcwG8cTXCkE4uEaxFWrzFgCBtxJGVZgCvqT7XXkCyBbXZbK2czwBf2Yn29SvGSNC4f3UtYFqBBQn-y8F/s400/IMG_4395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752579001215554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday 17th (Day 76)</span><br /><br />Had a gentle day this day. For the past 4 or 5 they had all been 100km plus. So I only aimed for a modest 70km. A good day because the wind was behind me and made it really easy. I stayed in an amazing guest house by a lake in Birzal<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fD9V2jxAgPn3qpRWyYY9G67Nz95-bstALoua_8d6tWFij54-Omxw_YS05dGbBytaigkBMJHktbdPNlTWC-XcG9jCAxvOi_-fXZQIGSbGN_RIl2qjLPMgnHhXAobi3dVajH2LG6yCdgTa/s1600-h/IMG_4401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fD9V2jxAgPn3qpRWyYY9G67Nz95-bstALoua_8d6tWFij54-Omxw_YS05dGbBytaigkBMJHktbdPNlTWC-XcG9jCAxvOi_-fXZQIGSbGN_RIl2qjLPMgnHhXAobi3dVajH2LG6yCdgTa/s400/IMG_4401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752587591150178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 18th June (Day 77)</span><br /><br />Aim of the day was to cross the border and get to Riga. The first section was on some really nice roads.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKHq6t_14Se4jbZGlyakD5uqteI4hlBa7gsqeh81EPqJKTTLrTUdF9NZBF4yasKQG-izkD4I7U9d1Icxle4QRvrqFR74Cl9MtnkuMIuMNLcqfn1qxPjPZza7ioBRIn1smH7XD_UChE0A4/s1600-h/IMG_4398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKHq6t_14Se4jbZGlyakD5uqteI4hlBa7gsqeh81EPqJKTTLrTUdF9NZBF4yasKQG-izkD4I7U9d1Icxle4QRvrqFR74Cl9MtnkuMIuMNLcqfn1qxPjPZza7ioBRIn1smH7XD_UChE0A4/s400/IMG_4398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752583296182866" border="0" /></a><br />The border crossing was cool because it was only on a minor road so it was just 1 guy in a shed<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NS_oeOJ0MEnnhXkCRsukfnC7HP8rItSvlGxBVPqodrbAQOfnJFPVTHvxiUnOF7ZKjdYqqWhpzwcvUPcWjCsgnOZE2jAAUy_9ky4B7Yrmf7AstTk_ug1D-tpSNVOhbuNhPPqb3c1E2w4m/s1600-h/IMG_4407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NS_oeOJ0MEnnhXkCRsukfnC7HP8rItSvlGxBVPqodrbAQOfnJFPVTHvxiUnOF7ZKjdYqqWhpzwcvUPcWjCsgnOZE2jAAUy_9ky4B7Yrmf7AstTk_ug1D-tpSNVOhbuNhPPqb3c1E2w4m/s400/IMG_4407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752282648472018" border="0" /></a>Again I was caught in a thunder storm. I got soaked but soon dried afterwards, I have really enjoyed seeing all these thunder storms.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu9e4dKGBS7DnNo424NBN9baO9le4dxbYLQm7T8wZJEoTZTSMZH0awLP7mkJrOjjvebarS-6wPybQXzcVWmJqWfo8CsLlkFY_TNdkxSNepPCVzoW6tlddzJPYIJ9MTBUt0m1-FpdAEWMb/s1600-h/IMG_4411.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu9e4dKGBS7DnNo424NBN9baO9le4dxbYLQm7T8wZJEoTZTSMZH0awLP7mkJrOjjvebarS-6wPybQXzcVWmJqWfo8CsLlkFY_TNdkxSNepPCVzoW6tlddzJPYIJ9MTBUt0m1-FpdAEWMb/s400/IMG_4411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752286943439330" border="0" /></a>I got to Riga at about 3pm and found a nice hostel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q0ubC5ndCZ0bBUJG7oRrkkZTxuMr_zS04QhR8i0tABQbgsOsCnyJbth5-QW4CgPwSYbiHT8bBvFDdh0kNZye4fWeNAVdXcVoULND-Bg0-QrxxfL3W7r4yK5iunbOH3mSGcyLHh_GlqKz/s1600-h/IMG_4414.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q0ubC5ndCZ0bBUJG7oRrkkZTxuMr_zS04QhR8i0tABQbgsOsCnyJbth5-QW4CgPwSYbiHT8bBvFDdh0kNZye4fWeNAVdXcVoULND-Bg0-QrxxfL3W7r4yK5iunbOH3mSGcyLHh_GlqKz/s400/IMG_4414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752291238406642" border="0" /></a>There are some cool guys in my room and the hostel gives out free tickets to the Roxy nightclub so you can probably guess what happened next. There was 8 lads altogether, quite a mission. I ended up staying till closing which is 5 am. The sun had already been up for 2 hours by this time. One of the other guys got friendly with a Latvian girl so there was a few of us in search of food and we stumbled across another bar that was still open. I was just standing out side and heard some shouting and turned around to see a fight break out. That girl the dude got friendly with, well her friend was having her hair pulled rather savagely, which then caused her boyfriend to rush in and slapped the other girl round the face quite a few times. This then caused the original attackers friend to come rushing in with a series of flying kicks against the guy who was slapping her friend. Whilst we had been walking to this bar I had been talking to the dude that had rushed in to slap the girl. So I thought it best to attempt to sever all ties and turned to start talking to some random people in a effort to dissociated myself from them. What do you know, it was a guy from the west country, Taunton to be exact and he now lives in Finland quite close to Helsinki. I am going to have to buy an address book with an extra few pages in the F section for Finland. He was there with his work mates and what do you know, one of them who I have also got a contact for in Finland is moving to Plymouth in 3 months time. How cool is that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday 19th (Rest day Riga)</span><br /><br />Well I have been asleep for a lot of it because I only got to bed at 6am. But I have had a little walk round and saw a couple of sights<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuczRyz3-aOWZe6-NHXCsPHtTFXDfIiGgH0kJ7OlXxt4VUgX1g516X5eS9zAE-WW9BW6I7baN5UIE1WsitlZce3XZBkFAW88uv_tWuSkCgcsfTyznTroUQqrG-2jVEtf_dE-pLB3tqE-1/s1600-h/IMG_4418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuczRyz3-aOWZe6-NHXCsPHtTFXDfIiGgH0kJ7OlXxt4VUgX1g516X5eS9zAE-WW9BW6I7baN5UIE1WsitlZce3XZBkFAW88uv_tWuSkCgcsfTyznTroUQqrG-2jVEtf_dE-pLB3tqE-1/s400/IMG_4418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752291238406658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiotKrefR7JGyvBkTkPChApcFncX9imfdy_Evl6Da7i5snhZ6r5miTOKFtv1EBptgjjcawzCiZRVDPrBps_xbo48iZNCcnBffcdLvj-JXtziU91KsF4QsMCz-yzLXJc5VuvceNxy5niAy/s1600-h/IMG_4420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiotKrefR7JGyvBkTkPChApcFncX9imfdy_Evl6Da7i5snhZ6r5miTOKFtv1EBptgjjcawzCiZRVDPrBps_xbo48iZNCcnBffcdLvj-JXtziU91KsF4QsMCz-yzLXJc5VuvceNxy5niAy/s400/IMG_4420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077752295533373970" border="0" /></a><br />The plan now, few more beers with the guys tonight. Another rest day tomorrow. I will probably see a few more sights tomorrow since I will not be spending hours in front of the computer screen updating this. Then on Thursday start the 4 day journey up to Tallinn following the coast. I will get to Tallinn on Sunday and go to the Russian embassy/consulate first thing on Monday morning to sort out my options.<br /><br />A question people, if it is going to take a long time to sort out, it may become economically inviable (in time and money) to finish in St Petersburg. I want to finish in St Petersburg. But I do not want to be hanging around in Tallinn for any more that about 4-5 days. If I do then it could put the Finland trip off. But with all these contacts I would like to spend a bit of time there now. Up to a week I would say depending on when I finish the ride and where. Will you guys be upset if I can not get into Russia and only get to the border?<br /><br />I will know more on Monday.<br /><br />CheersSteven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-86378038686191546832007-06-10T08:47:00.000-07:002007-06-10T10:43:19.074-07:00Yak sie miewa?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtAgy6gE7eCARXTRe17HdVvnDlq90_QUJoRJMW2S0QOFhYNxTcw1-1lPMRi5ZoPrtjwtcnAjmcVy-4D-oN5X6fjM2-yOlqilbFujDcFIcfgthx855SjRIftAto2-8x_NKiQ9p_S8XMp0V/s1600-h/IMG_4193.JPG"><br /></a>People I am in Poland. I have now covered 3972 miles and in a place called Sopot on the coast. Quite an interesting week with very mixed emotions. I am finding motivation in the mornings very hard. I have been on the bike now for almost 3 months. I think I can say that I have proven that I am capeble of travelling by myself. Should not say proven, but I can be 99.9% confident. I do not know how many degrees of fredom I have though.<br /><br />The main point is that I am really tired, mentially, emotionally and physically. It gets light just after 4am so bang goes any chance of a lay in, in the tent. I would take some more rest days but I am starting to get worried about how much time I have got left. I still have 1000 miles to go and I have to try and sort out a visa for Russia yet. I also have an invite to Helsinki from the cool "Finnish" couple who featured in a previous post which I would like to take them up on. So I have to do all of this and try to be back to the UK for no later than the 17th July. I would like to get back a week earlier than that so I could see some friends in London I have not seen for a bit before I head to the west country for my 30th. So as you can see lots on the mind.<br /><br />Any way this week, as I said I am in Poland and it has been a graet week. It has kept my spirits up and that is not because of the vodka. As soon as I crossed the border I headed north to the cost. I love mountains and rivers but there is something about the coast that calms me. Laying down on the beach and as you move your shoulders you shape the sand under you whilst listening to the waves with your eyes closed. I can not think of anything more relaxing. So for the past 4 nights I have had a stroll on the beach with the sand between my toes then popped into a bar for a couple of beers. Graet thing about a 20 pound a day buget in Poland, it goes a long way. I am having trouble spending all of it. The beer has been as little as 80p for a pint, and also I have been eating out since I arrived at the Polish coast. I had just about enough of cooking pasta and pesto. It is great but after almost 3 months it is time for a change. So that is why I really like Poland, it has been really good to me. The beach, cheap beer and eating out. I have definatly done this trip in the right dirrection. The pound is going to go quite far for the rest of my trip so I will eat out more whilst having a couple of beers.<br /><br />Any way you probably want to see photo's. Since I have already seemed to of written alot. You are only going to get a sentance or two about each photo.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 4th June (Day63)</span><br /><br />The reception at the camp site I stayed in was closed, unlukly for them, lucky for me I did not have to pay. I had to wash in the lake though (no tokens for the shower). This was my last night in Germany and the camp site also has a cool tree<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtAgy6gE7eCARXTRe17HdVvnDlq90_QUJoRJMW2S0QOFhYNxTcw1-1lPMRi5ZoPrtjwtcnAjmcVy-4D-oN5X6fjM2-yOlqilbFujDcFIcfgthx855SjRIftAto2-8x_NKiQ9p_S8XMp0V/s1600-h/IMG_4193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtAgy6gE7eCARXTRe17HdVvnDlq90_QUJoRJMW2S0QOFhYNxTcw1-1lPMRi5ZoPrtjwtcnAjmcVy-4D-oN5X6fjM2-yOlqilbFujDcFIcfgthx855SjRIftAto2-8x_NKiQ9p_S8XMp0V/s400/IMG_4193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074475153882147202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday 5th June (Day 64)</span><br /><br />You can just about see the river that is the border Germany and Poland<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqJed7pK1LJFkDWC7CH9imYwbTe0sBWweG0KuxUrg8kbao3ZFCuJzlwmwguWv_2x8m2mHvoiLv1ASKpu8FjSS03Tw2Hl_MopMpVtDDwA72l6xz4AMoMSHwQLDFGYZ6j3WLuWBaaDyqofr/s1600-h/IMG_4196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqJed7pK1LJFkDWC7CH9imYwbTe0sBWweG0KuxUrg8kbao3ZFCuJzlwmwguWv_2x8m2mHvoiLv1ASKpu8FjSS03Tw2Hl_MopMpVtDDwA72l6xz4AMoMSHwQLDFGYZ6j3WLuWBaaDyqofr/s400/IMG_4196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074475153882147218" border="0" /></a>Just incase you forgot what side you were on there was a helpful reminder every 100 meters.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0__k2Fi5MfS8IuJzvCi2jJIoWQLnfWylZPIkDnBy0nYlKmuF0HsQVc-HxFbeexwILxpNLjPlYbIUODXTeJbT08tro6cZpvOpLjECzhrIyphi2ss46bX0JvDwOYXxccT8WshyknAA1wQs/s1600-h/IMG_4201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0__k2Fi5MfS8IuJzvCi2jJIoWQLnfWylZPIkDnBy0nYlKmuF0HsQVc-HxFbeexwILxpNLjPlYbIUODXTeJbT08tro6cZpvOpLjECzhrIyphi2ss46bX0JvDwOYXxccT8WshyknAA1wQs/s400/IMG_4201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074475158177114530" border="0" /></a>This bridge was the border crossing into Poland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmxY_hgLTzjYaphBuGHEyQw92N63NCspJIaoMImksxvzMmOec9mg7q4WoGq6MfwUiIB9a_Zf66WTFyDvLGcQnAamtt4738M_Z2o3weuPYxTgmAX_Gjx3zUilu0o_OK97zZL5wEGS2Cyil/s1600-h/IMG_4205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmxY_hgLTzjYaphBuGHEyQw92N63NCspJIaoMImksxvzMmOec9mg7q4WoGq6MfwUiIB9a_Zf66WTFyDvLGcQnAamtt4738M_Z2o3weuPYxTgmAX_Gjx3zUilu0o_OK97zZL5wEGS2Cyil/s400/IMG_4205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074475158177114546" border="0" /></a>Poland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPtE-jru_Jf3ZKup7HJcm2_7qGo3dxptFgzkXyGvsjBX-uPb0spKQx34A5pSMkub-rzHYp03zadLRulA-jgPct4v6jtnJNfWXpAcsNbAruz_ainHjK732GkDl8eE-2cdmOSbTyihLyIrn/s1600-h/IMG_4207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPtE-jru_Jf3ZKup7HJcm2_7qGo3dxptFgzkXyGvsjBX-uPb0spKQx34A5pSMkub-rzHYp03zadLRulA-jgPct4v6jtnJNfWXpAcsNbAruz_ainHjK732GkDl8eE-2cdmOSbTyihLyIrn/s400/IMG_4207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074475158177114562" border="0" /></a>I did not get to the beach on my first night in Poland, my camp site was right next to this rather nice estuary at Dabie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wXCvKq4Oj_dvCzfrzzGAjv4nXwwzD_Ga0i4wD1wMblt-c2sjH0SQZYn6a2N2jJZxNO-GA6eZareti1W_T4_MM1EFV66dE-o9B28lCO9NL0E9U4O9ONn7xFniYu0b4e_dN944rZksJGuo/s1600-h/IMG_4216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wXCvKq4Oj_dvCzfrzzGAjv4nXwwzD_Ga0i4wD1wMblt-c2sjH0SQZYn6a2N2jJZxNO-GA6eZareti1W_T4_MM1EFV66dE-o9B28lCO9NL0E9U4O9ONn7xFniYu0b4e_dN944rZksJGuo/s400/IMG_4216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474896184109362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 6th June (Day 65)<br /><br /></span>Funny point of the day, I fell off my bike. It was one of those comedy moments where my foot was still in the footstrap at a T-junction. There was lots of sand on the road and with my bike carring all the weight it is my front tyre really dug in and as it started to slide it turned to the left and my centre of gravity was more on the right side. I was just glad I did not have any keys in my pockets or it could of been much worse.<br /><br />Any way I soon passed this just after that and I thought we could send the image to Stonehouse District Council. For former Soviet peoples housing, they have done a good paint job.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowYzIHcHk_O9yNetwe3BRk0EGLaMea2XWvzsJpwgkJ35Tk9urAJXkPEuZqHgyCbCm5pcOGFN_RnJHZof89_RVUp_dyrd_anSlLWBPoITNkER3EPInoxenuErT_FqMGBTwQhuWfmdmWWCq/s1600-h/IMG_4220.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowYzIHcHk_O9yNetwe3BRk0EGLaMea2XWvzsJpwgkJ35Tk9urAJXkPEuZqHgyCbCm5pcOGFN_RnJHZof89_RVUp_dyrd_anSlLWBPoITNkER3EPInoxenuErT_FqMGBTwQhuWfmdmWWCq/s400/IMG_4220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474896184109378" border="0" /></a>At the end of the day I made it to the beach, a place called Dziwnowek.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32_LmMVeOR8YmdMRVOrbnYXcdSILNcy5KYmT9fSq_kAYmZr7NQP3BPsNcZ337LTG57ZEURtKs5zxpa4aq4Ge0sYSLYTqzZrG1Cac1s2ktQqKZz-RNRtd6ChCSZ1YZYKheCOmxWQPIHp26/s1600-h/IMG_4224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32_LmMVeOR8YmdMRVOrbnYXcdSILNcy5KYmT9fSq_kAYmZr7NQP3BPsNcZ337LTG57ZEURtKs5zxpa4aq4Ge0sYSLYTqzZrG1Cac1s2ktQqKZz-RNRtd6ChCSZ1YZYKheCOmxWQPIHp26/s400/IMG_4224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474896184109394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 7th June (Day 66)</span><br /><br />Saw this little charecter in the morning that was walking him self along the road. When ever a car came along he would jump up on the curb.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TjhUTW-6TMCRQSDHc2oIaaRPTpKX5DB8H0EbjmPP6q0K3SA4U1hX7gETe_enb2CrLmBphWHey38hSmu4Bo-lCDjgbl5jCeanUC-Ifph6U1OBzkO2wNUMZMTdRPQ3zquxLvY6suK40Fqf/s1600-h/IMG_4229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TjhUTW-6TMCRQSDHc2oIaaRPTpKX5DB8H0EbjmPP6q0K3SA4U1hX7gETe_enb2CrLmBphWHey38hSmu4Bo-lCDjgbl5jCeanUC-Ifph6U1OBzkO2wNUMZMTdRPQ3zquxLvY6suK40Fqf/s400/IMG_4229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474900479076706" border="0" /></a>He just reminded me of the Littlest Hobo. I could not help but think that he was on his was to help some poor 12 year old boy who's mother was seriously ill so he had to look after his 4 year old sister all by him self. I had the theme tune in my head for the rest of the day.<br /><br />The front wheel has been a bit bumpy for the past week or so and it was getting worse so I descided I would take a look. When I did I saw this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHWKLCrfrBgL1lp2BiRFMGscu91U286kBrzprmB6zHm7Hk8eB_xCvdnYni71n95eZZSzeP98sEkyb_XhZwlUCqTpXD1O5HbiZSjO_0nDLD2EAQT_EcH7NIzy4WjrDnJRyIZMIICavxoJk/s1600-h/IMG_4231.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHWKLCrfrBgL1lp2BiRFMGscu91U286kBrzprmB6zHm7Hk8eB_xCvdnYni71n95eZZSzeP98sEkyb_XhZwlUCqTpXD1O5HbiZSjO_0nDLD2EAQT_EcH7NIzy4WjrDnJRyIZMIICavxoJk/s400/IMG_4231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474900479076722" border="0" /></a>This is a relativly new tyre but the rim has worn through the tyre wall. Good job I checked or I could of had a major blow out. I had to put the old one back on that I had be carring as a back up. Only problem is it has only got about another couple of mm's of wear left in it. Bummer because that new one would of lasted for the rest of the trip. So that is another tyre I will have to get, as well as that spoke that I still have not got sorted out yet.<br /><br />But this is the day when I has a good feed in a retaurant,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEuq0RTavA88Fz4kX_hZQXW_w4JIXQ6GVIbU2VkWs5t2eqPYw3ChaT1vDIzF8qiN55i0Tq_-k90-_GWAygvvJYySloNhjRNLpyXZrNXOHBMYL_krZUOms0a3tVvud1hFJMqfgzzfVHZh5/s1600-h/IMG_4240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEuq0RTavA88Fz4kX_hZQXW_w4JIXQ6GVIbU2VkWs5t2eqPYw3ChaT1vDIzF8qiN55i0Tq_-k90-_GWAygvvJYySloNhjRNLpyXZrNXOHBMYL_krZUOms0a3tVvud1hFJMqfgzzfVHZh5/s400/IMG_4240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474445212543202" border="0" /></a>and saw a pretty cool sunset down on the beach.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvqVoAxmg-HM8DGzkXaOTKlEqmge2AkKcfaDPtxJd-T5xwkFwFDyOmSsOwQc3KoA1T493DWq1bIxmnQlNOdUY_wdFeCymjv4BLQClYDmx_krRkOC4ikoFjIl-E67BthISUJy2CSOXAcVy/s1600-h/IMG_4244.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvqVoAxmg-HM8DGzkXaOTKlEqmge2AkKcfaDPtxJd-T5xwkFwFDyOmSsOwQc3KoA1T493DWq1bIxmnQlNOdUY_wdFeCymjv4BLQClYDmx_krRkOC4ikoFjIl-E67BthISUJy2CSOXAcVy/s400/IMG_4244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474449507510514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPzOQJoRTJ9e6Tt7eSZ2Tu_uFJi0JcYpnP_KvPtBk6fFdfTDdLMyZTnEGVbcFfLEHssq86aA-1QhyphenhyphenqNnT5Ls49lhmFYTMFVN1ugXbMqB87gl3UmOon5vTt8qBL3fvh1i_Lz__6eQQssXf/s1600-h/IMG_4245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPzOQJoRTJ9e6Tt7eSZ2Tu_uFJi0JcYpnP_KvPtBk6fFdfTDdLMyZTnEGVbcFfLEHssq86aA-1QhyphenhyphenqNnT5Ls49lhmFYTMFVN1ugXbMqB87gl3UmOon5vTt8qBL3fvh1i_Lz__6eQQssXf/s400/IMG_4245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474449507510530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhbfS9voMjn6d87r_ST6tFl9gMnYEK6JiFSb_Ztb2-Il-fi82uENrUx6dETuYgDHdHPIHS072wpA9bSgoou3somBK7PDZiacJZmJphT1P_nl_q5ULj3GU5pD8iqotpctw5SE9cZTSm56U/s1600-h/IMG_4253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhbfS9voMjn6d87r_ST6tFl9gMnYEK6JiFSb_Ztb2-Il-fi82uENrUx6dETuYgDHdHPIHS072wpA9bSgoou3somBK7PDZiacJZmJphT1P_nl_q5ULj3GU5pD8iqotpctw5SE9cZTSm56U/s400/IMG_4253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474449507510546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday 8th June (Day 67)<br /><br /></span>I really like this Polish coast line, but I fear for its future. There are some really nice streaches that look like this, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJ2AelTwy7tpE8u_s7OpvUQXP-Q0KLRHJXCGKRoxaM2_puOjEgkLCMz0-EAEiLnhwlEdyOBC4lUVuWezTdeft81OypckMQm4T4f77xcpJQpqvyJntMkUoA4GQM0ODvazGcVx7UYGO0Z5b/s1600-h/IMG_4258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJ2AelTwy7tpE8u_s7OpvUQXP-Q0KLRHJXCGKRoxaM2_puOjEgkLCMz0-EAEiLnhwlEdyOBC4lUVuWezTdeft81OypckMQm4T4f77xcpJQpqvyJntMkUoA4GQM0ODvazGcVx7UYGO0Z5b/s400/IMG_4258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474453802477858" border="0" /></a>But then along comes property development and it will all be looking like this<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsQXEuIVMhpkMIgmfu1DMkGvAJez8kPe41eCDxbaBNT6XvtTJY0cmPOwS3z9lUEMklDYAp4JqGXphxCjBdJU5HTjEeLiP-TjJc5PJyEd3gSeTQbxa-5BT5-bW-Ch2HPYd0H4UmalaAuen/s1600-h/IMG_4265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsQXEuIVMhpkMIgmfu1DMkGvAJez8kPe41eCDxbaBNT6XvtTJY0cmPOwS3z9lUEMklDYAp4JqGXphxCjBdJU5HTjEeLiP-TjJc5PJyEd3gSeTQbxa-5BT5-bW-Ch2HPYd0H4UmalaAuen/s400/IMG_4265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474140269865106" border="0" /></a>I saw quite a few of those developments along the way, but the best thing I saw was this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzJ1YBHdGPrXTY4iA8tbjg5lIOhcH9fEgW95DFs__TcN8gKi6AP_x2u_UPjiXRpG2MVaUb7ENGaE6sYc11YrL0Ci6eWlUqxNqlU2Wv7dw9tHQyn0iPBkvxMyd3uKipUOs-QOv2yguboEX/s1600-h/IMG_4274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzJ1YBHdGPrXTY4iA8tbjg5lIOhcH9fEgW95DFs__TcN8gKi6AP_x2u_UPjiXRpG2MVaUb7ENGaE6sYc11YrL0Ci6eWlUqxNqlU2Wv7dw9tHQyn0iPBkvxMyd3uKipUOs-QOv2yguboEX/s400/IMG_4274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474144564832418" border="0" /></a>I want to build and live in one of these. How cool does that look? I know Sam would like it, how's that for a shed?<br /><br />Tom one for you, check out those anvil topped cumulos clouds<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagJ0z3iSFDaIFKZFYtsuXcyCtCHQqpSC7PAvBm1lJ0XS1bUV2IAyWoCamkIL5NQim18iGF-MzDe3VO4HgK_WQcw6mC-mejHYRVhtycjkRucSqgsfu5brTvELH2bjLIjgR6bwv0dEiIj9W/s1600-h/IMG_4278.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagJ0z3iSFDaIFKZFYtsuXcyCtCHQqpSC7PAvBm1lJ0XS1bUV2IAyWoCamkIL5NQim18iGF-MzDe3VO4HgK_WQcw6mC-mejHYRVhtycjkRucSqgsfu5brTvELH2bjLIjgR6bwv0dEiIj9W/s400/IMG_4278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474144564832434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 9th June (Day 68)<br /><br /></span>When I had a walk along the beach I say some nice art work on the Rip-Rap. It gave me some ideas for Beesands over the summer.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfOQHN5ICq9RhC8S98QhOUTAZAUi52JeHmnm5AnE4WpONFT-KLHm5laWFd82v2VjSQZ0zeejPVLIsBaH9_979GNIpTI0Zx9wCGrfX_TaeS8qEH_fRE0TcbuearIn5mqcHSP2O46OvMadP/s1600-h/IMG_4287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfOQHN5ICq9RhC8S98QhOUTAZAUi52JeHmnm5AnE4WpONFT-KLHm5laWFd82v2VjSQZ0zeejPVLIsBaH9_979GNIpTI0Zx9wCGrfX_TaeS8qEH_fRE0TcbuearIn5mqcHSP2O46OvMadP/s400/IMG_4287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474148859799746" border="0" /></a>And check out these bad boys, puts Sunnydale's to shame<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiKvdxLI6lVOHnkZf9nV2uNzLMJ6umUximAwnTNs79jQGwz0imCILsIphqCjCC_UgCsMyDOALHMiwmXRF6NFUGhZeAQ2UP1tVPtAaRm1eUGEcwObqoD-uqJhMl5YQiNkci_URsy8AfBfJ/s1600-h/IMG_4304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiKvdxLI6lVOHnkZf9nV2uNzLMJ6umUximAwnTNs79jQGwz0imCILsIphqCjCC_UgCsMyDOALHMiwmXRF6NFUGhZeAQ2UP1tVPtAaRm1eUGEcwObqoD-uqJhMl5YQiNkci_URsy8AfBfJ/s400/IMG_4304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074474148859799762" border="0" /></a>Sorry to non Slapton or FSC people with reference to geography or biology related topics.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday 10th June (Day 69)<br /><br /></span>I wander if you get your meals served in those classic airline packaging. I bet you do not get much leg room at the table as well<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMWXaf57o4ht0Xf1uC4WLBlW4V81745ZzR3JAV6IZf0sWdSnmIRLjLWyZCb9LvSkGkwkD1XCxINm26Ni5fmCuj3vNFSj7XfhOEPKnN65jQ0TqaLggyNPbuEIjp7ZZT0Ld-Dc9xbl-dkCM/s1600-h/IMG_4308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMWXaf57o4ht0Xf1uC4WLBlW4V81745ZzR3JAV6IZf0sWdSnmIRLjLWyZCb9LvSkGkwkD1XCxINm26Ni5fmCuj3vNFSj7XfhOEPKnN65jQ0TqaLggyNPbuEIjp7ZZT0Ld-Dc9xbl-dkCM/s400/IMG_4308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074473448780130402" border="0" /></a>I got a little stressed when the cycle path just stopped, so I had to back track a couple of km's. Not best pleased.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFQMCtDj7U5hdriqaico2LeJci8yl_bty5RaZe_7HLD7c4FEelP7dMpamfAz_CIchXDUrYgONpve6Hgn_kVKXacXwTVAg3o3PuISsXrMiGir7_NWZ9PIg-M6Eh-zj0ckFlMQuwVwShAAD/s1600-h/IMG_4311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFQMCtDj7U5hdriqaico2LeJci8yl_bty5RaZe_7HLD7c4FEelP7dMpamfAz_CIchXDUrYgONpve6Hgn_kVKXacXwTVAg3o3PuISsXrMiGir7_NWZ9PIg-M6Eh-zj0ckFlMQuwVwShAAD/s400/IMG_4311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074473453075097714" border="0" /></a>And this is where I am now in Sopot<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhomLWnaeKWeGiE20_EvZlfLYG6KUk2EviPLpESFnyuQj2CuQLi48jVoDRM_z3YUK_HyZFHSDw3vDwRJJDFTZo0cJptg8kmCLzC32-ool0OcK8NxNXlyZIXS275k7ocU3D54u1Nld_dWI/s1600-h/IMG_4313.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhomLWnaeKWeGiE20_EvZlfLYG6KUk2EviPLpESFnyuQj2CuQLi48jVoDRM_z3YUK_HyZFHSDw3vDwRJJDFTZo0cJptg8kmCLzC32-ool0OcK8NxNXlyZIXS275k7ocU3D54u1Nld_dWI/s400/IMG_4313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074473453075097730" border="0" /></a><br />The plan now, probably another 6 days of cycling in Poland heading east under the funny little bit of Russia then cross into Lithuania.<br /><br />That is all people.<br /><br />Cheers.Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-50659153757218042992007-06-03T10:18:00.000-07:002007-06-04T00:36:00.594-07:00GermanyOk people I am now in Berlin, I have covered 3551 miles. There has obviously been a miscalculation some where along the line because I reckon I have another 1000 to go. I have loved cycling in Germany (Country number 10). There are so many cycle travks. I have probably only spent 30% of my time on the roads and they have been quite country roads. Not much to say this week, no real adventures as such, just good cycling.<br /><br /><br />Sat 26th (Day 57)<br /><br /><br />I left Prague in the am and headed North, quite a nice day. The highlight was the camp site I stayed at in the evening. It was free of charge, how cool is that. The funny thing about it was that you had to pay CZK 20 for a shower (50p) and only CZK18 for a pint of beer from the bar. An interesting point I feel.<br /><br /><br />Sun 27th (Day 58)<br /><br /><br />I crossed into Germany just after midday,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVw7pTISpSfJ-BB4CwlTgamPyyKgAveQOY_tmneZyU4e76FobS60QgY8anaORWwGyacviT0v2iqVl-vvNHTGObG_oljYrNAR_D_Ab3vzBfn5z4gW92m1huYeq64RqH1IT9QEN1k6y6s_dJ/s1600-h/IMG_4013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889963351924722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVw7pTISpSfJ-BB4CwlTgamPyyKgAveQOY_tmneZyU4e76FobS60QgY8anaORWwGyacviT0v2iqVl-vvNHTGObG_oljYrNAR_D_Ab3vzBfn5z4gW92m1huYeq64RqH1IT9QEN1k6y6s_dJ/s400/IMG_4013.JPG" border="0" /></a>and then followed a cycle path next to the river Elbe,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NZ_VMvNVmjSs-21_E5a1VlRjG-X-4t_dpIrEs1RYR4LZFE8K04sMiddhsS602Uw6usU_32wmiH-wA9WIB_eEcdrC_D1cG-20633-JDbqR8WHuK4WTQWiEeoHuerYuwhEyhZtS9SxouVq/s1600-h/IMG_4014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889963351924738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NZ_VMvNVmjSs-21_E5a1VlRjG-X-4t_dpIrEs1RYR4LZFE8K04sMiddhsS602Uw6usU_32wmiH-wA9WIB_eEcdrC_D1cG-20633-JDbqR8WHuK4WTQWiEeoHuerYuwhEyhZtS9SxouVq/s400/IMG_4014.JPG" border="0" /></a>Which went all the way to Dresden where I stayed in a very nice hostel for the night.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfnbUwEHhO6g_36mfxSH3u5C3jjY1ZnLUDzuRow-PRppnp-SLWrIxnf1xZG-d-yI7hWG-ShyAI3tLuQnBQWWp4-48jD-Hzks1Sx4QIpizCq7TEoaAyKJ_AXJXBbVgPR0QMhU0ZdGJiY_K/s1600-h/IMG_4022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889963351924754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfnbUwEHhO6g_36mfxSH3u5C3jjY1ZnLUDzuRow-PRppnp-SLWrIxnf1xZG-d-yI7hWG-ShyAI3tLuQnBQWWp4-48jD-Hzks1Sx4QIpizCq7TEoaAyKJ_AXJXBbVgPR0QMhU0ZdGJiY_K/s400/IMG_4022.JPG" border="0" /></a>Mon 28th (Day 59)<br /><br />The ride on Monday was pretty uneventful. The major activity was at night when the storm came over the camp site. I had to take shelter in the toilet blocks and I was glad that I had a tent to go back to it was that bad. I hope the videos do it justice. I like the way that you cam see the camera shake when the lightning goes off pretty close to where I was. It was a bit of a shock.<br /><br />Tue 29th (Day 60)<br /><br />A great day, saw some nice sights on the way such as this windmill.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6e6btKG7_Vy0uOXYXBRk6YpilMS0jT6NhdOB_O3fIxt8MwhsRATSwZDric5neAQxFCSCT59y0m5Szz-9FxgaYs5I24j3hp1FZ59Sm4IBQK8YbFKvK-h8rlF6aLkS5p_rCZ8JduRAQd5k/s1600-h/IMG_4044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889967646892066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6e6btKG7_Vy0uOXYXBRk6YpilMS0jT6NhdOB_O3fIxt8MwhsRATSwZDric5neAQxFCSCT59y0m5Szz-9FxgaYs5I24j3hp1FZ59Sm4IBQK8YbFKvK-h8rlF6aLkS5p_rCZ8JduRAQd5k/s400/IMG_4044.JPG" border="0" /></a>But I had a little techniqual difficulty on the way. Another spoke snapped on the back wheel so I had to take it out and try and true the wheel up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZpqY4J0THMD71mfJn6LmNSFClHnD5t8jM7RWAEzDJFMK_9N5ZtK8H0buEUAUpzEua46vwokAc-j4dUUcci9nhDtijwYxg_jrL6c-gB57VDcl13zMSCCprOMX0SNgWe02C9mikUdWc35B/s1600-h/IMG_4048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889967646892082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZpqY4J0THMD71mfJn6LmNSFClHnD5t8jM7RWAEzDJFMK_9N5ZtK8H0buEUAUpzEua46vwokAc-j4dUUcci9nhDtijwYxg_jrL6c-gB57VDcl13zMSCCprOMX0SNgWe02C9mikUdWc35B/s400/IMG_4048.JPG" border="0" /></a>Supprising sight of the day was this statue that I came across in a small place called Bischdorf.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA8JpFvZ9DeX-Qjca7bMJ-yMWJ4xPySiN4ZFQaeFxiSpUWqhfCY6mnRew-_dbJOLpV2GwmnmAH8yKLopVKNlyTc5WGACDP-a_3tVAvRw803W9wW1eojoDsZvUHxzCbZcr5LygFG4_ZgZC/s1600-h/IMG_4057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889735718657954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA8JpFvZ9DeX-Qjca7bMJ-yMWJ4xPySiN4ZFQaeFxiSpUWqhfCY6mnRew-_dbJOLpV2GwmnmAH8yKLopVKNlyTc5WGACDP-a_3tVAvRw803W9wW1eojoDsZvUHxzCbZcr5LygFG4_ZgZC/s400/IMG_4057.JPG" border="0" /></a>I have been looking around Berlin for the past 4 days and all the memorials are quite abstrack. You do not see any featuring any German soldiers. I guess some people would be offended by that. So I was supprised to see one in this little village. But I liked it, I thought that in war there are no winners just a huge loss of life, on both sides. It is not nessisarally the soldiers that are evil, so we should remember them. That is obviously what this guy is doing with his bowed head. Well that is just my opinion and I hope that I have not offended any of you.<br /><br />On a lighter note I then came across this beautiful area on the the way to Lübben<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xdpVKPe0EEwqjdaQ_RJ2EjUnqeiQDSh-CGnouz2X5oVm7CNZ166Kjt3isBTS-qKIAJY5QzZGdaj_w0MH1NWiUFf3GzY-UAoyDrGaRO2fV1cWS-4h6X460JcKVhpHzhIbVoqOii0VilAU/s1600-h/IMG_4065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889735718657970" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xdpVKPe0EEwqjdaQ_RJ2EjUnqeiQDSh-CGnouz2X5oVm7CNZ166Kjt3isBTS-qKIAJY5QzZGdaj_w0MH1NWiUFf3GzY-UAoyDrGaRO2fV1cWS-4h6X460JcKVhpHzhIbVoqOii0VilAU/s400/IMG_4065.JPG" border="0" /></a>and had a little look at these mini-beasts. Sorry Anna, Freshwater Macro-Invertebrates. Next competition, geographers what are they?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9Z_C7Zs7RK8EzU-WRxn9JhiS5jyJZvs2pLAPuHlCfDOy2pTQP8ELgv970A65CnytP3HoQqHOYyoEBh6SbNmCmOWKg64hMGD12cnOcmwUcnDf0Xdm6KVdVdDCv2a0ejzubRYkBEKw5VaX/s1600-h/IMG_4073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889735718657986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9Z_C7Zs7RK8EzU-WRxn9JhiS5jyJZvs2pLAPuHlCfDOy2pTQP8ELgv970A65CnytP3HoQqHOYyoEBh6SbNmCmOWKg64hMGD12cnOcmwUcnDf0Xdm6KVdVdDCv2a0ejzubRYkBEKw5VaX/s400/IMG_4073.JPG" border="0" /></a>This was also the place where I went for my first swim since Slovenia.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXEzVAl_chWQyqZWNLAEuBb7ePbXbs1Tn5kBAjOFDi3lJf_eRBvWSPfQEdq4rWKt1i0IMe9FChwn6QBwY8ppWCe_jBk9gOieK1S9cEe5JM_kucjbP-VmPs7Wwtiy8QAw6o8z_-L5_v96F/s1600-h/IMG_4075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889740013625298" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXEzVAl_chWQyqZWNLAEuBb7ePbXbs1Tn5kBAjOFDi3lJf_eRBvWSPfQEdq4rWKt1i0IMe9FChwn6QBwY8ppWCe_jBk9gOieK1S9cEe5JM_kucjbP-VmPs7Wwtiy8QAw6o8z_-L5_v96F/s400/IMG_4075.JPG" border="0" /></a>Wed 30th (Day 61)<br /><br />Another good day, cycled along a variaty of cycle paths<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIjwgXEZnAgzY4_Aqjlo8j3YiMTTbHr4ucuU217T3xnsmBucMGOtDhDV1WSMz7G5Al6LUJsJt7oVl7i5yfmCqGNRNiCb1aZp-XQCL7VjI21aHJuvgPUqISZoWlG0spuMEgFYSr4IRM0MZ/s1600-h/IMG_4082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889740013625314" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIjwgXEZnAgzY4_Aqjlo8j3YiMTTbHr4ucuU217T3xnsmBucMGOtDhDV1WSMz7G5Al6LUJsJt7oVl7i5yfmCqGNRNiCb1aZp-XQCL7VjI21aHJuvgPUqISZoWlG0spuMEgFYSr4IRM0MZ/s400/IMG_4082.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5Fb26rdXN9A8EIJNOul9lcT0J_TTmRj5T8mxgHj6I1JgjsDo0f4VX33OmXSKLOMEARrTiNjW2FnIrH1NuWxsT3fJKK6ViI415rb2S7H51bRH_G7NpJzcV6LaA-rU3dhrUQXxHk4ITyrA/s1600-h/IMG_4093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889469430685522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5Fb26rdXN9A8EIJNOul9lcT0J_TTmRj5T8mxgHj6I1JgjsDo0f4VX33OmXSKLOMEARrTiNjW2FnIrH1NuWxsT3fJKK6ViI415rb2S7H51bRH_G7NpJzcV6LaA-rU3dhrUQXxHk4ITyrA/s400/IMG_4093.JPG" border="0" /></a>Which was quite nice and I also passed the 3500 mile mark in a small village called.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUxHPF28vcAc4nx-VSTDNTUelAjT0L8_x_VqLVp5hiKRxcBdhrge4LonWZGfM1D0QmF86iF1jOTwx385JxhKgu-HRRnaMsfvcIA7ExqAp7ZmSFP3LIQfaI4TTFOpiPeXZqyiD9xEJGtUy/s1600-h/IMG_4106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889469430685538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUxHPF28vcAc4nx-VSTDNTUelAjT0L8_x_VqLVp5hiKRxcBdhrge4LonWZGfM1D0QmF86iF1jOTwx385JxhKgu-HRRnaMsfvcIA7ExqAp7ZmSFP3LIQfaI4TTFOpiPeXZqyiD9xEJGtUy/s400/IMG_4106.JPG" border="0" /></a>Thu 31st (day 62)<br /><br />I got into Berlin in the early afternoon and I was very happy because I said that I wanted to get to here before the end of May.<br /><br />Berlin<br /><br />Really nice city, I have walked around and saw some of the sights<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjXGZEQntkoSrnOkQI_OkO2NR-iEJfnHEyM1DeZwgecmzt2ke1rrJ4et1L-h3wEiCgyItVj2LN8SzdoAk7AzhpDcS_PEhAd-JVLk51BwhgK83KqOsV15cKVFUPhzZE4CV2zcXNSAUyBHE/s1600-h/IMG_4131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889473725652850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjXGZEQntkoSrnOkQI_OkO2NR-iEJfnHEyM1DeZwgecmzt2ke1rrJ4et1L-h3wEiCgyItVj2LN8SzdoAk7AzhpDcS_PEhAd-JVLk51BwhgK83KqOsV15cKVFUPhzZE4CV2zcXNSAUyBHE/s400/IMG_4131.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowWxoWEkfDHbrIEE-BvFXO9cL59mWhwogGXIY3ViC74tofPWHygNr3rn0uihefFjTGYOH2sFuEQzpT2sH_61p3BIth6JK3zGXcU_Jz1YhxNoKrp0unZyy0HTDwepzyGL4uIrYCwdlb4S4/s1600-h/IMG_4133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889473725652866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowWxoWEkfDHbrIEE-BvFXO9cL59mWhwogGXIY3ViC74tofPWHygNr3rn0uihefFjTGYOH2sFuEQzpT2sH_61p3BIth6JK3zGXcU_Jz1YhxNoKrp0unZyy0HTDwepzyGL4uIrYCwdlb4S4/s400/IMG_4133.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ErLSFCOW9YKBV1SM4DYEslzg4ujTyQ5kxkK5iya-hzzPTAjUrdhvEQFj5Z5E7kvySXHfuGf0wGI_EkgDQyhPQ6UyKvgMREwC-s0E4T1UBUy6C3TM-uyhWBzCKiat0Lemw6aOgTfZ38oB/s1600-h/IMG_4135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889473725652882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ErLSFCOW9YKBV1SM4DYEslzg4ujTyQ5kxkK5iya-hzzPTAjUrdhvEQFj5Z5E7kvySXHfuGf0wGI_EkgDQyhPQ6UyKvgMREwC-s0E4T1UBUy6C3TM-uyhWBzCKiat0Lemw6aOgTfZ38oB/s400/IMG_4135.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />An interesting city becaue it is really modern in places<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMn2l9Rj68gWLGBM5o_KQ7UWbttlCbkWjEJMDuPLBywC3Dkd5LYRO1FIBAoJZ0jKqaF4H6TUu71fJE0xDqNM_rDfNy_z8olsF3i1UHuwRJR4gEF6RHNj7nrtTFR8HJ6Euuxft5Z7vjlqB/s1600-h/IMG_4142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889022754086658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMn2l9Rj68gWLGBM5o_KQ7UWbttlCbkWjEJMDuPLBywC3Dkd5LYRO1FIBAoJZ0jKqaF4H6TUu71fJE0xDqNM_rDfNy_z8olsF3i1UHuwRJR4gEF6RHNj7nrtTFR8HJ6Euuxft5Z7vjlqB/s400/IMG_4142.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is a bit of the old Berlin wall still in its original postion.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC1jaAXzZSC-bDLMjUg6Lf01OCCmyFeniN36oFmoK0wHbRAyDTivbwSMHknTpIEROeeIMJECTsOm4_ASu7K-poHTbOLIio7ov2nQq5TFtdU3faZCKEw7rP2WExy13VY1p3lbxI3BlRQbH/s1600-h/IMG_4145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889022754086674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC1jaAXzZSC-bDLMjUg6Lf01OCCmyFeniN36oFmoK0wHbRAyDTivbwSMHknTpIEROeeIMJECTsOm4_ASu7K-poHTbOLIio7ov2nQq5TFtdU3faZCKEw7rP2WExy13VY1p3lbxI3BlRQbH/s400/IMG_4145.JPG" border="0" /></a>And this is what I want for my 30th birthday. So if you all want to chip in that would be fantastic. How cool does it look. I think that the spair tyres on the roof are a little bit like pig-tails so I find myself strangly attracked to it. I think that I have been away for too long by myself.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXQaosTIOf7nYzoXR8kxVfBiIJV-JiLFNc7Sth_zhn-vvoQpscQQRZwskDZigCGFZYtRFZLqGkMZulW-lUK3RrRIxfpir378MiL_TkgTpoN6o6xcHTRquCMY_WLF_mKK9lNzV6YxESZ_4/s1600-h/IMG_4149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889027049053986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXQaosTIOf7nYzoXR8kxVfBiIJV-JiLFNc7Sth_zhn-vvoQpscQQRZwskDZigCGFZYtRFZLqGkMZulW-lUK3RrRIxfpir378MiL_TkgTpoN6o6xcHTRquCMY_WLF_mKK9lNzV6YxESZ_4/s400/IMG_4149.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is one of those abstrack memorials, it is for rememberance of the murdered Jews of Europe. It had information rooms under the structure and I can not fully describe what it made you feel, but it is an excellent memorial.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8t6xvAL-qzBNxya2iphL2YrL7UNX-eLTDatm9Xj4dI7PmYWelQ7Wk6rYwoG0qxBB_hdt4Lkj2qDBc47FHoY0DvfsnkSrOaNDGvK7Jbt00gkjAoIl48LO1JfLl1GA7ROBIJ8SDLvkmmBI/s1600-h/IMG_4150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889027049054002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8t6xvAL-qzBNxya2iphL2YrL7UNX-eLTDatm9Xj4dI7PmYWelQ7Wk6rYwoG0qxBB_hdt4Lkj2qDBc47FHoY0DvfsnkSrOaNDGvK7Jbt00gkjAoIl48LO1JfLl1GA7ROBIJ8SDLvkmmBI/s400/IMG_4150.JPG" border="0" /></a>These building to me look a little bit like an upmarket Mount Wise and these are the flats that you would live in if you made it in the former East Berlin. So this is where all the olympic sports stars lived.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPSmAK4Kq5U0zgOE_UH4nmi5dhcoCw79OCKNSxw2zIOoBt5S27er455Is8kryWtIIkSwAfCocu-FmM1Y-N3LtyKTn3BmEouTFFyTd5G-shZGjY80gh_m_ed3F5rgV90POD2hnLLkEulJx/s1600-h/IMG_4155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071889027049054018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPSmAK4Kq5U0zgOE_UH4nmi5dhcoCw79OCKNSxw2zIOoBt5S27er455Is8kryWtIIkSwAfCocu-FmM1Y-N3LtyKTn3BmEouTFFyTd5G-shZGjY80gh_m_ed3F5rgV90POD2hnLLkEulJx/s400/IMG_4155.JPG" border="0" /></a>To sum it up I have enjoyed my time in Berlin, 4 days is not enough. I have had some good nights out with people from the hostel and went on a pub crawl. Almost did not get in to the night club, the bouncer pretty much picked me up and threw me out of the line. He said I was to drunk, but I was fine, I think that he did not like the boardies considering it was a Saturday night. I got in in the end so all turned out well and good.<br /><br />Any way that is about it. I am leaving Berlin today and I should cross into Poland tomorrow (Tuesday).<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-50158842498468428062007-05-25T06:04:00.000-07:002007-05-25T10:55:56.154-07:00Location GREENOk people I have now covered 3251 miles and am now in location green. For everyone that is not Speare (who thinks he is Ethan Hunt) or a fan of mission impossible. That means I am in Prague, I know I said that I was not going to come here but I will talk about that later. More important things need to be discussed, such as there being a lack in donations in the past week. I reckon I will be at the 35oo mile mark by the time I get to Berlin next week and if I have not had another donation by then, I am coming back. You guys have got the easy job, you are not going to get repetitive strain injury typing in your card details. It is not like your are losing layers of skin off your hands because you have been gripping the handlebars for about 6 hours a day for the past 10 weeks. OK so that was probably one of those empty threats that teachers dish out some times, what can I say old habits.<br /><br />Sunday 20th May (Rest day Linz)<br /><br />So as I said in the last post there was not much to say bout my time in Linz, apart from one thing that happened in the evening. But for the full story I have to say what happened in the morning first to fully appreciate it. When I was just sitting down in the park reading my book this large Hungarian guy came up to me and asked if I had any spare cash. His story seemed genuine, he had came to Linz for the weekend before starting a new job and he had ran out of cash and the ATM`s did not like his card. Being Sunday every thing was closed so he was a little stuck. So I gave him a couple of Euro`s and told him of the hostel I was in and that the lady was very helpful and he could probably sort something out with her since he had no cash for somewhere to stay. I did not think much of it for the rest of the day until I got back to my hostel in the evening after finishing on the internet. Who do I find that I am sharing a room with but this Hungarian dude. He was so grateful for all my help in the morning and said I was really kind and that he wanted to repay me. Thing is though he is a masseuse so he offered me a massage. I said that it is ok and he was quite persistent (just like Speare in a night club). So I said ok but just the shoulders. I am not homophobic, I just do not really like people touching me if I do not know them (Unless they are beautiful women). In his professional opinion my muscles are very hard and need a lot of work. Apparently my legs need a good hours work each at least. So my question is to all you ladies that are reading this. What do you say? I should get back in the beginning of July nicely tanned and toned. All I ask is that your in a nice 2 piece swim wear and there is a few suds floating about and we cast all inhibitions into the wind.<br />Any way this is the dude, I can not remember him name and I am a little distressed as why he had to put his hand on my knee.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C6wm33JvprYgMWUZr6odv4iXNe-gpoecYCu8HVeZG_B0_dRu5Or2iodvRquELEZoeEs4Qr_a-y7FH0gPj5O-jGdUwC8SPe_LUP3wa3I77ZSFMTX5pXaQkhuGkHukh2k2TnfycdFbRpkC/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484960524295826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C6wm33JvprYgMWUZr6odv4iXNe-gpoecYCu8HVeZG_B0_dRu5Or2iodvRquELEZoeEs4Qr_a-y7FH0gPj5O-jGdUwC8SPe_LUP3wa3I77ZSFMTX5pXaQkhuGkHukh2k2TnfycdFbRpkC/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Monday 21st May (Day 55)<br /><br />Main purpose of the day was to cross the boarder into the Czech Republic. Really nice ride, sunny all the way. Found a nice place for lunch,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73JsIY4fzUUqT4GUjhPuziqQtswzPkA0s3tlyPyTMMPPNapz5Fu8OjVM-3Qmkas7DifRpnqP6h5DhxPvKLzFCXN40FkODR0K80AgXjBmWyXvOZFg8tlg5vYIjM3ZU1sels3-p9V-_TVhb/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484969114230434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73JsIY4fzUUqT4GUjhPuziqQtswzPkA0s3tlyPyTMMPPNapz5Fu8OjVM-3Qmkas7DifRpnqP6h5DhxPvKLzFCXN40FkODR0K80AgXjBmWyXvOZFg8tlg5vYIjM3ZU1sels3-p9V-_TVhb/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was very gradual uphill all the way to the boarder.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVUpIxz5p_Mwhs2_209huyhU1UmFB4EjNOyx72VS3-JtRAtwlqT0vw7PAQyBLico0hkaN8wbCdzVMYb1w_yPO6QVh3WAr4-aqBkQpXRFTCKNceM7vVeUFxLVq56Eg_ruNSC6byS2jvR8c/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484969114230450" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVUpIxz5p_Mwhs2_209huyhU1UmFB4EjNOyx72VS3-JtRAtwlqT0vw7PAQyBLico0hkaN8wbCdzVMYb1w_yPO6QVh3WAr4-aqBkQpXRFTCKNceM7vVeUFxLVq56Eg_ruNSC6byS2jvR8c/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /></a>After I stopped in the first town to sort out some local currency I follow the cycle route along a cool river,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgD4UKTSnhYEfQk9GPMsvmF9hyzCi28MmWuvgKgfCODRQYq4xlyAyv_8hEa-ejWDwPah_z32DBbYd62mY9W0Q9mYrSVXhM4sQZRfSRkiAsCOG_PfWbiYjpBy_RHYScEukWZoqxB9arp_Y/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484977704165058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgD4UKTSnhYEfQk9GPMsvmF9hyzCi28MmWuvgKgfCODRQYq4xlyAyv_8hEa-ejWDwPah_z32DBbYd62mY9W0Q9mYrSVXhM4sQZRfSRkiAsCOG_PfWbiYjpBy_RHYScEukWZoqxB9arp_Y/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /></a>all the way to lake Vodni Nadrz where the camp site was.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_54jTtUkDHLawCKWyOI3dEmRkfvaFOKCNo5-Wr-Yjomk4UOWba9W2kZfMwBSsUskpiSJMxWmjmtc4-WdG51e2XJTxg-f1hb0SlDdcs2ZrFDHnW_LyDMvhFBNFdfcy_n9N2WIue0HYcr7E/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484981999132370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_54jTtUkDHLawCKWyOI3dEmRkfvaFOKCNo5-Wr-Yjomk4UOWba9W2kZfMwBSsUskpiSJMxWmjmtc4-WdG51e2XJTxg-f1hb0SlDdcs2ZrFDHnW_LyDMvhFBNFdfcy_n9N2WIue0HYcr7E/s400/5.JPG" border="0" /></a>A very nice camp site as well with a beach volley ball court next to lake and a bar where the beer was CZK 20 for a pint (50p)<br /><br />Tuesday 22nd May (Day 56)<br /><br />I really enjoy cycling on Czech roads. If you get the right ones they have very little traffic and nice views of farmland.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VoVPai3n0CifA5D7m6QJlNm4AJfsPs_RwhccBUyc_fojUplaGNeZ7VUPK9ykx2jf5f0ZpCNmMGdiHazu5EKHZFjS0POQsbtulMWOyXzqVY-eZp8W48tTPNuLbq7uijzg8yitmaKzvNZU/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484707121225282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VoVPai3n0CifA5D7m6QJlNm4AJfsPs_RwhccBUyc_fojUplaGNeZ7VUPK9ykx2jf5f0ZpCNmMGdiHazu5EKHZFjS0POQsbtulMWOyXzqVY-eZp8W48tTPNuLbq7uijzg8yitmaKzvNZU/s400/6.JPG" border="0" /></a>Whilst I was cycling NW along the northern shore of the lake I could;d see a huge storm over the lake coming in my direction. It was quite weird because I was in extreme sunshine. Luckerly I turned NE before it caught up with me, but it was such a hot humid day more clouds started to develop and I could see this in front of me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqHW24X1sBEJvufKI88ZzKbsHyU38wW4voi0k_aToH1bsYdxR6gZNYVvu2n53TIm3OW5mGQWa81IWZ-DqfP7evT7GkyQXpM9GN0IUDkpDmoWGa3pI3iJ7-wSeLYqVSvYL4YkBSOTcxoZR/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484711416192594" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqHW24X1sBEJvufKI88ZzKbsHyU38wW4voi0k_aToH1bsYdxR6gZNYVvu2n53TIm3OW5mGQWa81IWZ-DqfP7evT7GkyQXpM9GN0IUDkpDmoWGa3pI3iJ7-wSeLYqVSvYL4YkBSOTcxoZR/s400/7.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was not long until the heavens opened and I was in the middle of one of the biggest storms I have seen. The hail was the size of pepper corns and one of them hit me on the base of my left thumb nail, and if anyone has done at first aid course and know all about AVPU. You know that that is the place to squeeze. It was after that , that I sought shelter. I was under some trees and that lightning was pretty close. It was a little scary and exhilarating at the same time. 2 cars even stopped for shelter where I was so that is haw heavy it was. Any way when it started to thin out I got ion the bike and crossed to the other side of the storm and stopped to watch it for a bit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Q3sPmBmoTwMa_-M_hSGFPJXKpc0H5zzIcUp0VTZG0jqCnVIPZSQPyELT6x0QMrFesFRdbI5HaH_vEf5qHlzCeXgC-HxCWgfTsxJByEdzIT8RbliiBFqTqXQL9paZZG93UV8_D0UtFC9W/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484715711159906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Q3sPmBmoTwMa_-M_hSGFPJXKpc0H5zzIcUp0VTZG0jqCnVIPZSQPyELT6x0QMrFesFRdbI5HaH_vEf5qHlzCeXgC-HxCWgfTsxJByEdzIT8RbliiBFqTqXQL9paZZG93UV8_D0UtFC9W/s400/8.JPG" border="0" /></a>Could not find a camp site at the end of the day so I ended up on a wild camp in the middle of the woods which was really nice apart from the insects.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoxxRMHRDzbDzI2voWZ-WYgyf9glCdA0ayDIXdO8cKqEbPqQXrBn5dyLgS6NsiDnZjiWnqpCMLfpMeM4O0nltX1O4Di4VfS0ug6eQPDubYfLh0zM0gBCqs1GUC58zmxarDXqew0XftHoq/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484720006127218" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoxxRMHRDzbDzI2voWZ-WYgyf9glCdA0ayDIXdO8cKqEbPqQXrBn5dyLgS6NsiDnZjiWnqpCMLfpMeM4O0nltX1O4Di4VfS0ug6eQPDubYfLh0zM0gBCqs1GUC58zmxarDXqew0XftHoq/s400/9.JPG" border="0" /></a>Wednesday 23nd May (Day57)<br /><br />Since it was a wild camp I got up really early so as not to get caught. I was on the bike before 6am and the woods were lovely at that time<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdOFouyQn0XilJWJX0WinY-sI3bgDjW8evp1urS3zJG8vZCu5CEA4Hw413Y26yJa5ppWlXSHqFQRPSUoRaBkUf1l_hbF6C80LWIs95eINUCoGFvz_ngddLzTRjuq6oQnn9ojYmgVRwWrU/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484728596061826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdOFouyQn0XilJWJX0WinY-sI3bgDjW8evp1urS3zJG8vZCu5CEA4Hw413Y26yJa5ppWlXSHqFQRPSUoRaBkUf1l_hbF6C80LWIs95eINUCoGFvz_ngddLzTRjuq6oQnn9ojYmgVRwWrU/s400/10.JPG" border="0" /></a>The roads were really nice and I was making good progress. Because of the early start I thought I might as well head to Prague.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KDPNPGrxbE1cl4AJD25XGhj81PNg_7vrAslLDpULthXym4Z_PnMzhZOGKyAbWwofj2gPILvZsUJFqYfiHK-zbpHJE-dBAZCVpWq0myHWcgfqzP_wCd9hAPaFKuAoDAC5diALe8inuwen/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484402178547202" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KDPNPGrxbE1cl4AJD25XGhj81PNg_7vrAslLDpULthXym4Z_PnMzhZOGKyAbWwofj2gPILvZsUJFqYfiHK-zbpHJE-dBAZCVpWq0myHWcgfqzP_wCd9hAPaFKuAoDAC5diALe8inuwen/s400/11.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>But there is a very important lesson, do not count on any thing but the unexpected to put a spanner in the works, or to be more precise, the bracket for your rear pannier breaking. As in one of the main supporting legs that takes all the weight.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXCIlpOXjD_KmZYOZmGXk88myHwe2wd7RpSBbW3f7BARP_dQ3q-CTxa_Kn5A8Vuz_bAMc7pcFwLg79T8Ef3OAHEb0Dg7-ltkTLb0PAmwebwD8_0La_MnmXS_mB1nr2WPS8NekvEpWLrfB/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXCIlpOXjD_KmZYOZmGXk88myHwe2wd7RpSBbW3f7BARP_dQ3q-CTxa_Kn5A8Vuz_bAMc7pcFwLg79T8Ef3OAHEb0Dg7-ltkTLb0PAmwebwD8_0La_MnmXS_mB1nr2WPS8NekvEpWLrfB/s400/12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068550737948434146" border="0" /></a>But for some reason I was not worried or angry, I was laughing with a smile on my face. All I needed to do was a little weight redistribution in the other 3 packs and get out the duct tape and a spare tent peg to stablise the rack<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAeFEuM6ErKi544yUu2_c4GKeHkvdCNidgoIjPaLuSSAryvbLGZYNcqaCDe0-50gdKK36921aKPhPgAAsTYfXJh3dYDwoeE-4ep6pn_xCbmfR0ufAvmCgIErT4DvgKI2tb_88BVr_N9fM/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484410768481826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAeFEuM6ErKi544yUu2_c4GKeHkvdCNidgoIjPaLuSSAryvbLGZYNcqaCDe0-50gdKK36921aKPhPgAAsTYfXJh3dYDwoeE-4ep6pn_xCbmfR0ufAvmCgIErT4DvgKI2tb_88BVr_N9fM/s400/13.JPG" border="0" /></a>I still got into Prague for a reasonably time in the afternoon.<br /><br />Prague (Rest Wed pm/ Thur/ Fri)<br /><br />At first I thought I was going to avoid Prague since I came here 2 years ago and thought that it would not be as good. But then I thought that that is a stupid idea because if I treated all places like that I would never go to the same place again. It is like saying I will never go to Jelly Jazz again because the last time I went it was great. I am so glad that I came here again. Ok it is not as good as last time, but it made me realise that the mind is a wonderful thing and the slightest smell sound or sight will trigger some memories that otherwise would of been lost. All I have done is to walk around the city and come across sights that I have seen before but this time they have triggered a memory from last time. So I have been randomly walking around remonising with a smile on my face and every now and then laughing to my self. Probably looks quite strange to others but I have really enjoyed it. Any way this is a picture for the Cornwall boys<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTM3veNn6jGuDBg8km-SLYoyoNJasGdHSGBFzffI-4vmlFHEQxFWS7k8NOfH8ou1Jfk947oFWT9_Vd57gu8Y1ijjPvrG29KusAR_-8NuJNXGivTsXyYrIJ8Nl8iaeRrPJ5rDC066SCdly/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484415063449138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTM3veNn6jGuDBg8km-SLYoyoNJasGdHSGBFzffI-4vmlFHEQxFWS7k8NOfH8ou1Jfk947oFWT9_Vd57gu8Y1ijjPvrG29KusAR_-8NuJNXGivTsXyYrIJ8Nl8iaeRrPJ5rDC066SCdly/s400/14.JPG" border="0" /></a>Does it stir any memories, such as that random drunk outside causing trouble that made us a little worried as to about the neighborhood we were in. And do you also remember this club where we owned the top dance floor and ruled like a bunch of drunken English louts. When Martin was annoyed at me because I used him by pushing him into the bunch of German guys in the middle of smell like teen spirit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhQpfoaJCXt5q8Cqjx5qp6PRNNW4_TW_PVQE_58YpUWMzzQu18Eb4JKVCmcPKQMQ__lu4jAHv5vYqmy7gYY8TfWONAcaoFsywmTRKeH16if675I_hbffoPGtifop1e-Eg-Qvy_ZVmbE0V/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484140185542098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhQpfoaJCXt5q8Cqjx5qp6PRNNW4_TW_PVQE_58YpUWMzzQu18Eb4JKVCmcPKQMQ__lu4jAHv5vYqmy7gYY8TfWONAcaoFsywmTRKeH16if675I_hbffoPGtifop1e-Eg-Qvy_ZVmbE0V/s400/18.JPG" border="0" /></a>Any way I am loving Prague. I went to one of the bars on the water front with my room mate last night, and it was amazing because there was a dance off between one of the podium dancers (NOT A STRIP CLUB, I REPEAT THIS WAS NOT A STRIP CLUB) that works there and this chap why turned up at Mr T. He was so short but incredibly cool. It was so funny to watch, one of the podium dancers just gave up and walked away. She obviously felt deflated that no blokes were looking at her but at a mini Mr T instead. The other one was loving the challenge and it went on for a good 20 minutes, very entertaining.<br /><br />Any way here are some shots of Prague.<br /><br />The castle at night from across the river<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6_TEcluF5lTUVKvjRD1ttyF3SDliTX4YA2aur3NZFkIYRYBbl5H2foO5BqBiti-f0X3MpmUtSQZsMK5cDtAZh9yznY88dZaAXQhKqN-LrIxW2zZfgQmY1EfkhtCCIfzwisEFgSpiARnu/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484123005672866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6_TEcluF5lTUVKvjRD1ttyF3SDliTX4YA2aur3NZFkIYRYBbl5H2foO5BqBiti-f0X3MpmUtSQZsMK5cDtAZh9yznY88dZaAXQhKqN-LrIxW2zZfgQmY1EfkhtCCIfzwisEFgSpiARnu/s400/15.JPG" border="0" /></a>Charles bridge at night<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGQ9Grytm7DJ-MIotQalEIGTIUPnN9tgTBnVih6S_qhhL6kTGkl79mAvPE_NE7Xw7gJxzrC5YaFqe-h98Sq_bYUS4EYRfMJJmM8h8gt807lKf8seHz98Sfo_iNqD0FGDX-GbOaNYMfaHt/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484127300640178" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGQ9Grytm7DJ-MIotQalEIGTIUPnN9tgTBnVih6S_qhhL6kTGkl79mAvPE_NE7Xw7gJxzrC5YaFqe-h98Sq_bYUS4EYRfMJJmM8h8gt807lKf8seHz98Sfo_iNqD0FGDX-GbOaNYMfaHt/s400/16.JPG" border="0" /></a>Me on Charles bridge sending out some good vibes to you guys back there.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j-oHJuqXqdaoUil5MGhpTJnLtKxvK5NPEE3SKZGCE1DCv9nv8XRkoTin5kTdgj9DnMS9F1zNDNCJs-qs-nB6Ero6AKrQR2JjNX6EcV8_97W3bz2falVOntkZY-gfkkyFvn-RDae3BTW4/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484135890574786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j-oHJuqXqdaoUil5MGhpTJnLtKxvK5NPEE3SKZGCE1DCv9nv8XRkoTin5kTdgj9DnMS9F1zNDNCJs-qs-nB6Ero6AKrQR2JjNX6EcV8_97W3bz2falVOntkZY-gfkkyFvn-RDae3BTW4/s400/17.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I love the way that the new contemporary buildings reflect the more traditional bohemian architecture.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUHMJ6yWFANYZ0RP21hIhq__d0q9rjkNEK31xePqC2BKXSiu47rGIDmmKY9Y7gKkg1UxfGMGxj1lzkPL7jg0R_oJNXr1dXDaahU6IQB5D-84aHFBs2ncZ7HzUBrQxN9MPXJUt5l4jEWkZ/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUHMJ6yWFANYZ0RP21hIhq__d0q9rjkNEK31xePqC2BKXSiu47rGIDmmKY9Y7gKkg1UxfGMGxj1lzkPL7jg0R_oJNXr1dXDaahU6IQB5D-84aHFBs2ncZ7HzUBrQxN9MPXJUt5l4jEWkZ/s400/20.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068550742243401458" border="0" /></a>There is this amazing vegetation curry house next door to my hostel where you can get this set menu for the equivalent of just over 2 pound, happiest man alive because it is the first time I have found a mango lassie for a long time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9D7TtdMT3bMZDo-iWVh0LwUY1OIHMLTaRiXBoNJbaPGJtuFxu2eQh1nc75Aij4wGoJ0XOUBGLYjP8queePbHgSyQOJwW1KmEHW8A3YCJR14TYrYUXsTca9n5EXzgbOnbBrUejOYScbkW/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068484144480509410" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9D7TtdMT3bMZDo-iWVh0LwUY1OIHMLTaRiXBoNJbaPGJtuFxu2eQh1nc75Aij4wGoJ0XOUBGLYjP8queePbHgSyQOJwW1KmEHW8A3YCJR14TYrYUXsTca9n5EXzgbOnbBrUejOYScbkW/s400/19.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Any way the plan now as I said at the start is to get to Berlin by Wed/Thur. That is all I have to say so I will see you later.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-90581303404188120402007-05-20T05:28:00.000-07:002007-05-20T11:27:21.556-07:00AustriaWell people I am now in Linz which is in the north of Austria. I have covered 3055 miles so that is 565 pounds infront of the donations web site. I think that I may of made a slight miscalculation in thinking it would be 3500 miles. Maybe using a Weetabix atlas I got when I was 10 (Obviously not made of Weetabix, you just collected tokens and then sent off for it) with a bit of string is not the most accurate method for measuring distances. I still have 6 countries to cycle in yet. Nevermind I still have time for another few thousands miles. Any way the past week;<br /><br /><br />Monday 14th May (Rest Day Bovec)<br /><br />As I said at the end of the last post, I was going canyoning in the afternoon. For any one who does not know what that is. You put on a wet suit and a helmit and slide down waterfalls and jump off them all the way down stream through a canyon. Of course you have to walk up to the start first which is quite hot in a wet suit on a sunny day. It was a fantastic afternoon. The group I was ment to go with cancelled so it was just me and the guide in the canyon for the afternoon. No one else was around, and it was a beautiful sunny day. I think it has to be one of the, or the best highlight of the trip so far. I had so much fun jumping into the pools. Some quite high for me as well. Think I may of built up the confidence for Holne Bridge. So Slapton people fancy a days play out on the Dart when I get back.<br />I know you have already seen this mountain in the last post but the weather was so much better on Monday I thought I would take it again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eDDq502z96crtVg_xLEz64iDI160k5FAUMyqGq6CisLGyoINw9WVEdzzPHD8cgSAsIcfgiyOAZBoas6rBNPHEnfcubSSGtRJiXD0kLqWa8Qq4YoxLfEwGnsQcT9ljOEJzAZg4WQNq-hZ/s1600-h/IMG_3721.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621893905603922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eDDq502z96crtVg_xLEz64iDI160k5FAUMyqGq6CisLGyoINw9WVEdzzPHD8cgSAsIcfgiyOAZBoas6rBNPHEnfcubSSGtRJiXD0kLqWa8Qq4YoxLfEwGnsQcT9ljOEJzAZg4WQNq-hZ/s400/IMG_3721.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Tuesday 15th May (Day 49)</strong></p><p>Aim of the day, to cycle to Austria. I had to cross a couple of passes first. The first one was quite a high one of 1611m in the Triglav National Park. From my camp site the pass was 25 km away and I was only 400m high. So I set off quite early and started to follow the Soca upstream. I was begining to get a little concerned because I was not going up hill much. I had only climbed to just over 600m high after the first 14-15km. I then saw this sign and was mildly disheartened.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJUKDeycJyE4Z-a1Rj0t45jF2DPXujuH9KsUBZCniXcvGeHwrUqO41mKsUf92ah6N8im94kxgD0y5wk3Xfg-37pgCsMxnHqJ0n21eDp-iBzTtOqM5kbCmjiwMRYPjUSF8qeyRthr7jwTM/s1600-h/IMG_3735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621893905603938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJUKDeycJyE4Z-a1Rj0t45jF2DPXujuH9KsUBZCniXcvGeHwrUqO41mKsUf92ah6N8im94kxgD0y5wk3Xfg-37pgCsMxnHqJ0n21eDp-iBzTtOqM5kbCmjiwMRYPjUSF8qeyRthr7jwTM/s400/IMG_3735.JPG" border="0" /></a> To put that into context, that is one hell of a hill streaching for over five miles. That is like 5 mile lane carring on at the same gradient as when you first leave the village. Needless to say that was very tireing. There was loads of hairpins on the way up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKemQwrZoQjKRqGWOA1SAfE5Cj5tI1w_KgTHHO0tj2xOItwUf_FW7w3vqpv4wi-qew0mT-f3K3sE4Kik4WE_v_5YBeVOF-7zmgKI-BtTfjglTCZZ-igXM0DJu9liAGhAY5wnP6S-z7Roy/s1600-h/IMG_3737.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621898200571250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKemQwrZoQjKRqGWOA1SAfE5Cj5tI1w_KgTHHO0tj2xOItwUf_FW7w3vqpv4wi-qew0mT-f3K3sE4Kik4WE_v_5YBeVOF-7zmgKI-BtTfjglTCZZ-igXM0DJu9liAGhAY5wnP6S-z7Roy/s400/IMG_3737.JPG" border="0" /></a> You can see from the difference in the picture that the road was steep. The funny thing about the bends as well is that they were numbered with signs that also told you the elevation, so you knew exactly how many more you had to cycle around and how much more you had to go up. I got to the top and had a little stop for lunch. It then started to rain so it ment that I had to be a bit more careful on the bends on the way down.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4OSFyCgxQ5FWPa3vsgQM6Jsns6UoVeOEvm_GqHrUvcT70bIdhD-mYMs6DbMFnnI1uhPHAGpK986UfThZbZnjl4JW1d4himxtryfuylALYFU-J-ypL-sAnB9JGDnh7KcfSelQ3n49HRlh/s1600-h/IMG_3750.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621902495538562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4OSFyCgxQ5FWPa3vsgQM6Jsns6UoVeOEvm_GqHrUvcT70bIdhD-mYMs6DbMFnnI1uhPHAGpK986UfThZbZnjl4JW1d4himxtryfuylALYFU-J-ypL-sAnB9JGDnh7KcfSelQ3n49HRlh/s400/IMG_3750.JPG" border="0" /></a>Especially when I found out that on this side of the pass all the bends were not tarmac but a load of cobbles (As you can see in the picture above). Wet cobbles with a fully loaded drop handlebar touring bike is not the best combination. So my descent was very slow. I then got to a section of road works where they are obviously resurfacing the road. This ment that my pace quickened because it was nice fresh smooth tarmac. You can see how fresh because it is still warm enough to cause the rain to evaporate<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSM9mTg-7z9BI-0x8vXrQ6O-Hqk3xyfr3Y4_1YDz2QshxQJiiDuP6sRNVrW062oT8IS5bR-4SxDwgKpFXMycnIflkbrIYwG0GsS_grAzDqzpREOpGA0cFZ-rIUYkFhJxfdBoYZwvcf2Dx/s1600-h/IMG_3751.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621906790505874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSM9mTg-7z9BI-0x8vXrQ6O-Hqk3xyfr3Y4_1YDz2QshxQJiiDuP6sRNVrW062oT8IS5bR-4SxDwgKpFXMycnIflkbrIYwG0GsS_grAzDqzpREOpGA0cFZ-rIUYkFhJxfdBoYZwvcf2Dx/s400/IMG_3751.JPG" border="0" /></a> Any way when I had got to the bottom of this pass (800m) I then had to climb over another pass which is the boarder with Austria. Only 1043m this time but I was knackered from the previous one. I got to the top and crossed into Austria at 4pm.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocBCmPlNRhX75pxqWB1WTmQ-z3oizzDSZLlR0Ebk_bOoqy9Xn7-lG49QsqYMYmKykipmLEJ5OyQLQuc_eklRwZFZ4Kws35Y_JuM8cOfJwTaSpy2yrQ3mrIbpeBygqgtZcHXCbhbquVmIG/s1600-h/IMG_3753.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621631912598786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocBCmPlNRhX75pxqWB1WTmQ-z3oizzDSZLlR0Ebk_bOoqy9Xn7-lG49QsqYMYmKykipmLEJ5OyQLQuc_eklRwZFZ4Kws35Y_JuM8cOfJwTaSpy2yrQ3mrIbpeBygqgtZcHXCbhbquVmIG/s400/IMG_3753.JPG" border="0" /></a> I then cycled till I found the first camp site by a nice lake and here you can see me waiting for dinner in the rain.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbAUQvo-bxU-V_kSr5OJi8BeuhqoI0jTJ9zANn-wOEX-QYqSvQpHPGxPobKCf6lpmSI8kmwdvOUqbiEuSvUht5nCdsCy2zkHo0xztCno0x7OYBHsZQ-YDkSjQbXc_dN7HqjQ28pnRE7Li/s1600-h/IMG_3758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621640502533394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbAUQvo-bxU-V_kSr5OJi8BeuhqoI0jTJ9zANn-wOEX-QYqSvQpHPGxPobKCf6lpmSI8kmwdvOUqbiEuSvUht5nCdsCy2zkHo0xztCno0x7OYBHsZQ-YDkSjQbXc_dN7HqjQ28pnRE7Li/s400/IMG_3758.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Wednesday 16th May (Day 50)</strong><br /><br />Not the best of days. In Austria what I am doing is trying to head due north straight though the mountains, so I am going over a lot of passes. I was a little bit late setting off so I did not bother stocking up on food where I was, I could see on the map that there was a little town before I would start to climb up the pass so I though I would get some food from there. I passed a nice little place on the was but I could not find Eve.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdKqOG6fs5G79-x587otGjPMfjlf_znhubJZB2W7mXvRGd4XFgRCu9ngAlhPjWfBYY8SwMx4iUfJqOviBYkFMgW6i-o3yuhpJpRmcqEURg0HqNhGCak4RtuhCzuENgg69KRDg5gdBQGw8/s1600-h/IMG_3764.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621644797500706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdKqOG6fs5G79-x587otGjPMfjlf_znhubJZB2W7mXvRGd4XFgRCu9ngAlhPjWfBYY8SwMx4iUfJqOviBYkFMgW6i-o3yuhpJpRmcqEURg0HqNhGCak4RtuhCzuENgg69KRDg5gdBQGw8/s400/IMG_3764.JPG" border="0" /></a> When I got to the road I was going to take over the pass I find that the town that I thought it was, was only a couple of houses and no shop and no where to get any food. I evaluated the situation. I was at 800m high, the pass is just over 1400m with 15km worth of cycling up and 24km of cycling down on the other side. I checked my supplies, an apple, half a bottle of tomato source and a pot of black pepper. So I ate my apple and set on up. I thought it is less than 10miles. I have cycled that on an empty stomach before. This was a long day. I was tired from the day before and the energy levels soon started to drop and I needed food. To cap it all off it started to rain as well. As you can probably tell not many photo´s from this day. Survival was my top priority. I was even wondering what the large snails would taste like if I heated them up a bit. There was lots on the road due to the rain. I then saw one get run over and that put me off that idea. I eventually reached the top after much pushing of the bike and started my descent. Because I had no energy I was not generating any heat as I was descending into the wind and slight rain so I got quite cold. But at the end I found a shop and bought lots of food and then stopped at the first camp site. </p><p><strong>Thursday 17th May (Day 51)</strong></p><p>I had a big pass to cross this day, 1790m. I did not want to make the same misstake as the day before. So I got up early and cycled to the nearest town on routs to buy lots of food for energy. When i got there it was quite wierd because all the shops were shut. Everything, I was looking at there opening times and they should of been open. This concerned me, but I eventually found a patisserie that was open and they told me it was a bank holiday. Not a good start, so I got a couple of pizza slices and some pastries and started on the up. I was extremely happy when I found this on the way so I had to squeeze out a bit of a contribution.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Om3Z-fU2sQCdfHdwH8i15yG_G_9bVLGPKBn5lfdXEmECTeT0-0eHaRDYo-PNd4wwZBS9X-FZJHVQSevM0GLCA1jJ_uB3-PzTzZfpswGJ8GZRuB3jD2TRARK1evUudZtHnEUEmiGbk_UQ/s1600-h/IMG_3776.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621657682402610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Om3Z-fU2sQCdfHdwH8i15yG_G_9bVLGPKBn5lfdXEmECTeT0-0eHaRDYo-PNd4wwZBS9X-FZJHVQSevM0GLCA1jJ_uB3-PzTzZfpswGJ8GZRuB3jD2TRARK1evUudZtHnEUEmiGbk_UQ/s400/IMG_3776.JPG" border="0" /></a> Slightly concerned that the composting chamber was right next to a small stream, risk of contamination and all. Should be a regulation about that. Again I had some nice hairpins on the way up and I had a little more energy so it was not so bad.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6a55NQIwGu59LHiXNvzEXoJIwmK9SQERsiYYMIp4AufmI_hN2Rsr0U5bBHo9D_wr3_mkzkbQGWihjDY7r-KrjSepuVdHTREgvoLzkAlTfTjw6yP9qA7tDIlVXNEwG_qvUcpHKNKtz99t/s1600-h/IMG_3782.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621657682402626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6a55NQIwGu59LHiXNvzEXoJIwmK9SQERsiYYMIp4AufmI_hN2Rsr0U5bBHo9D_wr3_mkzkbQGWihjDY7r-KrjSepuVdHTREgvoLzkAlTfTjw6yP9qA7tDIlVXNEwG_qvUcpHKNKtz99t/s400/IMG_3782.JPG" border="0" /></a> I got to the top in reasonable time and as you can see there is still alot of snow.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVUihFsnU2KwRKC3PiF5Yt0D71gdGl8YULmUZ32kZjKw6TD8QHKKcw2XfeS219xYdHUT2wUtvYDDlWzH8tvFtYFyPy7biXhLHNuhhuXv1czqelzdRZKct2ykZLg3-fbBOHvalRJGjFSFt/s1600-h/IMG_3789.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621305495084210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVUihFsnU2KwRKC3PiF5Yt0D71gdGl8YULmUZ32kZjKw6TD8QHKKcw2XfeS219xYdHUT2wUtvYDDlWzH8tvFtYFyPy7biXhLHNuhhuXv1czqelzdRZKct2ykZLg3-fbBOHvalRJGjFSFt/s400/IMG_3789.JPG" border="0" /></a>So I had a little play in the snow and then started on my descent. Being carefull because it was quite wet and very cold.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaABEcRjfh16TmaOirz5yTEDPeM8Z4EhV38sXygOIhWeb4u3AkINdr9le3nxFq33h0GOQp8VJ6JEnEG2OTC1swY8NH9_R9CUX-bj-4R_gGl6cJ06AL4l24LOdPgfE19nHWHAxYifejzGK/s1600-h/IMG_3794.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621309790051522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaABEcRjfh16TmaOirz5yTEDPeM8Z4EhV38sXygOIhWeb4u3AkINdr9le3nxFq33h0GOQp8VJ6JEnEG2OTC1swY8NH9_R9CUX-bj-4R_gGl6cJ06AL4l24LOdPgfE19nHWHAxYifejzGK/s400/IMG_3794.JPG" border="0" /></a> It got to the point where I was shivering so much that my right shoulder was hurting and I could not grip the handlebars without it hurting. I was not in the best of spirits at that time but just as I had about given up hope I see a small road side mountain hut/cafe<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621314085018850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAZYH9KSEuqMSk8nQMTs4dpLuVY6a5398YXfOdFcrX8kGHlcSjeUMLb35SrJ_cWXmQBTfHMlysGZs4ro3dkCw8j0mai21_ouyhiJJbgY4ccgoPd2_ued5s8mHqk8gyuWFCTbJ2A-rPom0/s400/IMG_3805.JPG" border="0" />So I went inside and every body laughed at me because I must of looked a state. But they soon dirrected me next to the stove to warm me up and dry me out a little. So I sat down and had a nice bowl of soup<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSsniQ7PVlWif-4luhFeODPrOxjVtrZGEBuAb2a3SwIZbuKKnymsu9N-ulIGnuHb5iQBCs7ziqaUspKjRxuq6oYqHsMYGbW2g5UoxBiu1LKhMNXKTX7vc3gpM1YsCKsGMli03m3KFskuo/s1600-h/IMG_3796.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621309790051538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSsniQ7PVlWif-4luhFeODPrOxjVtrZGEBuAb2a3SwIZbuKKnymsu9N-ulIGnuHb5iQBCs7ziqaUspKjRxuq6oYqHsMYGbW2g5UoxBiu1LKhMNXKTX7vc3gpM1YsCKsGMli03m3KFskuo/s400/IMG_3796.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sorry about the quality of the picture but the camera obviously did not like the temperature differenctial between the wet cold mountain pass and the nice warm mountain hut, so it fogged up a little. When I finished the soup it had stopped raining out side and not only did the clouds lift, but also my spirits as well.<br /><br /><strong>Friday 18th May(Day 52)</strong> </p><p>As you can probably tell there is a running theme in this week and that is another day, another pass. But this day it was only a little one of 850m and it presented no serious problems. I also bought lots of food as well just incase. Because of all the little thing that have dampened my spirits I had not really enjoyed Austria to this point. But this day was the best yet (As in Austria). I was in a lovely green valley and I was quite supprised at how much logging was going on.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvow8ttWuDBxjrpYbvZTwoJNEx2ym9Bg-0Wn6vMLQBr8KjbdJ7C3VQpiVKjAbt2IEHwKkR1i8EFoRxNXKK23naF-xoa1yplinhjFCKmYZUG74YloXy670RizMQA_dB86XOzd8YZl9VXcn/s1600-h/IMG_3816.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066621318379986162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvow8ttWuDBxjrpYbvZTwoJNEx2ym9Bg-0Wn6vMLQBr8KjbdJ7C3VQpiVKjAbt2IEHwKkR1i8EFoRxNXKK23naF-xoa1yplinhjFCKmYZUG74YloXy670RizMQA_dB86XOzd8YZl9VXcn/s400/IMG_3816.JPG" border="0" /></a> I wounder how many trees will be left on that slope in years to come. I also had a fantastic view of a nice U shaped valley that must of been a tributary valley to the large broad one that I was in.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrlBJXjxa2usF3s5YAM7ck1y_AFb0nRRELRN_bEj4_WV6lln880HJWf_EVWm3GYQ-GsiVvyMgr0tenlagD8w7xU-6qBq4jbFAEPXy_DDAhTHGr4Ny9v1kO_QPKCErIw_8S0ayfytSzWce/s1600-h/IMG_3827.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066620906063125602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrlBJXjxa2usF3s5YAM7ck1y_AFb0nRRELRN_bEj4_WV6lln880HJWf_EVWm3GYQ-GsiVvyMgr0tenlagD8w7xU-6qBq4jbFAEPXy_DDAhTHGr4Ny9v1kO_QPKCErIw_8S0ayfytSzWce/s400/IMG_3827.JPG" border="0" /></a> I then cycled over the pass and had a lovely descent down thrrough some wood. Not overly steep and no majorly sharp bends. So I got away with out using my breaks if I used the whole road to make the corners. Much fun.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpBx61yQ4xelA0iSuItrUC3GodjyrJ9cA7o8eU_ekyqZdcyo3kk9L8MvPJyArliUab4NQH0eGWtL2WWAWN_sehmSCbHJEDEyvLUWCmZ8IfqMH2OHhDVFqnIYDjIr741zqbB7aBW-X9ilw/s1600-h/IMG_3833.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066620910358092914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpBx61yQ4xelA0iSuItrUC3GodjyrJ9cA7o8eU_ekyqZdcyo3kk9L8MvPJyArliUab4NQH0eGWtL2WWAWN_sehmSCbHJEDEyvLUWCmZ8IfqMH2OHhDVFqnIYDjIr741zqbB7aBW-X9ilw/s400/IMG_3833.JPG" border="0" /></a> This should of been quite a momentus day because I passed the 3000mile mark. But I did so when I was outside Spar just after I bought some more food.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPaODz0h96FgTB85DjUt8548HBFG4uIX-EcY8q0IJlddG4ze47pJbcAW9nuhWfcOjB7f7Hl49czTNBA0vuhUVXr-Yi0NpnmlMI0rsY1ccgyAPtWl-EBSMWdByQ2rwKVV8nl5y9zAvD0wv/s1600-h/IMG_3838.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066620914653060226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPaODz0h96FgTB85DjUt8548HBFG4uIX-EcY8q0IJlddG4ze47pJbcAW9nuhWfcOjB7f7Hl49czTNBA0vuhUVXr-Yi0NpnmlMI0rsY1ccgyAPtWl-EBSMWdByQ2rwKVV8nl5y9zAvD0wv/s400/IMG_3838.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Saturday 19th May (Day 53)</strong><br /><br />This day put the nail in the coffin for my time in Austria. I am sure it is a nice country. But when you are extremely tired, both physically (Crossing 5 passes in 4 days) and emotionally, combine that with bad weather and lake of food your spirits are low and you do not appriaciate things very much. Add to this mix a lack of or very poor road signs and I started to get a little bit annoyed. I was in a place called Steyr in the morning and it sould of only been a 3km ride out of the town, about 15 minutes. But when you spend over an hour trying to find your way around and cover 14km in the process you do start to get a little cross and shout some very nasty words at the top of your voice at the road signs. Especially if you have already seen that exact one before a couple of times. But when i got out things started to look up. The aim was to get to Linz by mid afternoon and have the rest of the day off and sort out a couple of things from the shops. The roads where quite nice, just rolling hills that reminded me very much of B category roads in Cornwall<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHBwm3o_48Sk6zpNwwNfjOSQGu5l6NGpK7XVoGBpv6TVJDmcHBvgu0hNDE3WsbU5vmaK_-S12PG515gC7Fzx9m8E9NwQZR8A4DAElrBgXU-T2noiZn-ECErGi9VKFwKOxZuDXyssoeJNv/s1600-h/IMG_3846.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066620914653060242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHBwm3o_48Sk6zpNwwNfjOSQGu5l6NGpK7XVoGBpv6TVJDmcHBvgu0hNDE3WsbU5vmaK_-S12PG515gC7Fzx9m8E9NwQZR8A4DAElrBgXU-T2noiZn-ECErGi9VKFwKOxZuDXyssoeJNv/s400/IMG_3846.JPG" border="0" /></a> It got to the point where I realised I was not going to see the Alps again on this trip. No more mountains on this trip, so I had a litle look behind to get one final memory<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQikwYeheXD29xXVKRRW71exGzcD42LGuZ_fYj1PIanpGErs4qTZpek1kV-J9T16xGCG9QkwZDcHWoY4JFaWayk0LcdzrVPLAKey53icHf4U5tb7PLVrn01zDiw486Z9EPBnzEoN7dxOW/s1600-h/IMG_3847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066620918948027554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQikwYeheXD29xXVKRRW71exGzcD42LGuZ_fYj1PIanpGErs4qTZpek1kV-J9T16xGCG9QkwZDcHWoY4JFaWayk0LcdzrVPLAKey53icHf4U5tb7PLVrn01zDiw486Z9EPBnzEoN7dxOW/s400/IMG_3847.JPG" border="0" /></a> You can just about see them in the far off distance. I was both sad and happy about the prospect of no more mountains. I then saw the sign for Linz and thought that I would make the centre in good time. Again I had an episode like that in the morning. Quite stressful, a bit more shouting and cycling through an industrial train yard. Not so sure if I was allowed there or not, but I am regretting not taking a photo of it now. But at the time I think the thought of seeing a train coming towards me or some angry guards was at the top of my list. I still managed to get to the city centre by 2:30pm, so I thought great the afternoon of to get a couple of things sorted in the shop and I can have a rest day on Sunday. But in Austria there is always a problem for me. All the hostels were closed and the check in time was not till 6pm. I was hot, smelly and needed a shower and I had to go and sit down in the park for the best part of 3 hours and wait for the hostel to open. I could not do what I needed to do because it would of been to much hassel walking round a busy city centre with my bike and worry about my kit every time I wnet in the shop. Plus I think that people would start to turn their noses up at me. Basically the washing situation was despirate so I had been going comando for the past day. But all is well that ends well. It is a nice little hostel, very cheap and close to the town. Only cost 1 euro for the washing as well and it felt so good hanging it out on a washing line rather than stuffing it in a dryer.<br /><br /><strong>Sunday 20th May (Rest Day Linz)</strong></p><p>Have done bugger all really. All the shops are closed on Sunday, so the city center is dead. No supermarkets either, so I have had to buy all my food from street stalls. The only thing open. Found a nice place which does a mean slice of pizza and an amazing patisserie. I have read my book and sat in some gardens and had a look and a sit down in some churches and cathedrals. That is my favourate bit of sightseeing on this trip, going into churches. You do not have to pay anything and they are nice quite places to think.</p><p><strong>The plan now</strong></p><p>I will cross into the Czech Republic tomorrow and keep heading north. I will avoid Prauge, it will not be the same going there again, so I do not want to lessen the momories of the trip with the Cornwall Boys 2 years ago. I will then cross into Germany and hopefully be in Berlin for the end of May.</p><p>Cheers<br /><br /></p>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-30928314370354727612007-05-14T01:21:00.000-07:002007-05-14T02:39:20.366-07:00Slovenia (WOW)Ok people I have now covered 2771 miles and am in a place called Bovec. I see that the donations web site has remained static at 2445 pounds for a bit now. Not to happy with that. But anyway this is what has happened in the past few days.<br /><br /><strong>Turdsay 10th (Rest day evening)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Very happy with the evening in Ljubljana. I had a couple of beers whilst whacthing Finland Vs USA in ice hockey with my room mates. Smiles all around because Finland won. I then went to the cinema with another dude from the hostel to watch 300. What a great film, and the cool thing was that it was in English with Slovenian sub titles so I could understand. The cinema is ultra-modern and much better than Vue in Plymouth and it cost less that 5 euro's. That is the first film I have seen in 8 weeks. I am well into my 4th book but only seen 1 film. Not bad for guy with 150 DVD's.<br /><br /><strong>Friday 11th May (Day 46)</strong><br /><br />Quite a nice ride, the aim was to get to a place called Bled which was not to far away. I was very tired and felt that I was not up to 100% in the energy department. I passed some nice sights on the way, such as farming methods I have not seen before,<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064328989072985090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5Pt8Fd-KHlg4n7SnFXa1G_sZ0cvFvHmIJRkiIF0H-UWEWFyHBp9A7wZXSzz3wP_lFsQe9ToMPWWcgHAX2mR1_qo1MpFPbkN_85TMeR2C8x_HVLO9TB3i97BO3pQOiDO_ExU-TxvRXvGO/s400/IMG_3621.JPG" border="0" /><br />and I folled a large river for a bit<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064328997662919698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkUlvwmfxhXvBN16LSWA2M9tPWjRG0sVJIpzzQ0Od5PROHlK4m8Xa6ReQ7YWMGbThYwIjlxAFO6wIU8mR8hjD3TTkdtB_hPmdaz1jXyeJFHRWYOOFyVa8kjJocc2twv9UYKACHYs5Hd02/s400/IMG_3623.JPG" border="0" /><br />Throughout the day I could see the Alps to the North of me,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329001957887010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgO9d7j4H9rHSFC_axWqRbRmtyM1nQIXB4HPshE-6q47mbfz1EqzuDJVaT3V9VuzoGRHTZJP4XrD6zn0cjVwdA1ze0uVYSjzCdt3NaSwiGIxh6yh_jrrsLFDuoOce-SaloTRLS912lJGT/s400/IMG_3626.JPG" border="0" /><br />and I took this photo for you Tom. It is not quite, but almost like your favourates<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329006252854322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TcsrYTwe9QoAF05U01j9Fo2rrVYz7U7BSFd4bixk46Zy3xe-GKPw-uTvfkPv1YeF4tulpWg-IDosgHOY5VS7rQYWZgT-97FakKe1Q_VwzZ1jAd5FSYssfNLl7Er3cQFZJWXtJgF_zlWo/s400/IMG_3633.JPG" border="0" /><br />Bled is next to a beautiful lake which has Slovenia's only island within it.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329019137756226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC881v6S_ex1eJIGQ69Y7jjjR-Il0gv2sivLhUDlT_AGS903sr4nRd1Py-szJVcYYPtD4UZzFzuI468fOhgrrxNIybPA7P2Yej1oyR67t6hguBVo3NouXzh-wEhXbeP8T5dUzLmjBe-ivb/s400/IMG_3638.JPG" border="0" /><br />My camp site was next to this lake and I got very excited when I saw an GB number plate so I had a little chat. They are a lovely couple from the Lake District that are touring round Europe in their motor home. The cool thing was that they invited me over for dinner and a couple of beers. So I would again like to say many thanks for looking after me that evening.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329263950892114" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioovF19aj7i3MtvsJnpLjbWyqogOd2UROplPb-ZJ-ztaixYVxY60UAEVXSTS0XuZs6gvWGB8KaP1OtEiG6VjlYL7jD54nIIsyBYGvDc0kpYLYha2i_b6Bxltj9olVT-uK_gC1Be8Co0cgp/s400/IMG_3640.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Saturday 12th May (Day 47)</strong><br /><br />Aim, to get to Kobarid. This was a bit more of a challenging day. I had a high pass to cross on route so I set out early and followed the river Sava Bohinjka for a bit.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329272540826722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqtGTNw6mMZLeURzTNZaGUvb37lbasItPYgC5gNLhomPe0PjubR8YB7sk8g3p-MsyD8nB1E_cv_CtpvflcEMc7q-x9yM7-KtZ1BMY43cns4fFUWeMecM2C0w8arUv6W8W_fNdGLsAlJ5J/s400/IMG_3647.JPG" border="0" /><br />I then had to start to climb from 500m to 1277m over 16km. Here is me at the top.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329281130761330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1f2CbdUJDdhOYgT41CqbM6Z8mDVDq2Inrxbfl3rpuTVyMT9dWlTWn9H7IDaA0MmnX2LC83nm7dr2vzHRqRbyv0Kmt0gWN_bMqjCG_I2iXKndutbp1v16lZxJhzKxPyH0lAw0gZQtA5B8/s400/IMG_3658.JPG" border="0" /><br />As I started to descend I noticed there was still snow at 12oom. I find that suprising considering it is now May.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329289720695938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPBj12brRW-JzLDhNozkyhsdBkd9rlNEONwo-5SfOQH2iTc3qj09_D1QDmuM92XtOARixKm77pPMWjpsVAwncpvj-avAl_W_f52S15ZVCMyxW1GX_5Zg061oYwBrs5y2mFlRAZ2tKjEAn/s400/IMG_3659.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>So this means that I have seen snow in every country apart from Portugal (Saw it up on the mountain in Italy but did not get to play in it) I had a good descent down from the pass (see video).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329289720695954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMgUEdwsH593jpKzbMXWP331dUoyFq8KWNHw7y9AMDYHEfDyNiS8acpsSj1qqNdKhKILrJORkSlu9oJe5J2VR6cpLmxYBMElGPqufWiU7yrX3McYCxtqUYaFJag5FiVdSyZYF9fro5TRf/s400/IMG_3661.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Soon after that I was following the Soca,<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329693447621794" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tAVBzOpF0QpDwOWuV0xtbk98TqlHLbdWxWLtuFGmvbELfmWcfTjJJAQ0XuaK53ipz-DY30VsYBmjlWrr-KANhQQdr6XC5fnlCpKN5CErvIFANDMeA3ju5fQ8-ah1vWr2AnK_AJ4QCDWu/s400/IMG_3667.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>along the road to Kobraid.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329697742589106" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pcAxg2D7_gYO33wt37BUw0G15nfdz2JQfYfVcid_-2fosih_Xa6pAnBKho-URBTDp2mQHiueklEvtgTccd9JN3eEbd7Rw2lhuFaE8VfHhxuKRGiEkSKgX4GcXXZLNC9VaKX9P8ZHOLV1/s400/IMG_3668.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>When I got there I found a nice camp site next to the gorge,</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329714922458306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafpJCLzlL6AFdm9_4hiQ5wp4pQv9N5s6ByifbfPzmWf4fhmFXCpUPX7wAOiUDP3eDYX0-Bm_vv6jVG7PRAPRvkErV-OubZ2G0HXgRpXouS9Fym8VUXiZxkZOTInQ_giFDOBqkPJBPVnFu/s400/IMG_3679.JPG" border="0" />so I went for a little explore in the evening.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329723512392914" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnBj9aTIPhq0gduHWvBfSV_2_v3fdt3fk1hNrUrYeUJsBHLk6Gh2qMeFYAoP3NQIYJdsExTmKd35CZqT7RB-sT9VL0c-RfxqFRL_x-S8q0ba641_6hLjZqOrUvZWiW9UFsskgUEWTk9t1/s400/IMG_3683.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Also at this camp site I got talking to a group of Austrians, and can you guess what, they gave me beer.</p><p><strong>Sunday 13th May (Day 48)</strong></p><p>I descided that I wanted to play in the river, as in go canyoning and maybe a bit of rafting. So I only had a short trip to Bovec which is the place to sort all of the water sports adventures out. So I followed the Soca up to there. A beautiful river with crystal clear waters,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDZsI21yBRosA4I4KxMKERlc_YG8jbFeXYdF2pGQXUyPFaVjfByB4egAT5ZAy90Erf1t3olbw6U4RZ2rLRPhAySC6EigyI-FhiAyzoWNPSBDb19vlsSzwVJARYn5jNCj3QHlvnhQq9a0g/s1600-h/IMG_3700.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064330045634940146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDZsI21yBRosA4I4KxMKERlc_YG8jbFeXYdF2pGQXUyPFaVjfByB4egAT5ZAy90Erf1t3olbw6U4RZ2rLRPhAySC6EigyI-FhiAyzoWNPSBDb19vlsSzwVJARYn5jNCj3QHlvnhQq9a0g/s400/IMG_3700.JPG" border="0" /></a> and some cool gorges.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaBwtwdZS-IrjWS55dYjv0M_vXcpipwfG7Ns-fIP72SuaspUMR9N-Smy00rhTOkocI6JFpri6B8V2BJ4RTY4j4rmQpXhWecx2nMLErFxc6VAdch1nVgTURZ4jDjbYOr3eM5NQwu1qhM6K/s1600-h/IMG_3702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064330054224874754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaBwtwdZS-IrjWS55dYjv0M_vXcpipwfG7Ns-fIP72SuaspUMR9N-Smy00rhTOkocI6JFpri6B8V2BJ4RTY4j4rmQpXhWecx2nMLErFxc6VAdch1nVgTURZ4jDjbYOr3eM5NQwu1qhM6K/s400/IMG_3702.JPG" border="0" /></a> There are little wooden slatted bridges going over the river so I went for a better view.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_4uNwaAsxH-115wsU1eWtsuw9357dk9QMJlk-jOOZ9LyR9A3sUA1iJeB8jQfoVbfoi0ZKBAkp5t4djh75IGWbExpSTYiRcp6vf_2GQ9otnKh7MXu7tSwKvnUXvXD7XgYhRYX_xxi_ou6/s1600-h/IMG_3703.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064330062814809362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_4uNwaAsxH-115wsU1eWtsuw9357dk9QMJlk-jOOZ9LyR9A3sUA1iJeB8jQfoVbfoi0ZKBAkp5t4djh75IGWbExpSTYiRcp6vf_2GQ9otnKh7MXu7tSwKvnUXvXD7XgYhRYX_xxi_ou6/s400/IMG_3703.JPG" border="0" /></a> But I thought it best not to venture accross this one. I looked at it and thought ˝Temple of Doom˝<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2WfFmL6IpbaNMETlYgiTn1fZqg8r-HR5wOb8hJGQGxHzf-ZxE7JA1lOnjrCXjG5RgdNus9RDJZcM7TL-gJ4CX9MTLY611C1A6Sw9tBXTQn0He9VB8bPkqsBc-wUGzUC3WjfjpFyvYhVQ/s1600-h/IMG_3706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064330067109776674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2WfFmL6IpbaNMETlYgiTn1fZqg8r-HR5wOb8hJGQGxHzf-ZxE7JA1lOnjrCXjG5RgdNus9RDJZcM7TL-gJ4CX9MTLY611C1A6Sw9tBXTQn0He9VB8bPkqsBc-wUGzUC3WjfjpFyvYhVQ/s400/IMG_3706.JPG" border="0" /></a> But anyway I stopped in Bovec and this is the view of what I have to cross to get to Austria.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8WFe1mf5GZifxpthnlnOgoc9lrdOVQN3zM0PFmXak5RHfupt2Bo9KzeJkrxKxZbTeoK4Os8cP3MdkryzKRifjUP9tTBXexIYtBuVLKl2NoYCoe_u5Abo1ukHP9O6-e7y7kqZsN0pZ5vH/s1600-h/IMG_3688.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064329732102327522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8WFe1mf5GZifxpthnlnOgoc9lrdOVQN3zM0PFmXak5RHfupt2Bo9KzeJkrxKxZbTeoK4Os8cP3MdkryzKRifjUP9tTBXexIYtBuVLKl2NoYCoe_u5Abo1ukHP9O6-e7y7kqZsN0pZ5vH/s400/IMG_3688.JPG" border="0" /></a> I was in Bovec around 2pm and it turned out that I could go rafting that afternoon. Quite a good little trip. I was in a boat with an Austrian family who had never been white water rafting, so I was seen as the expirienced one of the group. I thoguht that that was a cool title. But because they were beginners we went on an easy section of the river, grade 1-2 max. So it did not get my pulse rate up at all, nothing major in the slightest. Not like when I was in the Ottawa river in Canada a few years back, now they are some awsome rapids. But it was still a good afternoon out on the crystal clear waters, a change from cycling. Can not complain because afterwards the Austrian family treated me and the guide to a beer. With all these Austrians I am meeting giving me beer I am looking forward to going there on Tuesday. I wonder if they give you a 4 pack on entry.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 14th May (Rest day)<br /></span></p> <p>Well it will not be much of a rest day because I am going canyoning at 2pm. This is what I really wanted to do yesterday so I could of cycled to Austria today. But nevermind. I am really excited about this. Hopefully I will get the same guide. He was talking to me about it and i get the feeling that he would be up for taking me on a challenging route. So I will let you know what happens in the next post.<br /></p> <p>It is a bit of a cliff hanger ending, and that is what I could be doing this afternoon, hanging off a bit of a cliff. Do not worry Mum or Dad, they are really professional people. I do not think that they will be too hung over or stonned at 2pm (HOPEFULLY).</p> <p>Cheers<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p> <p><br /><br /></p> <div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-47239909217287488372007-05-10T02:27:00.001-07:002007-05-10T06:44:28.380-07:00Hello Slovenia<div><div><div><div>OK people I have now covered 2637 miles and have crossed what used to be the Iron Curtain. I am in Slovenia.<br /><br /><strong>Monday 7th May (Day 43)</strong><br /><br />Ok so I had one last morning in Venice. One point I forgot to mention in the last post is that I had always wanted to visit since I saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when I was about 12. An interesting fact about Venice, there are no grave on the island. There is a seperate island called cemetery island where they put every one. This so some reason reminds me of Egypt with their land of the living and their land of the dead on the opposite side of the Nile where the sun sets.<br />Anyway the morning in Venice, I went up the tallest building to get some good views.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062921528290085490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdikEHvRpkNUpl1K7CYDTBR_7QBW020X5gPGJd0MKum-P1bym5gy4fxN9LU-oy4Y1p8JgaxOgoTydPKCyAkcwxnnzjDXLowOM1R16UR93S6ad0lPQhw16YR-rKAInD-c62K70My4Skj3Oc/s400/IMG_3498.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGkYfrUC3M0a3LK0_qg9o03bIinllWlaxm3xPCSr0gNCj2-n7tDizAOt6N1jrccWD5jfsNY2GHfciCbRYZFoRS4bd5A1Ccvvywvw5oAwoSKI5AkgjMXfz-2vor9bwV0GxKt8ToNmDuBWu/s1600-h/IMG_3503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062921536880020098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGkYfrUC3M0a3LK0_qg9o03bIinllWlaxm3xPCSr0gNCj2-n7tDizAOt6N1jrccWD5jfsNY2GHfciCbRYZFoRS4bd5A1Ccvvywvw5oAwoSKI5AkgjMXfz-2vor9bwV0GxKt8ToNmDuBWu/s400/IMG_3503.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvogj-TOhmNkMLT1hRO6bvGhFKl2ZRdS3J6OW-Jwo_7zKPolKNAxWA9Dk1ktSM_F1iTs5qMgBRtx6s0fcqVUBJ44QzqBHtS2LmPCUrqVsH7oQ0BBuftGgN2ZErABRN-GadfDti5g_2Inl3/s1600-h/IMG_3506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062921541174987410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvogj-TOhmNkMLT1hRO6bvGhFKl2ZRdS3J6OW-Jwo_7zKPolKNAxWA9Dk1ktSM_F1iTs5qMgBRtx6s0fcqVUBJ44QzqBHtS2LmPCUrqVsH7oQ0BBuftGgN2ZErABRN-GadfDti5g_2Inl3/s400/IMG_3506.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49ejJBcF4sW_hzCZdKYjtF6Xr-pURmP8uLuda3zasamXDd3-7D51IQIf-4UuxZp-ZTDzFK_ScGnvQuFo_VDzlnyUlw5xXZlMCTZq71u4bH_UpHXCXuaUdAVTgaAamQYI9zjoM1okgKVom/s1600-h/IMG_3522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062921549764922018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49ejJBcF4sW_hzCZdKYjtF6Xr-pURmP8uLuda3zasamXDd3-7D51IQIf-4UuxZp-ZTDzFK_ScGnvQuFo_VDzlnyUlw5xXZlMCTZq71u4bH_UpHXCXuaUdAVTgaAamQYI9zjoM1okgKVom/s400/IMG_3522.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The one thing I find funny about this bell tower is that if you look at the Venice skyline from the distance across the water, this the tallest building is dwarfed by the visiting cruse ships which are higher.<br />After a bit of sightseeing I went to get some food from this cool market I found,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062922421643283138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQucbRx_0BrF5OcbkoSdlahYeXURGM_t31Bx__wLYjv5-iRT-1d89ig5omsKmqz2E_WYZ5t9nqJD2JjSj3P78nx1C9yusAHZye_AzQWofmczI6-PIMqPFsRA68smTyt9-JQSDmrLbvh8S/s400/IMG_3536.JPG" border="0" /><br />And I was extremely happy when I found something that looks like this,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062921554059889330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoG3GS9K-IeyCzu1m_1k7Un0Wf9kXGD2AmidBVLDncsBYGt8ILJ7ooLUBwQNQEgtkMiqwhLJvQxYqPpX-1SDNSz82Zr_RF0K-f109YaBqjF0mSeAFbvL5u-_r-agqWiI5MhPfyjNmzOT6k/s400/IMG_3532.JPG" border="0" /><br />And I just thought of home. Only down side is that when I started to eat it I found that it was just a pizza slice folded over and not infact a cornish pasty.<br />After that i got on the bike and started to head east along the coast. I had to cycle though this really touristy bit that reminded me of Minehead or Paington.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpenmj78MxN1SsohEQnPTNjw0wK98BDq8UDzg5W8LW15O_Cw72e8fjKz4C50wzYs7UR4ObDUHgddsWkgskFibScc3ViF_zQSGQfzObccdzjMm24u6SQnnNoeybdW5NJOK0rXQdDdRkRCw/s1600-h/IMG_3541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062922430233217746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpenmj78MxN1SsohEQnPTNjw0wK98BDq8UDzg5W8LW15O_Cw72e8fjKz4C50wzYs7UR4ObDUHgddsWkgskFibScc3ViF_zQSGQfzObccdzjMm24u6SQnnNoeybdW5NJOK0rXQdDdRkRCw/s400/IMG_3541.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Only thing is this highstreet went on for over 6 miles. I finially got out of this area and into some nice countryside,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062922434528185058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEahlveuNhhDNGTs41FL1WfYoir2B6WqwGX4y4Y31mffOTet1YTYODHm9ZB2qT8jXQ74qgTgfOP7UuuuxEkLxquQkWbrrx33ebiEoYh5d7i8sv8w9rE255RBUYNvV50VDY5asPepO7bnjf/s400/IMG_3546.JPG" border="0" /><br />And found a good camp site at the end of the day.<br /><br /><strong>Tuesday 8th May (Day 44)</strong><br /><br />Aim of the day was to get to Slovenia. The last bit of Italy was quite nice. There were some some tree lined roads which were cool.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYRKOGAamgQ4xB5osxwu9_k9aTfQfBrrA3dZcklwfsbc3iB6LzjUE0VwZP7va4pWMEQ8NInrBlMsGve214C16cALLZq5TLPCyU9ZHAm9pwhUUjHycAUMyp9KoJT-_a_Il-0LHUUFoW7NM/s1600-h/IMG_3549.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062922438823152370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYRKOGAamgQ4xB5osxwu9_k9aTfQfBrrA3dZcklwfsbc3iB6LzjUE0VwZP7va4pWMEQ8NInrBlMsGve214C16cALLZq5TLPCyU9ZHAm9pwhUUjHycAUMyp9KoJT-_a_Il-0LHUUFoW7NM/s400/IMG_3549.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But as i said before the bit of Italy I am cycling through has not really inspired me. Venice was great, but that is about it. There have been too many cars and the roads are too flat and straight.<br />Anyway I got to the boarder town at 5pm and I was trying to find somewhere where I could change some Eurro's into Slovenian. After about an hour of searching I find out that Slovenia has changed to Eurro's. So that was a waste of an hour. Thank you mr out of date guide book. So I crosed the boarder,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062922443118119682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxjyE8oXpjy6C4MhJwIgK72_OzHGWIkDKFAUnhGDVz9cojt-CcpuEAqa3k5aRRV9kMLMGJwMEvNC3vD9Pc7zUnki1eCCjeDXTZKCTP7wvQvmomMtA66T3ezqD6pxpDfbFjMlSDPMXCxZs/s400/IMG_3552.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062923967831509778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYqf6xSdtDECbhPdq-R9jcQZF5DmHJm69nxRNNJRmKMqjlVPUP7Dd3sO6ZnFozE3tyEW0eBsjXjCM6bptDTkyT0HIS6LpCiAT-oPqRGdlCmtrSuLW0Y_ElUa9sjoVhiUTcwUmOEvuA9yA/s400/IMG_3553.JPG" border="0" /><br />And this time I had to show my pass port which I felt nervious of because every other crossing I have just been waved through. So I thought something was wrong, but it was fine. First impressions of Slovenia, I love it. Quite roads and rolling hills going through green country side with lots of trees. Much better than the Italian roads which are flat and you can see for 5 miles ahead which can be kind of depressing in a way. I like bends so you do not know what is around the next corner. Also I soon climbed to over 100m. This made me alot safer because for the last 4 days I had been at less than 10m high. I was concerned about this because I kept thinking that an earthquake generated Tsunami somewhere out in the Med could wipe out most of the coastline I was based in (I think I had to much time thinking to my self)<br />Any way I found a good camp site with a goos view,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCeqLQ6W2dQmNyF_mx96tf5nuMwXWp8zlQSbRSbipRexXM4Xm1w8IHzQ7AZHYsISPWetPY0ShpLCBGfDQ3ziL81Ez8qtMUL5b3ivRSnhjwTb-o_2NtgbN4zXW53ytysGbEa8lHzXIunRk/s1600-h/IMG_3559.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062923972126477090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCeqLQ6W2dQmNyF_mx96tf5nuMwXWp8zlQSbRSbipRexXM4Xm1w8IHzQ7AZHYsISPWetPY0ShpLCBGfDQ3ziL81Ez8qtMUL5b3ivRSnhjwTb-o_2NtgbN4zXW53ytysGbEa8lHzXIunRk/s400/IMG_3559.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And a cool sun set.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062923980716411714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y7ECWnvO27rz8mX0BmTzA6TxV59El-HyVh5JmsctvIDgroqpx-AaxWKQ2B3c3TIwA6jtUg7gE_UQuodbG6WFEOZsu2oXC3WwNyYiIggo2PsfdQJPYctBvrTg-J9CkSReNiLgxMkfmQbg/s400/IMG_3563.JPG" border="0" /><br />Downer of the day though, my filp flops broke.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062923976421444402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqa4jRoD0T9ZoAk7cHEjvklyYQLV22oZM9l41GAi5i2cFXeQQcIl7f_w10nSw1585-uiJbnnMq-PLhAzBDQr2XrTCu7oIHe3phGqtWKOcg5e8GqykOwJ5zwv3Er7mHp6mONBnnlEFX4vL/s400/IMG_3560.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Wednesday 9th May (Day 45)<br /></strong><br />The misson, get to Ljubljana. Started cycling out on some nice undulating roads.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062923985011379026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvka3bZIWyfQRQRymNCBVPtjSXRlTnqFDUwa8Qj4PwnPcuarQGsege0lj9KXnKSQ9PTWiBefZYNbzOlLrg2Ev_YMDVTCAGzTAKlcG9sXFU_DcRO24c9ds2nKZtBnl3kYtcmgwfALBOaKo9/s400/IMG_3569.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then after 20km I started to go up,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062926596351495154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0eZn9WYMopphXywNjfwr1LJlmP0X3wYno0jp-lwPgOBw3RTvCGUUkZsQm8OLW6EgQ72BHBPppXete-cVaR86E1Bjzy-69gxFpZORpFMV5UYrULdYTl-6w6vgQDO5ttpjEeloaiQ7IDDf/s400/IMG_3571.JPG" border="0" /><br />I eventually climbed to 870m and the landscape was beautiful. I was cycling along a road with very little traffic which passed through a magical woodland,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062926596351495138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi5m0b9q7OVv2wNtteJMFkdc4jR3hAyw49cY9_d2SKRJVHfKOM0IE4obNQIsc9HmfqNF4fxuOz2WnZNFVQO1ejWfSu70Pog_4gMfyzgT0anWr5vRFw1iyv5GpcbfaS3D0ZB54tyZqMW9C/s400/IMG_3584.JPG" border="0" /><br />So I had a little stop and listen to the sounds of nature. I then had a cool descent off the hills following the racing line using all the road. But I was starting to get a lttle annoyed at my right pedal. Truth be told it has not been fully funtional for over a year, but for 20 mile trips it does not bother me. But after 2600 miles and it clicking every time it turns around. I thought now is the time to change it. I just happened to pass a bike shop on route so I went in to find out about pedals and they offered to replace them then and there. Did I mention that I love Slovenia, the people are so nice and helpfull and friendly. You would have to ring up and book a week in advance back in the UK. I also asked about the back wheel since one of the spokes broke and the dude said that is no problem he can also do that for me. I was in there for 30 minutes and came out with a fully funtional bike again, FANTASTIC. When I came to pay they only charged me for the cost of the pedals and said the spoke fixing was on the house and they wished me good luck for the ride, how cool is that. This is the dude that fixed her for me.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062926592056527826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0HU0G5Lz90lRCIxC948iB4FDFHsfyES0UogQKA3RQuX_xly17zxADmOZG2tC1QzD9PpJQzyiKuQ1LfrEAUN3k7kRjBsAT4-lJlCFY_6Y-mvNqcGYCfueC897ulq1VpL2HlHm4spxUq44/s400/IMG_3587.JPG" border="0" /><br />I got to Ljubljana and found this sweet hostel only a 5 min walk from the city centre along the river. I'm in a 6 bed room and it has its own bathroom and kicthenet, all for 17 eurro's a night. There is a cool Kiwi couple and Finish couple in the room,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062926587761560514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_ZbWhUTDhyphenhyphenGYs_v10pidZyAGkuh4ImngBYtYS2GNnFbzCXH1GyPxBli3r7vZ6WP1p-H02rONPAZdSIelteZbwI7AlKvSAvggCaIMnfZGG4XjLNpbnW96XJOzQhDiuao91_8eXZQ4RpbW/s400/IMG_3592.JPG" border="0" /><br />and we all went out for a few beers last night (W'handles of course). It is then that I came to the conclusion that this trip is a really good trip and I am really enjoying it but it is not an extreme trip. It is more mildly tame. Here I am in part of the former Yogoslavia and I crossed what used to be the Iron Curtain to get here. That sounds so cool. But then if I say that last night on my way out I passed Mc Donalds and H & M. When we went in the bar, before we even got a chance to speak any Slovenian the barmaid talked to us in English. They were also playing English music and had the Man United vs Chelsea match on the plasma screen. That does not sound very Eastern block to me.<br />I think that one day I will have to cycle through Tibet or Mongolia to do what I feel is an extreme ride, I am still loving the sights and the people I am meeting on this one though. The one cool thing is that in 8 weeks I have only met 3 english people, if I was in aomewhere like Australia, I would of met 20 in the first 2 days.<br /><br /><strong>Thursday 10th May (Rest day)</strong><br /><br />Anyway people I am going to do a bit of sightseeing around the town then tomorrow I will head to the north east to the national park after a bit of a walk round the city again in the morning. Here is some of what I have een already.</div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0sPrpA0Sy9_W4A8oeidXKPSDTZHSUU4kqf-LFyN6m6o9SyCqpmiLIv9ytyNKO67gGkPTroRISVXxD3DBKILE-7esBRUwhvNp671zOqAhgo2UuNHTFKuYREVNdxr1T2A1tAdmhoAi9DR5/s1600-h/IMG_3616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062925041573333874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0sPrpA0Sy9_W4A8oeidXKPSDTZHSUU4kqf-LFyN6m6o9SyCqpmiLIv9ytyNKO67gGkPTroRISVXxD3DBKILE-7esBRUwhvNp671zOqAhgo2UuNHTFKuYREVNdxr1T2A1tAdmhoAi9DR5/s400/IMG_3616.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyukOaJo_-zWcq0iUcCYNwwLdInQl4h0uPnHxLGG_iAlE09z-Ro8JBVrEQ3xyrmQU0JGlAYgr-c8zwBu6UwVF0MuJATgGz10bJaXhR6B9lAxm_40Py3PycNg2r7UF7HsEagh5mlcdEzEIs/s1600-h/IMG_3614.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062925045868301186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyukOaJo_-zWcq0iUcCYNwwLdInQl4h0uPnHxLGG_iAlE09z-Ro8JBVrEQ3xyrmQU0JGlAYgr-c8zwBu6UwVF0MuJATgGz10bJaXhR6B9lAxm_40Py3PycNg2r7UF7HsEagh5mlcdEzEIs/s400/IMG_3614.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBclw_ScbkZ3wrVSDL7jMRroiHStQMR55YbEZJpd-5bxNbZJzyMD-CBvZ16JigdlAWipLxzV1g2xyrgITP1OYkw3la6pE0Bh8Unb5bqigFAl5032dHy8K2eh_Y_XwPfOBPeoM34CQ0xZCg/s1600-h/IMG_3599.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062925050163268498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBclw_ScbkZ3wrVSDL7jMRroiHStQMR55YbEZJpd-5bxNbZJzyMD-CBvZ16JigdlAWipLxzV1g2xyrgITP1OYkw3la6pE0Bh8Unb5bqigFAl5032dHy8K2eh_Y_XwPfOBPeoM34CQ0xZCg/s400/IMG_3599.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062926583466593202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-n8XvxZQBxRLGmzRIWIkHspijJz37zCh6IDhiMG9JcenPeuhDZjWKKwXz8JyTgoRXfIZQ2bpuuiYyJ0-8OqomxCvx4zvnLfH4thFqa6AftJqgw_Nnd2uQ9SocvffKxOHbcz-KPhx-a2M/s400/IMG_3594.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZDZY3VXK35P_ihir9Z5DWeASVSMe5-E6bgBHSnBR_3_EXDwjxfqC0QN4QoKiopT61TeA77iV94CSxIA8D6Rl_rkWApfw67C7mE0dZHXCyTqWY1O43X3UGRzVbCYzUXoZWkcoi9chTR3D/s1600-h/IMG_3597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062925054458235810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZDZY3VXK35P_ihir9Z5DWeASVSMe5-E6bgBHSnBR_3_EXDwjxfqC0QN4QoKiopT61TeA77iV94CSxIA8D6Rl_rkWApfw67C7mE0dZHXCyTqWY1O43X3UGRzVbCYzUXoZWkcoi9chTR3D/s400/IMG_3597.JPG" border="0" /></a>And I am also really happy because I found another pair of cheap flip flops, and they are orange.</div><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062925037278366562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_Ov51vG1V0gtvGA6omjCOXxGoVaTtjvuOwbWF80Cnf2_t__1yOvFfcYpC5LOXS5XZ-t7Iz9hQsrmzw4BuSs5AdUKUheixOsHcuXJWDk5UJc8YkTMpOFX4ShOQDLNuyC3N-G2rE8nputQ/s400/IMG_3618.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Ljubljana is a lovely little city.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />I will keep you posted.</div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-34098542336847457602007-05-06T09:08:00.000-07:002007-05-06T12:00:54.373-07:00To VeniceOk people I am now in Venice and have covered 2465 miles. That puts me 10 miles infront of the donations web site. I am not going to stay put untill I get more sponsors, Venice is expensive so I would run out of funds. It cost 1 euro every time you go to the toilet in town (you can guess what I have done since I am on a restricted buget), you also have to buy the map from the tourist information office. Every other place I have been to so far just gives them away. Anyway I feel happy since I have cycled enough miles to cover all the donations so far, and if you look at the map of the route it is all north and east now (No more south). Any way this is what has happened in the past few days.<br /><br /><strong>Tuesday 1st May (Rest day Bergamo)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Not the best of rest days. Everything was closed since it was a bank holiday so I did not see much. It rained a bit as well so not that good for walking around. I spent most of the day sorting out the web site due to lots of problems with internet access at the hostel and not being able to use USB at the cafe. Not going to talk about. I still have nightmares about that 6 hours of my life to get that post sorted.<br /><br />I also got through a third of my new book as well. That is good going for some one who usually whatches films instead.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wenesday 2nd May (Day 40)</span><br /><br />A very wet day, I got soaked. I did not like the roads because they were very busy with lots of spray from the lorries that were going past. I was starting to get concerned for my own personal safety so I eventually found a route through some nicer country roads.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4a-k8pfWiWHOlaZa8cS2afU-Up1VeyMfkSMgN8etrMfuaCnijMMkqRcTsI4yEky-8TR1XP3dg-AkIKXOon6CetNqbu-LLdbvX6LfKXyBrwunOceG7ry61JZfzTihZ-y8R9x5bSC5qQNo/s1600-h/IMG_3370.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061480828755282290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4a-k8pfWiWHOlaZa8cS2afU-Up1VeyMfkSMgN8etrMfuaCnijMMkqRcTsI4yEky-8TR1XP3dg-AkIKXOon6CetNqbu-LLdbvX6LfKXyBrwunOceG7ry61JZfzTihZ-y8R9x5bSC5qQNo/s400/IMG_3370.JPG" border="0" /></a>But that was not the end of it because I then had a puncher on my front wheel. So I stopped to change it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoK5VKI4Cee261HXiCa1_5oLoldUbpX3oayfO4OfMVQyBJ-ODOmVDieaJTjets58YNqnb2a0A8Db3OpMsIj3WWikdO1WskZQWKDrM6XGMEMXH6mcM-HC4xoexenRLjwqJQgadv9PFWcVm/s1600-h/IMG_3364.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061480824460314978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoK5VKI4Cee261HXiCa1_5oLoldUbpX3oayfO4OfMVQyBJ-ODOmVDieaJTjets58YNqnb2a0A8Db3OpMsIj3WWikdO1WskZQWKDrM6XGMEMXH6mcM-HC4xoexenRLjwqJQgadv9PFWcVm/s400/IMG_3364.JPG" border="0" /></a>As I did I put the tyre down in some dog poo which I was most unhappy about (If you look carefully where my front wheel is resting against the wall, at the base of the wall by the grass you can see a little light brown patch). So I had to clean that as best I could before I tried to put the tyre back on. I had just about finished when I heard a hissing sound. I had caused another puntcher by pinching the inner tube with my tyre levels. I was cold, wet, tired and in pain with a bad tooth ache at this point so I let out some very rude words. But fortunatly I always carry 2 innertubes spair thanks to a lesson I learnt when I was on a trans Devon bike ride with Nigel and Chris (See an earilier post).<br /><br />I had a good end to the day because I found a preety sweet camp site over looking Largo di Garda.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSnPEWRhlA8r6MMKEziQpFgL6GvPg5ncsUumP10dGTx99KFwpEwhKtWAJUyWN8TLJZNyf2ppulF-4OcVa0bP0_RXQdGblugH9DkTKlUQjZHUvsDNR7EvpKqUtnEVvyixfsxYwibVIGbga/s1600-h/IMG_3374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061480837345216898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSnPEWRhlA8r6MMKEziQpFgL6GvPg5ncsUumP10dGTx99KFwpEwhKtWAJUyWN8TLJZNyf2ppulF-4OcVa0bP0_RXQdGblugH9DkTKlUQjZHUvsDNR7EvpKqUtnEVvyixfsxYwibVIGbga/s400/IMG_3374.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 3rd May (Day 41)<br /><br /></span>Nothing much to report from this day really. Weather was ok so no worries there. Passed a couple of nice places on the way. The highlight being this field.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d_paCrOJtJRl2N_-mf4FoE3ZoAiqgcuk5of0sRYgsH6EEerNAkjpPHFMdDO8zfxaBSIQmIPTTIix4jUvaIDDdLbKEG7PvHgpCHuDv4Fz_MfGHa-hjJb3eizF8y2evC-wDF9SDV5Y3XU7/s1600-h/IMG_3376.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061480854525086098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d_paCrOJtJRl2N_-mf4FoE3ZoAiqgcuk5of0sRYgsH6EEerNAkjpPHFMdDO8zfxaBSIQmIPTTIix4jUvaIDDdLbKEG7PvHgpCHuDv4Fz_MfGHa-hjJb3eizF8y2evC-wDF9SDV5Y3XU7/s400/IMG_3376.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuh66MD08NLfZ1qjMM7VSnDTo65KOKeEFQNE70sOonab7XcB75txQUK-QfBwohckm5XUVHfeR6AacvP6s4dh_UtYa3TSbrfTSFyESdrgiJnuzeUsElSQ0aPp7C_3spQkKzGDvl_9K0z7x/s1600-h/IMG_3378.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061480871704955298" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuh66MD08NLfZ1qjMM7VSnDTo65KOKeEFQNE70sOonab7XcB75txQUK-QfBwohckm5XUVHfeR6AacvP6s4dh_UtYa3TSbrfTSFyESdrgiJnuzeUsElSQ0aPp7C_3spQkKzGDvl_9K0z7x/s400/IMG_3378.JPG" border="0" /></a>Best bit of the day was the camp site that I stayed at. It was ran by this couple who I think are the Italian version of the good life. There was no one else at the camp site so it was just me in my tent. I ended up sitting down in the kitchen with the lady and she gave me a glass of wine. So didn't speak any English but from what I gathered they grow their own grapes and lots of other fruits and press lots of different wines, so it was good sampling that. They also had a small lake at the back of their land so I was alowed to walk through their vine yard, along a path through some woodland to get to the lake. A magical little spot for an evening of contemplation.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcb-LfZPveqMx7hBRt_e_PyPYTG_HOFC_y6SG0QWQbF5sAzawyDxfvy92ms_UtP-2QMZIX2uR-CuBsbvg8xSpuYwjfyxrudoVoN6YmKiZunD9tKJ_FwT2OnrWmFDVzeE4nqN19VnxBx0D/s1600-h/IMG_3381.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061481898202139058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcb-LfZPveqMx7hBRt_e_PyPYTG_HOFC_y6SG0QWQbF5sAzawyDxfvy92ms_UtP-2QMZIX2uR-CuBsbvg8xSpuYwjfyxrudoVoN6YmKiZunD9tKJ_FwT2OnrWmFDVzeE4nqN19VnxBx0D/s400/IMG_3381.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday 4th May (Day 42)<br /></span><br />A very, very, very wet day. I was soaked before I finished putting the tent away in the morning. I then dried, then it rained again and I got soaked. Then I partually dried so I was mildly moist. Then is rained again, but this time so hard that the impacts of the droplets caused water to splash up as well. So I got very wet again. The ride was about 30km longer than it needed to be. I missed a turn and in the afternoon when it was raining heaviest I sought for the miner roads because the main one was to dodgy with the traffic.<br /><br />I did not make it to Venice like I hoped, but that turned out for the best since I would not of been alowed on with the bike. I found a camp site just across the water from Venice on the mainland. A place called Fusina. Quite a lively little place, there were lots of Kiwi's, Australian's and Canadian's staying here on a coach tour. So after a few beers I joined in.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6i2Q5S-YHcXnmIMtOe6E_IKYC4HbPHGeWwb6dwOc9X1P_WFh_-PwW4R3A0tIaBD7XKadZ4veXxN-ox2B5EkjWyrXfWv5133GWCCaiQy98aEZrGw64ncYNpl8306IORMWC2VDgD3JjmUO/s1600-h/IMG_3390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061481906792073666" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6i2Q5S-YHcXnmIMtOe6E_IKYC4HbPHGeWwb6dwOc9X1P_WFh_-PwW4R3A0tIaBD7XKadZ4veXxN-ox2B5EkjWyrXfWv5133GWCCaiQy98aEZrGw64ncYNpl8306IORMWC2VDgD3JjmUO/s400/IMG_3390.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th (Rest days in Venice)<br /><br /></span>Boy did I feel like what I put my tyre down in on Saturday morning. My body did like movement and I was close to throwing up on several occassions. So I stayed in bed till 11. Now the thing about this trip is that it is quite healthy and I am not drinking much alcohol at all. So when nights like this come along and I get carried away, I get the hang over from hell the next day. Good thing though, it seemed to cure the major tooth ache of the past 3 days. I eventually got into Venice via the mid day ferry. The fresh air and the breeze did me good as I sat out on deck. But I could not get my head around all the crowds of people in the city for a bit and I could swear that the pavement was wobbling up and down slightly that was sending me off balance, but I think it was just my lack of spactial awareness. The graet thing about Venice is the contrasts (Do not worry, not another one of those photo's). From crowds of people in San Marco's Square,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBWaNDKx8REnePSwvGD4T-Noax9IPXXmAyLrEAtBI_-GeKNhNGsQmnNuJ70rswV2zf4tLsgRqImtn-koo4IhT-MTubSgC9FmyXRDQx-ymLP2Mt9V1bC4_lISq9DUp8VI9JTkx3jAyzxKa/s1600-h/IMG_3399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061481919676975586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBWaNDKx8REnePSwvGD4T-Noax9IPXXmAyLrEAtBI_-GeKNhNGsQmnNuJ70rswV2zf4tLsgRqImtn-koo4IhT-MTubSgC9FmyXRDQx-ymLP2Mt9V1bC4_lISq9DUp8VI9JTkx3jAyzxKa/s400/IMG_3399.JPG" border="0" /></a>to empty side streets where you are the only person.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjZOyBwmeamMSy-0G3JO0-qZ1GaolsSLL_Col5LRnTTJSzIq0WygmUYLo54W7SxTj6o-Ev1V92rHnYeknqFmlv4xd2Gtbkt8DiMUCpMIM2TJa7Qd3DJKPDGyMDvOSfwmq_E1bkdwVGN5W/s1600-h/IMG_3436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061482331993836050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjZOyBwmeamMSy-0G3JO0-qZ1GaolsSLL_Col5LRnTTJSzIq0WygmUYLo54W7SxTj6o-Ev1V92rHnYeknqFmlv4xd2Gtbkt8DiMUCpMIM2TJa7Qd3DJKPDGyMDvOSfwmq_E1bkdwVGN5W/s400/IMG_3436.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeybR0ScrbqyZk0ISbb8cuoT9w53firMLZ-H_C4wpVisRxu8hfZgLr3T4vg5MQDNVhXrFVjDrxL_9TYk1jTg0IDa7LK3pPI_A6iV05KW3wuCiKZvwv-Yvl2W9pbGIkclPsxsqxvQ7Yq8RO/s1600-h/IMG_3409.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061481932561877490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeybR0ScrbqyZk0ISbb8cuoT9w53firMLZ-H_C4wpVisRxu8hfZgLr3T4vg5MQDNVhXrFVjDrxL_9TYk1jTg0IDa7LK3pPI_A6iV05KW3wuCiKZvwv-Yvl2W9pbGIkclPsxsqxvQ7Yq8RO/s400/IMG_3409.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARwHuJ1laRF0NILdtgT2gtXcFX4PnkGf5F-R3w07zz4W9dIoLNR3oYHmxMtI2X5a9r_as0_Ant8dot-DiBRru236X1UDm8Dy7ab42Wi-HuqnGEtXYbmdyJMkCvpTIqFxISJ8E7kn__6WY/s1600-h/IMG_3397.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061481915382008274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARwHuJ1laRF0NILdtgT2gtXcFX4PnkGf5F-R3w07zz4W9dIoLNR3oYHmxMtI2X5a9r_as0_Ant8dot-DiBRru236X1UDm8Dy7ab42Wi-HuqnGEtXYbmdyJMkCvpTIqFxISJ8E7kn__6WY/s400/IMG_3397.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here are some other cool shots that I have got in the past couple of days.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWscLgdpEbhvkdr1XTPCuy004FLacG5zjKgzzh5XqYrnaIPpeNuoKPzCt0p5t9wBJuVIOBFYNqip-SZS2NxH1UMa8jlbz3Lb_sIZKPc8oqWTs2v0hTzRFw7sfgQpijFEAOmixDtZNLX2z/s1600-h/IMG_3493.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061482499497560674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWscLgdpEbhvkdr1XTPCuy004FLacG5zjKgzzh5XqYrnaIPpeNuoKPzCt0p5t9wBJuVIOBFYNqip-SZS2NxH1UMa8jlbz3Lb_sIZKPc8oqWTs2v0hTzRFw7sfgQpijFEAOmixDtZNLX2z/s400/IMG_3493.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsZCTlNd0ciH2ArZ-59LSZ9RSszVWYdPcoKpg8mjVJsNfgoJasMOMBcuFWoSayokrSxTueh-Cu8sKnueSBkhLbGqMygzBGKbPc4xoqwW74e9jgLJz2CV7V9_Ng9skWC7zNhpd08nUFrEf/s1600-h/IMG_3419.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061482323403901442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsZCTlNd0ciH2ArZ-59LSZ9RSszVWYdPcoKpg8mjVJsNfgoJasMOMBcuFWoSayokrSxTueh-Cu8sKnueSBkhLbGqMygzBGKbPc4xoqwW74e9jgLJz2CV7V9_Ng9skWC7zNhpd08nUFrEf/s400/IMG_3419.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPgcFlPVCH5mQLEbnmt9U8H6oLdvy6sXvutGx7rnNydLzYyxL3azovQItEb-mLhRX4eLPUv_9mNXjad6QMhbc3-qoOclMFn16WtPzI1J_WbLkr93rmy5_fgUhU-QP3urOZSA61d14xbyz/s1600-h/IMG_3479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061482495202593362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPgcFlPVCH5mQLEbnmt9U8H6oLdvy6sXvutGx7rnNydLzYyxL3azovQItEb-mLhRX4eLPUv_9mNXjad6QMhbc3-qoOclMFn16WtPzI1J_WbLkr93rmy5_fgUhU-QP3urOZSA61d14xbyz/s400/IMG_3479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXwcPRSccOxr6jYolsxOi3jCL-tb69g9TjskkWAMt38LKo_1Z4ZyNmDx2IFRuqsPDJdjrQuE_bkMi9zLvkN6D7_0TrqP4PAK-tRujzA9rrE6P7AKvYi84I1ishUXfROd2aNEFMX2ZCAYa/s1600-h/IMG_3467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061482331993836066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXwcPRSccOxr6jYolsxOi3jCL-tb69g9TjskkWAMt38LKo_1Z4ZyNmDx2IFRuqsPDJdjrQuE_bkMi9zLvkN6D7_0TrqP4PAK-tRujzA9rrE6P7AKvYi84I1ishUXfROd2aNEFMX2ZCAYa/s400/IMG_3467.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteDMghBSkZLBhaboYao71XAHVBau-_MaYCKR5GxwIFyoZTmw9pPmqjQYWiKAU1VdaiYTawMsSUWCopgLBqDi0-p1bclg-guJirJr_EAgJQOruNZoz0ciU9OaFiD6PIc0mqFvsbiaTwsj6/s1600-h/IMG_3468.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061482340583770674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteDMghBSkZLBhaboYao71XAHVBau-_MaYCKR5GxwIFyoZTmw9pPmqjQYWiKAU1VdaiYTawMsSUWCopgLBqDi0-p1bclg-guJirJr_EAgJQOruNZoz0ciU9OaFiD6PIc0mqFvsbiaTwsj6/s400/IMG_3468.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCmtY0TCj8I0wbtGoN8yHEOQ0qnHCr00gN4fZzp6F2uecp1fzSg-5vYtH0Zd0Y0znUTxe2VbGvbXhsJWq7Hv4E-HgnL0JtTKb9G8W_ht_gJRstwgFiCPhNGlBnPw1uoA_RrUXuqZPLTLP/s1600-h/IMG_3477.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061482349173705282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCmtY0TCj8I0wbtGoN8yHEOQ0qnHCr00gN4fZzp6F2uecp1fzSg-5vYtH0Zd0Y0znUTxe2VbGvbXhsJWq7Hv4E-HgnL0JtTKb9G8W_ht_gJRstwgFiCPhNGlBnPw1uoA_RrUXuqZPLTLP/s400/IMG_3477.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The plan now, one last morning in Venice (I will be sorry to leave because I really like it) then hit the road and head for Slovenia where I should cross the boarder some time on Tuesday.<br /><br />Cheers, I'll keep you posted.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-51743270324146749542007-05-01T03:28:00.000-07:002007-05-01T11:43:38.842-07:00Goodbye Switzerland, I love you<div>I have now covered 2245 miles and am 70 miles off over taking the web site. I have left Switzerland which I am most upset about. I love Switzerland. I am now in Italy and will be making for Venice for the weekend. Ok same as before, this is what has happened in the past week.<br /><br /><strong>Wed 25th April (reast day Bern)</strong><br /><br />Quite a nice little city, lots and lots of bikes every where and not locked to anything.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059655708172650402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmq_5S2pw9FdktloyUUdudM_0MPWfGj-ScGyGt3qeagmfZ2cv4bHUJkvAinzxvVOKx1hC_3sl0nTL5wAuUUqmdYNil2kLZyK43zG7nCDxbSmgaIUG-M1OoGjedw91TCnsDVye0gEfC4rh/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /><br />Mine of course was safely secure back at the hostel. One of the first things that I did was to go up to the park which had a nice view over the city,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059655716762585010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkw0Shp6umQsmr-9YhyphenhyphenQKhvCnC3g3C0QMKq2EA_AYc9-Vkksnfu2SLv1Ycen1GBtV3YpPUhfd0S3u-kpVLGVg4dn_jtl5ZFHhUteLJlb7dOcTPLdbwijFhNhPerk9CWOdqjUZi7Fblyo8/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /><br />I relaxed for a couple of hours reading my book and having a sleep. The rest of the afternoon I had a little walk around the city and saw a few sights.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059655725352519618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbYygg1GKdI8jspj1tgRXIcVp4dot1sytpNrhUHvyy8ck0g6kX-ryjfaitTVN5SS1RyrtLsoA4jMvzmlFmv79q5SE7tMp6XDQDAfVnpsBxh8aKPZXN3ZLElrUczPkJIXKJoVB2zZzmE5t/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Thurs 20th April (Day 35)</strong><br /><br />After leaving Bern Switzerland just kept getting better. My route took me along the north shore ot Thuner See (See is german for lake) which is better than Lake Geneve because it is not so populated.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqkRm1PQsxRPFN8poBPJqZyQF8MSKaMtNeT9iHBQr-ugbN-eCEaqcUriZKxRe7-8SOYMtFixgsH0n7zBRMkX2G7LjqbZh6dcgV21978xsRRN44ASawYC6Y7rRf941fexEvay5WhbG_WK3/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059655729647486930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqkRm1PQsxRPFN8poBPJqZyQF8MSKaMtNeT9iHBQr-ugbN-eCEaqcUriZKxRe7-8SOYMtFixgsH0n7zBRMkX2G7LjqbZh6dcgV21978xsRRN44ASawYC6Y7rRf941fexEvay5WhbG_WK3/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOgLO0Pe8G09tlRGFln3NyVehjDYqN0xTggLGVSRpw3bJuthFaL9yNjjBAq1zPZ5Ak-WicIN9Uowi5tNJuMRQk1ZHN6Xl_4x_RWJg1KA_UD4YUqwr_wT7SvMzpze8T4i1YWD60BXyXIyS/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059655733942454242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOgLO0Pe8G09tlRGFln3NyVehjDYqN0xTggLGVSRpw3bJuthFaL9yNjjBAq1zPZ5Ak-WicIN9Uowi5tNJuMRQk1ZHN6Xl_4x_RWJg1KA_UD4YUqwr_wT7SvMzpze8T4i1YWD60BXyXIyS/s400/5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I then cut through Interlarken (I'm sure you can work out the translation for that) and cycled along the south shore of Brienzer See. The views were getting better and this road was really quite. It has to be in my top ten of best roads ever cycled.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Wnz8TcHqZeoAaM0YOM8v6z9n946nmW_aFYTTVshLtNGuB-O-G7t8zrlkd66hrVXgUFaaqiZ4E7irWZGPvlNCMNFYCjN2haBFAmLXlbTVHwmOuCTx8VS7Ioqe7ekBXgxoVDObpWU7wtU_/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656373892581362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Wnz8TcHqZeoAaM0YOM8v6z9n946nmW_aFYTTVshLtNGuB-O-G7t8zrlkd66hrVXgUFaaqiZ4E7irWZGPvlNCMNFYCjN2haBFAmLXlbTVHwmOuCTx8VS7Ioqe7ekBXgxoVDObpWU7wtU_/s400/6.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The road then soon turned into a track that would of better suited a mountain bike, so not the best to be going along it with a fully laiden touring bike. But she is a good bike and handled it well. I eventually came to this amazing waterfall which I stopped at for a bit and chilled out. It felt very refreshing standing in the mist created by the falling water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7TdWca70pD6s9ISGBOB6VGkJ_zM18zuQQ6QzTB5JLd6GqTB4Uq4WMnzBX-IZPaqQeA-H6liWoBWlEUOW0-yXZ-Crmtj01An1ahAm6o-3x4ah810ombD-j8Lri10FfiTEg87k594EIbW_/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656378187548690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7TdWca70pD6s9ISGBOB6VGkJ_zM18zuQQ6QzTB5JLd6GqTB4Uq4WMnzBX-IZPaqQeA-H6liWoBWlEUOW0-yXZ-Crmtj01An1ahAm6o-3x4ah810ombD-j8Lri10FfiTEg87k594EIbW_/s400/8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2Y_ZyQZ28wPYK04rxmF43JJ2o0jzsv2dhU5rpCzJOB0PjcfJpXcxPaBJTYet3YafARRMHV2HxN9isvSWC38Nlzsi5frl-B-_jr83CxVuKWznNZYVZRIA8qQbInn1U4MGQEdOumZnTs-8/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656378187548706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2Y_ZyQZ28wPYK04rxmF43JJ2o0jzsv2dhU5rpCzJOB0PjcfJpXcxPaBJTYet3YafARRMHV2HxN9isvSWC38Nlzsi5frl-B-_jr83CxVuKWznNZYVZRIA8qQbInn1U4MGQEdOumZnTs-8/s400/9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And I love the way that nature always finds a way,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656382482516018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4chVhROP8swm3YrJzuUCRjb_Fk9RL-WvZi2rB9deRxCcO9yb9mk2fWp7y-qzQ5VVDkMKPpP7QAEYvUUIjgrzaqgbG4wbCqgT0xf10XIdGJHgKthgO8S4X6lH4rs2u-lNLhzuKjS9-EmL2/s400/10.jpg" border="0" /><br />but I do not give much hope for the long term chances for the tree. This was a truely great day because I also passed the 2000 mile mark as well.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656923648395346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIaQN7gromuNDp8UqWy2ad49ExfoXxSZxyB75hSuVyXOPiryHebSIrmq8opNamovXI5NpB0HMp6x3UQdu9cbt5_BFI-qQvlnIO3Z5qEhMUVNNxKQbN2UxWG0LwkPIELQHJpO2WUCuRGPU/s400/12.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>Fri 27th April (Day 36)</strong><br /><br />Another fantastic day, but it was not what was planned. I found out in the morning that Grimselpass and Furkapass were were closed due to snow. So I went to the tourist office to find out my options. Because the passes were closed they said I could either go back to Spiez and catch the train across, or go the long way round to Andermatt and catch a train from there. In the end I opted for the second choice, I do not like cycling west on this trip. It made what would of been a 60km ride over the passes into a 130km trip around them. First I had to climb over a little pass of 1008m (Brunigpass) which gave me good views going up, and after I crossed it.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656927943362658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYtztB-qLJDOkjyv_RfPZKPnUTgD3YSf6-jhMxrCwRrGN6KM8m-8eKHnlvQz3LfB9AG2iKA_mGqf50HNKphEerPmDbqjjA4_fg1U5CpJjHJ2Nqyp7NFsPGhgA8RGKw50OX79soO3G7pKP/s400/13.jpg" border="0" /><br />It is when I took this photo that I got talking to a family from Boston. They were very interested and quite impressed with what I was doing that they went back to their car to get lots of food to give to me to keep me fueled (FANTASTIC). After this I cycled to Buochs and crossed Vierwoldstatter See by ferry to the north shore. Beautiful lake, I found a cool jetty and had a little play in the lake (Videos).<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656932238329970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGom6Eob0t9w4FetRsRxQrspvzsP6Wk1cet9d3mWyxpMqAi9EGMgw8HUf37DeJr4wZMPLhaJBCtiuDFqLl7dJdHNw4FT3p9jJietjqdvAds3C-tKzuCrsnekxFrmA4tlJRMSXN3vqR3ufh/s400/14.jpg" border="0" /><br />I then carried on to Fluelen with good sights on the way.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059656936533297282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NEnStTlY1OYW3mObYuVLvQtqzh0hTceJEGgBIoCa_E5fG87nlaPwQMRHXDBXIza8Y_QGmror4Fn-Ztc-bY9t5sHW5RsFy1I4fRVEALzKb7J82LcvsLeX8hnoi6wL2L8Nzbn9AWXXqlUD/s400/15.jpg" border="0" /><br />I found a camp site by the lake where I went for a swim at the end of the day,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059657580778391698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNrTsqrrQb9JPHubWBgqltA92Hq8kWZLpDLa4GI6-JdS3ygx9Dnz-DS5HfOMo5PNiCAl8LrRbjPG5kXc710NC5Df-IM7uU-2Eoi4uoXO5KFVZQQEiabqcRPm2OibFy9FLNteM-cz0TiX6/s400/16.jpg" border="0" /><br />quite good becasue that ment that I saved money on a shower. I got talking to a couple of Swiss girls at the site, they forgot their tin opener and me being the prepared camper had one to hand. They then invited me over for some food. Again what a great day, more free food. Well it wasn't really free because I then ended up fixing one of their jackets with a bit of stiching.<br /><br /><strong>Sat 28th April (Day 37)</strong><br /><br />I had a little swim to start off the day (VERY REFRESHING) then started up to Andermatt.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059657585073359010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lNEKuMCLThb878CVqK_jVdP0_k8N7ZsU62WpJlQE0qwNBfbu0XCOmcEKFREpxIEQTw72wioH0JEqnw6uzlcr1jg6bKM2tj8pi0yXgxMrMp_Fw6Tv0beg1hpQ5EVUYa5lO_RGI4zYpnxN/s400/17.jpg" border="0" /><br />I knew that Oberalppass was open but that is 12km east of Andermatt, so what I thought I would do would be to cycle up to the pass then turn around and go back to Andermatt to catch the train. This would then mean that I would of cycled up to a pass and the extra 24km would equal the train journey. But when I got to Andermatt I found out that another pass called the Lucmanier pass on a minor road was open. This was great news because it gave me a route through the Alps that I could do on the bike with out having to get the train. So off I went and started to climb up to the Oberalppass and crossed the snow line.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059657585073359026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqvmZm7avuaKOXtkDZ6EDnCAyeb_s40qhwqtDIJaiMLD8jOiSa-PEv97Pc7j3VTc7G4i6_rvNMs5Vy4y9CZG_xduO6dX32r66Ww5D0WKYce5iNfO5_WpQnSqcoeGn9HcuneSWIbGxAqQm/s400/18.jpg" border="0" /><br />As the snow became more frequent I stopped to contemplate the contrast between the white of the snow and the dark colours of the land.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059657589368326338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCGkeU95yMN8FSFV4fsWBKy_zfLp_5sNzqxjADlbFTgXbNiK2jtL8TUD5_zU80e7rKs3BK9CJhCzxHvDk8xBK-3lJGov03_xQutywh11uZQR-fPo25W9ZQz_CQ4Czclwn402dYRIGE40B/s400/19.jpg" border="0" /><br />I got up to the top at 4ish,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059657593663293650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweME1cOLmhhfAyLwCTQtvcY-EtaL8PR1ek2AoYxdwSgUYvnkWxw5akmBH7-JvVP9oiDDp-Tyb1kkfhR9q-HAJseBcn3tKiturx85yGRBDWw8tjWj9nbBj1UnjkEl98oMyH95Kyl8NW5CC/s400/20.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059661283040200930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs29IDpw2nVEX9-Oa-QwaUreWOrM0PCs9YuoPyK4BAAQUnctg2kn2_ZU1TK6xJrtPbrSZPHVIjYSIqbnYe5Elg7sAfiXfLK4E_AHmmoJI1R2IxEw-jatex8IVOa_0lOLU6UnRWwzSdcQs/s400/21.jpg" border="0" /><br />2046m the highest I have ever cycled and I had a great descent on the other side down to Disentis where I camped. When I started this day I was at 430m, I then cycled to 2046m over 40km. So that is like the hill out of Strete Gate to Strete but carring on at the same gradient for 20miles instead of 1.5miles (Slapton people will get the picture). Needless to say I was quite tired.<br /><br /><strong>Sunday 29th April (Day 38)</strong><br /><br />Aim of the day, to cross the Lucmanier Pass. I started at 1100m and had to climb to 1916m over 20 km.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059661287335168258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz68iyFmwndg8x7_GYdmxE8UR2uBpFVhgbTI9z9swxaRcV0f6tw9KUv39Q0gcnJM8QCQjlBKRaQnWbEjSSmF0ujqsTgadBhFIaDKMNyjdSlUAWZExclVct51wBgvChsE67dmPn-tPrmBUO/s400/23.jpg" border="0" /><br />I was a little tired from the previous day but I got to the top before mid day.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059661287335168274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-tZQACSyMZ2gw3k9gLWuN_ZbBA8UE-fttvLoK2WCSpHVcOuYiq8BYD4JXQRsCPlll7NT9bfFWk3yEvPFi-G2hKRozspaO54Hy9Qssgq01UZbvP6B9QxdK5f4Nn4oQpN8h8ORnsUJ4ZyJ/s400/24.jpg" border="0" /><br />The descent was amazing because I was going down off the Alps. I dropped over a mile in height in 25miles of cycling, covering the first 20 of that in an hour,<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059661291630135586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7g_ZjwmkWhtYfbvvEmCJv-KVuFOloTgNnutL_KN8q8R2ESKqYRWDY99V7wPKevB48z0EA6UYLkcJVaRZAJomHa29AHgfnTO5Z5uBG29LpGvVcmgAecTpoaTxDZnu4uTdGbwoc9zUItdh/s400/25.jpg" border="0" /> and that includes time to staop and take photo's. The best one being of this sign,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059662519990782258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3o4Vie4XxSVKVt9lQpEgCLqR-Q2m1M8R-s-eLPVY9ZjT34MmJ7xgqUUnIiy3MJi9hXPn6XTGW37hs6WKJrtYp6wunXveUj6koVfp3L1InW8xyPYFKBJzSm63Hl2eWrCpqjtwMpzjk0mF/s400/26.jpg" border="0" /><br />I do not like the way that the boy is going to die and the girl gets away. Even though the descent was amazing, I think it was the straw that broke the camels back where my tyre is concerned.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059662524285749570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAme_WZqHWmts9yRtiCoJN0uRwvgpOX0KPmPaW8qgMv5IY5PPpTgwU5LjYxwzAlcacVB4BNskESfCH8eqSoRBomySPYTXP9otIKraGv9G2lEpb5TNFlfno8qAcyPAciVcFJcKBqPUFVb5K/s400/27.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>Mon 30th April (Day 39)</strong><br /><br />Main objectives (aims, still can not work out the difference), get a new tyre for the back wheel and get to Italy. Both accomplished by 11am.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059662524285749586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYvHq8094IPOFmKR90KhbeSiUoRWZgSUhnNEF5eY9b7AO3823-6MvY_pBYQOHZzftDzE3MsdsUBvdaEPdnDTsFnMVE-ti20UOCwVGtqhXS-I69wpb4WNfQ8xYsRdk0zM2uyb1Ge4AuyfI/s400/28.jpg" border="0" /><br />Not the best photo but it had to be a sneaky one because I was told to put the camera away by the boarder gaurd. My bike was running really smooth with the new tyre, and both of them were fully inflaited by the dude in the bike shop. Really should of gone and got my tyres pumped up properly when I started this. It could of made the past 2000miles a little easier. But nevermind, if it is not one thing it is another. When I was approaching Italy with my fully inflaited tyres thinking that the bike was running very smooth, a spoke on the back wheel suddenly snapped. One spoke is not so much a problem, it is when 2 or 3 start to go. But I will see if I can get it sorted in Venice. A sticth in time save 9 and all that lot. Well any way I am in a place called Bergamo and am going to have a rest day on Tue (1st May). I passed some nice places alone the lake to get here.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059661283040200946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKUsfOADe25TTcP80OeUQQN7cFjVqXbSMmjgDdhkciEdIzln6d5c2q_Z7Q2YmJtWn_7Y4f-ZqMIyXe2A1ACo6pusAjPPUb-y2UH1EHnGoauSm90GS3zSmcO1_IOP7igO2ouq15RGpyKRU/s400/22.jpg" border="0" /><br />The housing looked almost mediterranean which is very different to what I have seen in Switzerland. I love these subtle changes that i notice as I cycle along, some gradual, some not.<br /><br />Any way people that is all, I will update again in Venice probably.</div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-52057409785150112602007-04-23T12:19:00.001-07:002007-04-25T01:22:37.039-07:00On the way to BerneOk people I am now in Bern the capital. I have now covered 1948 miles. I have just checked the donations web site and I see that it is at 2230 pounds so I am catching up. If I do not get any more donations in the next week I will of overtaken it, so you guys back there better get those bank cards out if you have not already. I will not move unless I have a target to chase. Think of me as a donkey and you are sitting on my back dangling a carrot in front of me.<br />Any way this is what has happened to me recently. <div><div><div><div><div><br /><strong>Saturday 21st April (Rest day Geneve)</strong></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I really like Geneve. I am a little bit gutted that I did not get to see more of the city. In the morning I was questioning these rest days, thinking what is the point because you are never going to see a city in a day (Unless it is St Davids in Pembrokeshire, that will only take 5 minutes). I was thinking do I get to see enough of these places to say that I have really experienced them. I was having a real dilemma. But in the end I had a little walk and saw a few sights.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273023525586546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAKctRMnkeDog6D0qaaqVeLwehfkWgoaWeS559obwO0jd_QPlXTBMtmaeQ5ZH7NMrtvFOgZbwtuq8IPqvkMy3co2OLDns863UJnmQpRnuS81RMkBoU-TTOz7qjA047PkQKYZFA4yTRecO/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv43pEbIY7xQgCD_hBItoMOXP7Gwv_iT1PplDtNNJul6YIWhVsr76PihFmZqIE8-tQzuCa-ml1IR-BIG-gqEULt7eU16qiIgu1zxLIhBmTBiFS4S2owMEzKBMTSgmsQUUZq88zKmcbOsCQ/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273019230619218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv43pEbIY7xQgCD_hBItoMOXP7Gwv_iT1PplDtNNJul6YIWhVsr76PihFmZqIE8-tQzuCa-ml1IR-BIG-gqEULt7eU16qiIgu1zxLIhBmTBiFS4S2owMEzKBMTSgmsQUUZq88zKmcbOsCQ/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tgYmQgQ7KFQnqfEGtIqkSeI9Wp__Q3epzJMx-8o-60yBd-UY5qjQE_C04c-uUIB4G6J1hepaRSj5w4yqlLX9ufYiQwj1FCI0s1ZqfN0RThO3CQ3gYxND18hedzr45d8PmMikfLzM2EWK/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273023525586530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tgYmQgQ7KFQnqfEGtIqkSeI9Wp__Q3epzJMx-8o-60yBd-UY5qjQE_C04c-uUIB4G6J1hepaRSj5w4yqlLX9ufYiQwj1FCI0s1ZqfN0RThO3CQ3gYxND18hedzr45d8PmMikfLzM2EWK/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>I then found a little park where I had a game of big chess with this dude,</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273251158853266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktQOPB5Lskr5WD_5UQPXesR_2N-TwzlKfIDW0FC0q6jAaXeH-YMRK8hzEl1cdDGF486W7agKpSjyI00oJLRUMWXLxTFDE37MWR6WIPiXlzFIuLZ4eXvvspeGJvWcTiW4zEFZRM6Aa2EQB/s400/6.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I then read a bit of my book and fell asleep. So quite a good afternoon after all. I think I have now came to understand that I can not absorb all a city has to offer in a day, it would be to draining running around to every sight. From now on when ever I stop some where, I will go and see a couple of sights then find a park to have a kip in. I think that when my body realises that it is not on the bike it starts to shut down, so I will make a nap a must on every rest day.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Interesting points about Geneve</div><div></div><div>1) There are more Porsche's and Ferrari's than there are Vauxhall Novas in Cornwall. Must be quite a high GDP.</div><div>2) There are lots of pregnant women and also lots of women in crutches. I was wandering if there is some kind of satanic fertility ritual that either ends in pregnancy or serious bodily harm ?</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Sunday 22nd April (Day 32)</strong></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>A good day for sights, I cycled along the north shore of lake Geneve. There are lots of nice settlements on the way.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273027820553858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGHt6J_Td_G_jZPZoo8Wh6dHKQ1uUs5ZzLiPQLyHmBoycQOr0BcO4VCsk4BJlvvSnDI9DEwkHob-1j3VpL_K-vZJEH8Q60T__Us-ASWwxOlvKrrD935UHKRBIB006KD0MQNAQE0aQsdDQ/s400/5.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>It was really busy since it was a Sunday, and one thing I found out about Switzerland. Buy all your food on Saturday. Not much was open so when I did manage to find some food it was from an expensive shop. Anyway all day I see the Alps over to the south of me on the other shore. At first they were in a haze,</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273014935651906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUdrmbpvm-pWVPcXtUyqDGlkcis0V2dZOqyqYkAB4yeVX26imTea-dMzYqnYSYFjD-n_m6kcaOTgTLW9nYYFActzatt_ai4wVNFMaX4ud5Z2Jf66WqZSZChHoLW-VKO9le1x0T3qQl32P/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoKpAfDD_xp-bnDB4or_A5cJ_68mWYZ2YbVLxzFilLFLbmcuUAWpH-Mlm19zhciM4G6ZZevnZjxlQKCa75f8Av96GkMCtVTWnyNBs43ZYOk6HTncSPEzrAxjUGoBB16TqvqCB_OS7Ffam/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273251158853282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoKpAfDD_xp-bnDB4or_A5cJ_68mWYZ2YbVLxzFilLFLbmcuUAWpH-Mlm19zhciM4G6ZZevnZjxlQKCa75f8Av96GkMCtVTWnyNBs43ZYOk6HTncSPEzrAxjUGoBB16TqvqCB_OS7Ffam/s400/7.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>but as the position of the sun changed and the lake became narrower as I cycled along it they became more visible.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK7b8ACw2y4j_kMY5xuriHoJqErUGanUlm5hjxNh9ZCEgDcIPrt1M8A9F5rnf3ltxcGj3OuJj2uH81D7e-THPPTRlxOzgCAXz1HBQp6lf-xzpIfYfid0k-DPCmvmAva9lRvnrfsYJn5AO/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273255453820594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK7b8ACw2y4j_kMY5xuriHoJqErUGanUlm5hjxNh9ZCEgDcIPrt1M8A9F5rnf3ltxcGj3OuJj2uH81D7e-THPPTRlxOzgCAXz1HBQp6lf-xzpIfYfid0k-DPCmvmAva9lRvnrfsYJn5AO/s400/8.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQviLjeUIXONPXlP6ZD6_nXjaBJwXRtsjWSUwtgEYxWM0MvbiYClnDPfmGnJ4D9bC3d7V0AJLTV3_NYSsnVZno61gwblhS0j-Baz58HS6ni4W6K6dIseH1I-v3TYesKbf6ZRI09DXY89oq/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273255453820610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQviLjeUIXONPXlP6ZD6_nXjaBJwXRtsjWSUwtgEYxWM0MvbiYClnDPfmGnJ4D9bC3d7V0AJLTV3_NYSsnVZno61gwblhS0j-Baz58HS6ni4W6K6dIseH1I-v3TYesKbf6ZRI09DXY89oq/s400/9.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLWVuGPcQnIGhznhODDrErax2rxO0FqhtEFiKPWLjF5u1hIWTlQMp605x7m9Gega7WvdAIyHWpiIkJob7CEyD1TU8pdYLG077bvE8CJ2ztEWwCQRIhXC84inB6xzDx2hrxLGqH7kn4BrQ/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273259748787922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLWVuGPcQnIGhznhODDrErax2rxO0FqhtEFiKPWLjF5u1hIWTlQMp605x7m9Gega7WvdAIyHWpiIkJob7CEyD1TU8pdYLG077bvE8CJ2ztEWwCQRIhXC84inB6xzDx2hrxLGqH7kn4BrQ/s400/10.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273448727348962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0h4yZXNvYItfhN9JAWKhWJICBfXPT6v6YaYcpZzf3f49JxZzFG5B831fvJxmWA9w1udzNU_kUnTYNgt2bqp2eAI2ARvKP-xngFxgkAmv88MCocU1w-XHIXWKzS7trHoqwRjrUksUECsCM/s400/11.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>At the end of the day I found a nice camp site to the east of the lake and had a cool view at sunset.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j5BEqEcAYGeZilmZlvmI6nVeXu9iYPfNvzANZCCaENlIF3AVms5d7cupkBXjTUviPB7IR8hX34hlhZwb42_hMLHL-7KOlhTtKX-n0XIXHXQ_g0EBIe3vWoynVGoROqO6m_5R7Cd1Hdu5/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273448727348978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j5BEqEcAYGeZilmZlvmI6nVeXu9iYPfNvzANZCCaENlIF3AVms5d7cupkBXjTUviPB7IR8hX34hlhZwb42_hMLHL-7KOlhTtKX-n0XIXHXQ_g0EBIe3vWoynVGoROqO6m_5R7Cd1Hdu5/s400/12.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWheZr9AFz9P1FgeKd6gL-rigBIU3kGmfbv5yHkKwZLyrRbKzlAFvep1UHQjN9hWOSsWflIMl_RGqHO4w1vEmg3EI0hSn7AYy8aqOw8i_l9C-ivrayOSIfrdGFR-kAFjW-hcIBEFZWxgVI/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273448727348994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWheZr9AFz9P1FgeKd6gL-rigBIU3kGmfbv5yHkKwZLyrRbKzlAFvep1UHQjN9hWOSsWflIMl_RGqHO4w1vEmg3EI0hSn7AYy8aqOw8i_l9C-ivrayOSIfrdGFR-kAFjW-hcIBEFZWxgVI/s400/13.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Monday 23rd April (Day 33)</strong></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>A great day. I had the morning off to go and see Chateau de Chillon.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273702130419522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFQDpGNixkUnhbZLXWjgS15qSsj51kw3KJtfxf43O8rUUxy3amXb0sJ-1pvaj_QzcQLQuVxuCvgIiGh2Iq3hfDpKkbCNgKOd66ai1BJIBw_G7NhR4iHCeE6o-bicoeMC87cBxHdZoN1W1/s400/17.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I got up earl so as to get there for opening. A wise move because as I had just about finished there it started to get really busy with lots of Americans on tour groups. Any way here is the Chateau's dungeon,</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273453022316306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzNspqWzr6cxZtbuMLUbFRDFVEG1yvfoWnAVVH0locK2foAv6x6igakeSfxV81uH8TDqb_30J3VNd7DLkCR1ubqlG9pGKTE32NDcuX5DYk2rMyQysW2MihOo3xUsCSiumYiIqP8-MzO2J/s400/14.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>cool rooms <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273702130419506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1sNG7Dtr8TOwnoiB47b-osyzeV0x_GG6xUbUrqiQn17M8HNbhbkEdz6h7woR_0MkcMnvwPhFiQL3NAC2QEooFWiLprCqdgn-AvgxYlw67SK1wgN8IahK-Kou0jZ1Nsk6X0e0OdbNAg4F/s400/16.JPG" border="0" />with good views over the lake,</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdQZxevxO6zT1cF73x0E34XV5sU4klPM4Cagz4hxIhiGekh5BiuyVGgNeR9vY1ty9OU-KfDRAg6Feeo3baf5kwnzh4872RNhOl36gh57ujaYt01rlpOEY-2s5-2OCQgNZwEDVLLhn5Z7j/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273453022316322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdQZxevxO6zT1cF73x0E34XV5sU4klPM4Cagz4hxIhiGekh5BiuyVGgNeR9vY1ty9OU-KfDRAg6Feeo3baf5kwnzh4872RNhOl36gh57ujaYt01rlpOEY-2s5-2OCQgNZwEDVLLhn5Z7j/s400/15.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>and me when I left.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273706425386834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKiXbfzQ6HHKsBgkHpNG3AOs_tHNpdifc9NW_00zJ0rUYLEmluwNQpRzgpIzngpmfV2PFYqUJWtQ74RxXGWoJ2MtX15r4aT7ukZg49-PzRkCkg3CJD0FreOADUH-S8LEGSKBJD2Y3iSIK/s400/18.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>The afternoon was spent cycling over a mountain pass of 1450m. The climb was not as bad a thought it would be considering I started at less than 400m high. It only took me 3 hours to cycle the 20km and climb over 1000m. There was a good view of the valley I was going up,</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsFBJ8U4cxfVjnDyNVtVKb7AsxXO5DNOJ11Xpt3kSeg7phBMAcgnr8dyQLQqnZ2iNLJL3L_OxP7DrCMaxL1n87ZgPjeVkiThHMZ5vjgmywDfWClALPpTF1c2grbA6Qfqwo5UIFoUzZD_z/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273706425386850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsFBJ8U4cxfVjnDyNVtVKb7AsxXO5DNOJ11Xpt3kSeg7phBMAcgnr8dyQLQqnZ2iNLJL3L_OxP7DrCMaxL1n87ZgPjeVkiThHMZ5vjgmywDfWClALPpTF1c2grbA6Qfqwo5UIFoUzZD_z/s400/19.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>which has some cool buildings on the way.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273710720354162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaLRqWw1wQ0sgJXwAquNV1fBAGAtrw_0Z5T8S4AVWgc-nv2I088Xgjs3sxuKCA7LRN02Y22u5siDWD2RhmXqmSXJiUWLFBbREAshOnrKSEua7KZgls3VwbsjHQvs5Y1TNnxS5ZFaSrREU/s400/20.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>There were lots of pockets of snow left at and near the top of the pass. I found that surprising considering how hot it was up there and has been. But that is all to do with albedoes, aspect and direct hours of sunlight.</div><div>Also I must of been quite dehydrated because all I could manage was SD.</div><div>Any way I found these little beauties high up near the snow,</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQJYnWldqk8xBpNY45CdLKmG7mUILfNKthheL-f9qSljFfu8eoahXeGNNB3GU9v9LCDw1rnFaGIU4zHF93crkUZsbOu9m6jQQrchPLkJg5WPQ9M10SDJNEkEhF9-EiZVgn0MtA3AbUTWN/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273826684471170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQJYnWldqk8xBpNY45CdLKmG7mUILfNKthheL-f9qSljFfu8eoahXeGNNB3GU9v9LCDw1rnFaGIU4zHF93crkUZsbOu9m6jQQrchPLkJg5WPQ9M10SDJNEkEhF9-EiZVgn0MtA3AbUTWN/s400/21.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>and if any one is a Band of Brothers fan you will understand the next photo.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057273826684471186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6IzDpp5AxrZ8L16puFTgvt1izqDzzh68OGOUgWLhqfPzGPwk5qMMBhtD79ljl2hQF1wCwzuWfensPi725uf11kbFdYIZdD20FrOiL_GLsKfEre6ITzgh5xlZgjZu1qPBAIhbE8Icfkcc/s400/22.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>So that is probably only Ben and Chopper. I hope it is one of them otherwise I probably look like a bit of a fool.</div><div><br /><strong>Tuesday 24th April (Day 34)</strong></div><div><br />Quite a relaxed day. I had a lay in camping terms, I got up at 8:40 when I was starting to be cooked in my tent by the sun. All I had to do was cycle 70km to Bern and it was relatively flat so no major problems. I got hear at 3pm then found a hostel. I have booked in for two nights so I can have a rest day and explore the city. Bern is possibly in a day, the centre is about twice the size of a town. So I will explore in the morning and chill in the afternoon in some park.<br />That is about all people so I hope all is well. </div><div><br />Cheers. </div></div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-24452371608386523072007-04-20T10:56:00.000-07:002007-04-20T11:22:59.172-07:00Best week yet<div><div><div><div>Ok people I have been cycling for 7 days in a row since I left Marsielle last Saturday, but I have done it. I am in Switzerland, crossed the boarder at 2:30pm today (Friday 20th April) so it will be a well earned rest day tomorrow. I have now covered a total of 1796 miles, so that has cleared up to 16 pounds worth from a Mr Steve Edmunds. This has been my best week yet.<br /><br />Friday 13th April (Rest day Marseille)<br /><br />Never really bonded with the city. When ever I seem to go abroad a visit a large city they always seem to be in the middle of a redevelopment. Maybe it will look good next year. It also did not help that I chipped my tooth and it was raining. But on the other hand I really enjoyed staying at the hostel. I had 2 good social nights theres just chilling drinking beer and talking to other people. Six 500ml bottle from Lidl for €2.68 (GOOD, GOOD)<br /><br />Saturday 14th April (Day25)<br /><br />I was in two minds whether to leave the hostel or not because I was temped by another night there, but in the end I thought I would cycle on. It took 25km worth of peddling to get out of the urban areas, but when I did I was greated by some fantastic views and some great countryside.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055570974187346722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdSFYhki9YhoAzhqUwshA_JpXxxpf6o_Rq6HEYZ8BbsBQMA9moy47xvGAp1CGS397O7HFDzmW_fAdc4nLXj9smSXVmP9rpvw2BT-AsPV2pFX2IiC5jx2E1FXnDUQqqbBxXjJs9hEkpO5p/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055570969892379410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSflaepFb24LeMpdiM8VOEGWnegwSZXjlFatsa-qNq5kezcqy4hD7wj22a6ZI62r0Hx9fGCIyRTB5qQSi1b4SVSBvmr7WWxBuuCraQepmxz4uCa3auY7L5TAzYpn3ZJo2zUg6yJtZqMjxo/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /><br />I found a magical spot for lunch on a river bank, and there were lots of wind blown seed floating in the air around me. It made it look like it was snowing.<br /><br />It was a slightly sad though because I had to say good bye to the sea.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055570974187346738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacm-5EoDvLOajkpvmSP9nan1BQQHITQfjHUw11-izG3KJvyG0jgDinbWEeoIOfhgZUUYx_8mSbliUILfVZ1Z3XK3QXVO0eH99BUSp1xg2c5TgeyZH-8p8s_DOTJKGI7VYZe4ywBPcW8T/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /><br />Not going to see it again till I get to Italy. I found a campsite though ontop of a limestone enscarpment where I had a good view as the sun was setting.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055570978482314050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLRhHe8Ud8I-YzWp-SYZl5-QjuRMNAym6v1RBbekT2EC4yovypxosoNsQ328itMj3WErAbQlmBmIkvHrZau2TtELvxi7x-HMSjmDvL8BMDXKtyAIxm6TcPAq-zQE4d8F7v7tQ6fzeHBuG/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /><br />Sunday 15th April (Day26)<br /><br />Provence is beautiful.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571141691071330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQ5__JE8xaMavVHCBKSTn7m647oUQTCyvQRR0ZeA7PUCGSiottpDRl_N7reLTPWqlDM6hChuEsLZHq2cVQafxJa1Q8kk5hh6HIz2JVABi-H_r177V2I-oSuW8U_jLh09X84ffwS6QIUX5/s400/6.JPG" border="0" /><br />I could also see what was coming up ahead.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055570978482314066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MziPMl-7u_6BKusAD3nlk4y3JSGOqGI48aXrE2sk1LyGy8mBHKiWECFsg6V_bf6wufSp5lKgH0Is2RKf8eGjrbztK8T8RWX08yYpzWt-gDDUFFaXmKPi14cPCVfkqWHdphSKtx02w5aG/s400/5.JPG" border="0" /><br />I have been out of practice of climbing hills, but they provided some good sites as I went through them.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571145986038642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxlj4cvIrvXxU38Ipp77hoXLPcAuG-P_LusoKXTlhj1kZjsXjF89Qx1k86eQv04hVvztYauNomFPYveO5Qy1GEeguzzLqQpRA_CT2XPzL4YFyIKBrji1Zr9BBH6514dsv1zrmoJDpXzi-/s400/7.JPG" border="0" /><br />I came across Avignon at 2pm which is next to the Rhone.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571145986038658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi474WrxnfrJ6lyQK-XseFKJL3z2sqk3-UYfgukC2dyQsKqlUM2RFCha1O5KiWA6IWKHpTMvMa6Emt-mdWyiCyzfNLO5tHosVQ1dC7S3VdL01BAJpIttoCD6lt_L5v3DMBhi34PLXGWWFOw/s400/8.JPG" border="0" /><br />Since it seemed so nice I descided to have the afternoon off and go and explore. The highlight was the view from the top of the palace and I could just about make out where my tent was in the camp site across the river.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571150281005970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvpYeOyYcJr5NaYr4V17hYHaGclwWlyblewCSv-xkc6m4bkVGABGyHRLILUn8BCrotFA2CjO5cbRktKAFpuuBOPj6Ui3ehda_jQrv-hGTJSxBGrj7BfPyopmK_IAxRHdScm-vPfhOyR8W/s400/9.JPG" border="0" /><br />I was starting to FADE away abit by the evening so I had a big dinner.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571150281005986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2ElQgisoq3qjOzbRiT2UKq-d4HSkEAfpS4B9mzYBuxeufMVmXgakCcZfHPPKtENc45mut8a0Aa8yWbP-2TxUP49Fau_WBBmw8FTi82NAxBkPb29n-diwRnlrJgyeUNwm3W_wVfVWYk3C/s400/10.JPG" border="0" /><br />Monday 16th April (Day27)<br /><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO<br /><br />I really seemed to cover more distance than anticipated, at one point I though I was in South America,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571313489763250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HKefQupvUX5gYmRQOowXKBhHykj44gcz4UPrP-8HM7Av6Eh7S6Gl8q8enx8GeZWj88kbhyh8J4TkmJcPhgn6dnMhWg8kVd2xfzgKPjJxLuSycZ6COnHAaGFJx39hcJX-XxRYIjx0KLL0/s400/11.JPG" border="0" /><br />The next back in Cornwall by Lands End,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571322079697890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-IuXSMxE5K0a8HSZnDNVwRDJyxe8CKKneP0ZCHjlAasxjejBajBQdP1unYL-o_IHZw65VEFTasBamK8wwzv4Z77jJwTC4b_vxZEx_YkfNUI-Q_zrp2r4-xEwW0R6veAuLcPB52jAVoCF/s400/14.JPG" border="0" /><br />Found a nice spot by a river for lunch,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571317784730562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwqeSq6j4Y78P4CVKT86zMaEEnHhgG6CYm8r8YDGbjb0VNiHXqD7fjzi__ecAcN8v4eEluAjNBTUxRKQz4kKagIKZbLYMM2daDvFf_8M4mvbh8fCiK_9U5RnJ9eWG3chsbEk9IuYr12oX/s400/12.JPG" border="0" /><br />Went for a swim, but no skinny dipping though because people where around. I had a little explore like the geographer I am and came across some evidence for some previous high flow conditions (For 2 marks describe the evidence in the picture below, answers via email please)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571317784730578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvhd3R2Waps-xEPD-I8QtRXVPZX_BCOKWIhdTKoSermPc6RfPdYoI8tEh9O9hK_6ucLEC5zHrlfik_7xXHitQ9poacJo68OKox4Rzem1JkUel6LKxclgHIgt5Il4Jab2Tg_I4KhM33SGc/s400/13.JPG" border="0" /><br />I crossed the Rhone several times this day, and at the end I stayed at a camp site that was very overpriced, good location though.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571326374665202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq1mlMFQ_bKvpoN5auvc2CEqe7HcpXzmAXEyOVSBcJLvoXMMc1UvZCG5O7_tH_iWXwL1IXNGtXqsSzjB1Pr720EbsKPU5ogb_Bv_AqGpCYf1a4wDl611S1UvLJBEbbZgYctfE5_CluXI2/s400/15.JPG" border="0" /><br />Karma, when i went to the toilet I found a whole loo roll. Fantastic I had just about ran out. In the evening some cool clouds came in over the foot hill of the Alps to my east and gave me a bit of a storm to watch. This picture is for you Tom.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp9XgR3G546JkzprZfq69hvPXNm607KKOutGBMlqMFUX6HneDJRkjLkMbId93IvZ-hmtsYLUqEpjKirvkS-jLt5MApw_-bgrHxizkVdRux726QgHbxWFtgt-RhFbnRNwpd90dS6cBorc3/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571493878389762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp9XgR3G546JkzprZfq69hvPXNm607KKOutGBMlqMFUX6HneDJRkjLkMbId93IvZ-hmtsYLUqEpjKirvkS-jLt5MApw_-bgrHxizkVdRux726QgHbxWFtgt-RhFbnRNwpd90dS6cBorc3/s400/16.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Tuesday 17th April (Day28)<br /><br />I was just about up for a cool sunrise,<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571498173357074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf8Ro4XTB8mj1fpG_yX7_GJNi1VZ9AceTinH2EXcrtiM3ho50dBCbTm6tyj6gIe4fC29mXd6ATOvziYsGR2W9z8YzA6AJ18rTWp3wIzjuXqNAi1L0q65NFmWTv8RBEKT5Q5wbtLwjW1iV/s400/17.JPG" border="0" /><br />The mission today was to go over a pass in the foot hills of the Alps. I could see what was coming from miles off.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571498173357090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiVPDchKWs9LXRZg_kRJ-3XfRt_es967V5O0OvPGJn7dBbonmqVjEPuCcUcZ2jUWo2sgld7RGuWJL9UnSssXCGsaUd0VMR2igy8fQufjp_ZkKItzPSyqS0NH3W9dm4AsZ_w9dAXl3aYH5/s400/18.JPG" border="0" /><br />It was a bugger of a climb in the heat of the afternoon considering I had already covered 60km before I got to the base and started going up. There were some good views of the nice flat Rhone valley I had been cycling along for the past couple of days.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571502468324402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthgTNi-d86OZZj83NQAAdsbRy1_AcA-eYHEUnSPbv32l-IcFkYTRRhXeRjX2kVZa7tZOXdAJGTHv1ZgrIJSXE31YfkSv0tX6hpq3QntXzp0LB21kboQJ15ghYU3xOLfMlHBNsRFwu1coR/s400/19.JPG" border="0" /><br />Got to the top and was verry tired, it had taken me 3 hours to cover 12km.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571502468324418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z-lHzDaB9tgbV4JgSEdaVgErmmTFTYNoISzENoPRp5B5On220rD843mwInO7sWWe4HZXwOx0i-Yj4ejW-m243hfd-VHq0f0bImgnjHPRTT2_AKCLTvfftBxxBw25CKDC1kHcKIv1vtqI/s400/20.JPG" border="0" /><br />Think it is higher than Snowdon. I had a great descent though following a small stream. It was not small by the end of the 19km of down hill. The descent only took 40 minutes. Any way at the end of the day I found a nice camp site by the river and went for a dip.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571665677081682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiBn6CFJb15GriBdgwKggjPugzZDU4Wnsu0IUirEy8-zQJHiqH9KJhR6x7Dnh_Fv0EikQsYBN5G35RsWR6-7qtOt_N9JMsTzLhJTAOfi7uiXY1igZBlWLn5QD_Yt4I9JXPNVaD84z8NVv/s400/21.JPG" border="0" /><br />I felt better for today because I could of just followed the Rhone and not had to climb any hills at all. I felt I had to put in some hills to pay off missing the pass over Andorra. Looking at the GPS I started at 206m then climbed to 1086m then dropped back to 300m, and concidering the route i took over the Pyrenees was 800m lower than the Andorra one, I feel much better.<br /><br />Wednesday 18th April (Day29)<br /><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECCA<br /><br />I thought that the place I had stayed in remined me of Lynmouth.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571669972048994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85gklXcJIOyxZOEgcP94gB7-LagDwelfiZ24su8zo-kGBbb3iQWHvyzcXw8TIwUnBD5hVRporArJHUgNREgwM3yBdI6b_i_QvjY9FWSh2iDeusXdeaLXQeii1Yn2rbt9P4qXkSa5aRkPP/s400/22.JPG" border="0" /><br />Some crazy building work. Looking at the map I choose to cycle through a couple of gorges. I had no idea about the climb I had infront of me through the Gorges De Bourne. My map did not show any spot heights for this bit. So as I set off I started to climb. I did not mind though because my legs were fresh and it was not to hot. I had some great views on the way up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYMiYNGqbS1QiVGhNftskEmr1RHZ6lZpU4Ghv9utaZ327FcJwy2sHgBLMYp48L7ca6JhoO1BBqZ2VmNPAGAmz7Pe_6QIWnGXYowVyVK8ENmsoRII1cegjolChVuPKnE1ZZhac3Yih_ks6/s1600-h/23.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571669972049010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYMiYNGqbS1QiVGhNftskEmr1RHZ6lZpU4Ghv9utaZ327FcJwy2sHgBLMYp48L7ca6JhoO1BBqZ2VmNPAGAmz7Pe_6QIWnGXYowVyVK8ENmsoRII1cegjolChVuPKnE1ZZhac3Yih_ks6/s400/23.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E843aI_lzl8vwg0dYNvlfPYViq3XNLR195Pg4tLoxFjoWXg85Uis2hnUSH27xTBFBlXC0xA1pk-YiF6QR6ckOvjn1VaVApNlnsh3ksv84RJDBz1XoSyxysPkJV-RZA917sRQmEPwelUc/s1600-h/24.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571674267016322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E843aI_lzl8vwg0dYNvlfPYViq3XNLR195Pg4tLoxFjoWXg85Uis2hnUSH27xTBFBlXC0xA1pk-YiF6QR6ckOvjn1VaVApNlnsh3ksv84RJDBz1XoSyxysPkJV-RZA917sRQmEPwelUc/s400/24.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Finally got to the top and it was this flat valley pass at 1011m. You can still see some snow on the tops of the mountains to either side.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571674267016338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNy-GyPVYBR1yx1PM_2ZEOOmaFHUTD9IcVcK0MBkqGr_85Pe_YQ7m8MAZ2sqWWuY1B5XATXs1Opajmf5Qjx_ei1J3zgoVozeGkL-epndzrGfwXoPJrmjc7tk5EXfYqPTNUGPGX90zEjHe/s400/25.JPG" border="0" /><br />I then had an even better descent than the day before down through Gorges D’ Engling.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571867540544674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQs1qoAYG7M9CfyKvXuJv02IEtRudLVxRUoNiCPFnD71Dfn5iR0XMksa3XxhFZrNdWIt2vSN92kD9JSxcNdW8G8kx_EWiD-0-Za1s80S87SWL8meMSUnHSKUvcRDE8zn5FgIDC17vCAaG/s400/26.JPG" border="0" />Again this day I had another climb to over 1000m that I did not know I was going to do and which could of been avoided as the other one could of. So I do deffinatly not feel guilty now.<br /><br />Thursday 19th (Day30)<br /><br />Objective, cycle as far as possible and get as close to Switzerland as I could. So I chose to cycle on the flat valley floors and just look at the mountains around me.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571867540544690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex-UmPX95o2QrE4ygoSbCreAH506vNBhRRqr7l3vbLGDTBBK2JT-mvspuAy9lUmcoky2trjKM25Xgl0SlnPFwhH-DQhQf2Bm1Tv6yJJ0zHsg1VHow_woVNYMZEN4J77QVpbyEaYIzLIy1/s400/27.JPG" border="0" /><br />I also found some pritty cool cycle paths and one of them made me feel like I was a giant. It looks like a mini road with mini trees to the side.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055574491765562610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniMupUOtAE29k_x-7u60kgfzIaAMwSJUZoaD9TPqZB48lGglXiWLjzS3nvo5ecg7lCcuminHHLcq8FQocRKMm1Wi6kjVm0fTaWvUEWufzMLgqhBGzNZNN0-F3BeQPBoZuB2jtOLBHlf7k/s400/28.JPG" border="0" /><br />Friday 20th (Day31)<br /><br />The previous day I found a cool camp site next to Lac Du Bourget. I wanted to get to Geneve as soon as possible so I had an early start and was packed and on the bike by 7:20am. The lake was so calm this morning.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571871835512018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69yXkZppo3vV5Bn1WF-gen4XQx89_LFkC7XMYKSGe88XXSbffm3q3N3v0hpnYvylhzp-s2cAD5RjZ7hVSw75MR_mSIHot72bzfBJX04HYFggFtP4xr-l0GD8JULyX2JcZLxPqAQGExKPV/s400/29.JPG" border="0" /><br />I just carried on cycling as fast as I could to get here and I crossed the boarder into Switzerland at 2:30pm.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055571871835512034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcu8tIpNWk30hdUqNcBnCp4zsuwNt9xwX2Lr5Z9ZSxZEwnP2MKxfadjLJjc7xmv3pO6xx9IcpwaIY3fsP1Q8Ns4-NjC3zV-BF5Y3KaIcc6blwijG1rPmp1Me1wfmR_WNXTUcfYhnERsZp/s400/30.JPG" border="0" /><br />At least I think this is the boarder. There was no signs, I just noticed a change in the number plates and the road signs and traffic lights seemed a little different. I was expecting much more because I thought Switzerland controlled its boarders a little more.<br /><br />Any way that is my week. It has been the best week yet in terms of cycling. I’ll have a well earned day off in Geneve tomorrow and then carry on.<br /><br />Cheers, I’ll keep you posted.</div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-33199585391323521942007-04-13T02:17:00.000-07:002007-04-13T02:43:27.960-07:00From snow to sun, sea and sandOk people, I am now in Marseille and I have been in France for a week now. I have been taking it a bit easier so I have not covered as many miles this week. The total is now up to 1401. So that means I have 19 miles left till I have cleared the Slapton donation. Again if you wish to hear of the ride read on. Some of the days this week just blended into each other so there will not be major stories I am afraid this week.<br /><div><div><div><div><br />Thursday 5th April (Day 18)</div><div><br />As I said on the video I decided not to go over the pass in Andorra at 2400m due to a shead load of snow.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840181257667250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2z6xEJOg832O-__1ziVEg7Gi972SJnOITpY_d44HSCYVdsCQX-dKcwFOaY_C9yWnZMr79wDtoVBxH-FGx3WXVkP6O8s9YO-dcrdLGgQCyaq8AX_mSP_dCl3ly8FSAHRlZ7KUVwweJrLJ/s400/IMG_2445.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />So I took what I thought was the easier option of a pass at 1345m. I was a litlle mistaken because there was a fold in my map and in actual fact there was another pass along my route that is 1582m which I did not see till I got there. So off I went, I left my hostel in Andorra at 8:30 and crossed the boarder back into Spain at 9:00, I only spent 5 hours in Spain this time befor I got to the French Boarder.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840181257667266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzEt4PMdzCBj1nGHH6o-R9onMLhUX6UyfEZlqKaboKvL8kBFTtGGadR_PUnb61uHsH2JWu3iU9VwucxL0MK1Kglfn9HFZf2kqaShxlpwJ84CrGC8FxS7O3ZdfY4bKH8w6AUSNFOI7KJrC/s400/IMG_2447.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />It would of been less time but I had to do a bit of work on the bike. I changed the rear brake pads, thought it would be for the best considering I was about to descend off the Pyrenees. When I started climbing up to the pass and got to about 1400m it started to snow and get quite cold, I was battling against a bitter head wind as well so spirits were low. The pass is like an open moorland so there was no place to shelter so I just had to keep going on. If I stopped for any amount of time I got very cold. Finially got to the top at about 4ish then the fun started. The next 20km was an amazing bit of down hill, lots of hair pins. It was a good job that I had fresh brake pads because it was wet as well so I could not go as fast as I would of liked. I was actually alot colder on the descent than at the top of the pass. In that first 20km I dropped from over 1500m to 650m. I did not have to peddle at all. That is why I was so cold because the snow turnrd back to rain and I was wet down hill into the wind not generating any heat. Still fun though. Did more cycling than expected which was a good thing because i found a nice camp site about 30km from the coast so it was only at 300m high. The first night since I started my ride that I was not cold in my tent.</div><div><br />Friday, Saturday & Sunday (Days 19, 20 & 21)</div><div><br />These days all seemed to be the same. I got down to the coast on friday afternoon which I was overjoyed at to see the sea. So I went for a little swim, there is no problem trying to find a camp site in the south of France as you can see.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840185552634578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrYpMf5TD0-dieG6CAtCbW6483vVfFZVyl6jYT4YyrMiuq4TjYxgmgAPmNWW79rNLsvtylcGELsiH8jPUWKA5I_W55NlorXIj__DqILajoPlo4ECzxfulYVJXTS2A3wjj78C7qsnJoFDt/s400/IMG_2461.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />But I did not really bond with this coastline. It just reminded me of Eastbourne or Minehead, I wanted cliffs and little coves but there was none. The one saving grace is that since this area is so flat. I think that in the 3 days I spent cycling along this bit of the coast towards Marseille I only climbed above 10m twice and that was only for a couple of minutes each time. Because of the topography this area has got lots of salt marshes and I raelly liked these.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840194142569202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloZY3le_ZvrFeyAPQynYGgjqnLSfInBGWJlmMGeh5i9DriaeQsb79WcqPl_YkEKvqtoptgVm-RnIT2ZgIfJ8ZJuywjx4GqKXP5WdzAOp-tu8p1ggxn1P3I94KptojFM-EHaB7F8OZtAj5/s400/IMG_2481.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />The smell remined me of home and I thought about days out on the Avon estuary so I had a big smile on my face. There were some nice little towns as well thay seemed to have modelled them selfs on venice.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840731013481250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctKJ8ktUpZ51roRZarE_TZUhUCpC3_Cu0gpwRl3KQEpaV54ai6JJdqL_TvL-nLMUaCKmbM4l5pqSGr4-GrP7OBccbIhKkYNJ53HwZ5AyYskuC5jkzbLQitMTW5_3ojcJF-RRo_N3l_DUb/s400/IMG_2501.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />But if it is one thing I really love about the French, they sure know how to make a good cycle route. Some of these days I was hardly on any roads.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840726718513922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9enbri72_8ReFKGXdqCgxLxuA9t74vmi56N5kktpMmARLRoaRUBu2-OMUEcQ11KqP8H2LVVzB-4U6xe2CIr5tRJGuOFXzvfGCe1PjqGfeANwRwZ0dCKEbghNE5SqErQocbmsoP5otlI2/s400/IMG_2485.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840726718513938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7baDZuMsPdhmHGbOHUyZgMZqIhIoCxGSPzx6XKNib-H5hUjoUyI8IANEr4twXKz56gYNPY0tPz_Krfj_69ROz5resm_YdIwGPKTvBi2P1tBNXM-sBwE8BVK4A6SPZesf8b44WRYRVdBWI/s400/IMG_2496.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840189847601890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLRj_XFQWO3S5YbKS1wic9jf4x3LPURAaVv7RoweAmvY3DTsELs5e2MWZeTMYHkmNjSRQrQFQtCQ6ogstyuUIGl3s3QB4lwkQRYpQ2qK20slR9Tx2P9UrThXmXjuFkbCLsEHKGJ3ooWkY/s400/IMG_2465.JPG" border="0" /><br />Monday 9th April (Day 22)</div><div><br />This was a good day, due to all the cycling though the salt marshes I really wanted to go kayaking. I found out that there was a kayak hire centre on my route on the Petit Rhone. I was thinking that I would have a couple hours paddle and then cycle on. The deal at the place is that you kayak down 10km of the river then he comes and picks you up and the kayak, or in my case (which was his suggestion) he brought my bike down to me. So in actual fact guys I will not of peddled all the way, 10km will of been paddled. Justification there is only one letter different between the two words (the way I spell them any way) and I would of burnt alot more energy in 10km of kayaking than 10km of cycling. So I hope I have not voided this whole trip of mine. Any way graet river,<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840731013481266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99C3Li1GKGxciirfvjRJElBRxUh3KKvZiV4yz5UyBlMqq_xnajMiyeqhOJNgIEH6LJLminlEbcg-vNHeNqnm5doq6ltkQDiGP0JAd-5hQYf-_JsRuX0bwt3lmE-L3shZux0sPOZ7XtVbQ/s400/IMG_2532.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />I do find the name confussing though. Doesn't Petit mean small, it is larger than any river I have seen in the uk. The other great thing about this day is that when I finished the paddle and got my bike back, I just happened to hear a couple of people talking English. I went over and started to talk to them and infact they are from England. I probably seemed to excited at first but these guys were the first English people I have seen since I left. It was all cool though, we had a bit of a chat and they gave me lots of red wine which incidently made the rest of the days cycle ride rather interesting. They also told me that is was Easter Monday, I woundered why it was so busy in the past couple of days.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052840735308448578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYu2ptjI4HWYktuUfg51DvWyWXZ8MxQ6rob1vo_OOE6mvEw92ayBX5g8bg1ZnZxkaHfSI5wG7jDmwEmg1eAtAZkrvC3ww6FSs7dxJeoMvZexdXVVfLzZ0e_JKLnP3bdWirt-_mB_wF0sC/s400/IMG_2538.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />Tuesday 10th April (Day 23)</div><div><br />Again another good day, the first bit was along a cycle track which lasted for 28km going thought the salt marshes of the Rhone delta. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052841083200799618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKgDt6mG_ronVetZ7jQjPSKrvDu5tD11_S6pE7h-BrpI7c2X4h1ogIaaJHX7uVfLa1lYGsf_ZpdnoDD_ixKhKfTqxCDn5Wk9qg_TqpO1EDIz-TWrqN5qyUDBtj5Ruy1u8rxI-KG4Tbfun/s400/IMG_2570.JPG" border="0" />Fantastic area and I never new that you would find these in france.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052841078905832274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePlAz8ZLqutHsQeDWJxZYH5zegJmAjH6lEmVtEH97zbPhLQSrSMxzt8pTFsfjD4htxh8z61n2l1PP2jVPvL3NxZNUp9G5KN4hyphenhypheni8e6lq5aQQOnDUD3X9LWFALJA9rSvR0TyE98_FZM6XF/s400/IMG_2548.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052841078905832290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8kShpmxlwmrW3I6M1d874s1iS_w21wAXB5af3d6_gHG7Ai8pOoxU1QkNd23sLkcl8ALLQxy1cB0uoGE4dD4Uq161Z3pNtxCrCBhZIHmdhItxGc4ZFEwNeyOS6BRyh3NlRCaAmycoAdrJ/s400/IMG_2558.JPG" border="0" /><br />I also saw this that remined me of Slapton. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052841078905832306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgi6BqcKQ94345VVr_9A67yQnrN_S-YHEuLVncRpNyPL_fCXZSvw5_ZOYX64o6ZorzXPDvNdvvNX0Z3255vzOlRnNXWWzko1nX81etV-Oe9S0Y4lgtGj_6AkUtyR2qnsAdkf9DZCouWba/s400/IMG_2565.JPG" border="0" /><br />At the end of the day I finially found what I was looking for in a coast and found a camp site overlooking this small bay.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052841083200799634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLWINyL4RpYq0OA96VhxZoW68-ECxheCJDhueCcQ5a66jEI9s5DwSxtMDugYm2zsU0uDThMyHFw_Mrv2bmqw3gc2XxZNUyKCIjmpT380ktcqYQHXSe6eRtsozvp4WbPOcoDwCRIyoCftm/s400/IMG_2576.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br />Wednesday 11th April (Rest dat)</div><div><br />Since it was such a cool little spot and not full of tourists I thought I would have a day off and walk along the coast path for a bit. Great little area and such a nice day, all I pretty much did was go for a swim and read my book. It remined me of Porth Clais on the Pembrokshire coast.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052841246409556898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsQ8mmWbEGYwFj9n4rcLMqqh8lICrcZD9XIe5uoCdLCjBo6oPv5sAyyLbAlmaHVHgoMcRnfHzyBRNXVAPXtL1jop4SMkLV9PMI1qYHbGZlebitbQMrUdeRii26JK0x-vYiUwaa3thcpf8/s400/IMG_2580.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052841250704524210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp23-rkHBBNEXYgQElC7aczWwuj8-1-oP3ChpW5VHUgSRrEDNZOKc-Vc8cBfS_bulZQZV9fWfqgixXaUEPhkkiYLB8Vf1LTftYPt4cYvw19jxIf5HPZK3Jqh73PAfUd9oN_3-lPZmYBX12/s400/IMG_2581.JPG" border="0" /><br />Thursay 12th April (Day 24)<br /><div><br />Not much to say really, the aim was to get to Marseille and find a youth hostel which hopefully has a bit of social life. Found this place about 3km for the city centre and before I even checked in I got talking to this cool dutch guy who is down for the weekend and we went out for a few beers last night. Fantastic.</div><div><br />The plan now, have a little look around the town today. Maybe stay tomorrow as well. I have not made up my mind yet. So I will either get back on the bike tomorrow or Sunday. I will then head up along the Rhone to Valence and then head north east towards Switzerland. Depending on the conditions I reckon it could be around 6 days of cycling from here so I could cross the boarder some time next weekend. Any way guys that is all, I hope you are all well back home, I'll see ya when I see ya.</div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-13090174318304035602007-04-04T11:48:00.000-07:002007-04-04T11:55:42.979-07:00Not so much a rest dayWOW and OW. Ow as in the damage to my wallet, and ow as the damage to my ass, knee and various other extremities. What a fun day though, I hardly got any sleep last night, I was like a kid on christmas eve. Got there relativly early to get the equipment sorted. I have only been snowboarding once before and that was 5 years ago. I could not work out how to put it on at first so I had to position my self next to another snowboarder to work it out. Had a little play around.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049647207275393986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zN41kme2WRu4yrNfXVXYSSYv6G1dwXex-MCyTLFI2rGKh5p6_0ovRx5TJ_uIXaAqB2uGS1y3YwDXJB8XeUzENLhbGwAe2OMSoT6uJfJ8Dgdui5nc59kWFo27jWGPOm-Oxo152k6dshyphenhyphenz/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /><br />I then ventured to the magic carpet. I have a bit of a phobia about these things because memories of my first attemp getting on one of these things came flooding back to me. I caused a bit of a mass pile up due to falling over when trying to get off it. But all was good this time round. Had a go at this a couple of times and all was good.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049647211570361298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6nR9NsTNXxAJB4LrvFponcvP9yZPDVasmKdmeQTZWmfkcmHRca5eGUarMpDFW8Hbf6qKemKr-NN6x6n9rKtU-o6rwzj1C5cDF1CCWYrGJt0m7GFZriKPmChJ3vq3WqAAwiXbB8mEWeEJ/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /><br />But I could not remember any thing from 5 years ago so I thought I better get a bit of a lesson. It was a bit costly, but at least it was on a one to one basis. Since I had some basic skills he took straight to the chair lift. Considering that I am not to good around heights, I loved it. I then had a couple runs with him down this larger slope and all was good and thast was the hour. So I spent the rest of the day going up on the chair lift ,which incidently I never mastered the dismount. Mine was more of a slide, fall and then roll over out of the way before the next chair came alone.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049647215865328610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLowhS9WM94kp_NlgWbTM7LDhoWkOoax24vonGgeaNOXcCt36DyqjPamnajkOIqAFdKlawEgRIRrPvaQd1E_GfK0dmPUQX_uk-CY9XN3W7AlQ5uV2t1Q_8qhpGtxnz7qK1sfowu9xFBir5/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /><br />After which when I managed to get to my feet I then boarding down the slope. Much fun.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049647215865328626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31SePS6B2WIxev3G83sbyy7eknmzVc6ovzpK_6k_fMd8jd6nKwpyeA8vhkyGTFPwclXSf-dNsUXAdT904s4gEL9KaUdIyRj7fBSdDUtgvhjE97AXifbXFIVbEHjX91nBDV5u5YAM9M4Vc/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /><br />All was good and on one attemp I was going down quite fast for me, and you can probably guess what happened next. I stacked it big time and it knocked the wind out of me for a bit and causes a few minor bumps. When I got to the bottom it was 3pm so I thought I would have one last go since I was getting a bit tiered. Probably a mistake because I could not stay up right. All skill had been lost in a haze of tieredness.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049647220160295938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Xg_d6rJmO94Czr4_Ab1GibV9_Q1lbBLPrMZnTOB8byLPhRiyr-sypSETbPzY6zqjI1IGtynohWy1OeZbkyqvM7bjn0gxqhdq9YVKnzXh1x6LsCDh8FW56BXJw_Rf2wVmarfmJonVaeD/s400/5.JPG" border="0" /><br />Over all a thougherly enjoyable day, but I have descided to leave it there. Reasons:<br />1) Due to the cost of the day and hire of eqipment.<br />2) I am worried that I will have an injury that would affect my ability to cycle. I just kept thinking of how it took my ankle 2 months to heel after that game of hocky at new year and there was a twinge or two in it today.<br />3) Finially even though I had graet fun, I see it as a more social event and since none of you guys were there I think I will just leave it as a good day out.<br /><br />Now people I am going to have to ask for your forgiveness. I have descided not to attemp the pass over Andorra. Seeing the amount of snow today at 2000m (a depth of about 1m), I´m thinking that the pass at 2400m will be a little bit dodgy on a fully laiden touring bike. Possibly a bit of ice as well. So I am going to go for the 1300m pass. The bad thing about this is that I am going to have to back track for 20km to Spain to get on the road that I need. But I feel it is the safer more practicle option. I want to go extreem but it is probably to much. It is still a pass in the Pyrenees, I´ll try and make up for it in the Alps. The one good thing I can say about have to back track is that tomorrow I will have cycled in 3 countries in one day. Start in Andorra, go though a bit of Spain and cross into France some time in the afternoon.<br /><br />Cheers.Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-79406209797782090952007-04-03T12:49:00.001-07:002007-04-03T13:24:20.252-07:00Hello Andorra<div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />Well hello guys. I am now chilling out with my first beer in ages updating this web site. I have now covered 1027 miles so that puts me somewhere in paying off Slapton. Read on to hear of my adventures.<br /><br />Friday 30th March (Rest Day)<br /><br />Not much to say about Zaragoza really. I had a nice relaxed time walking around and found a nice cake shop, which I happened to visit more than once.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUOEgKkesWOB7TBONX_arrgH2T44exEFMk0RHFAXeeDQKzYq-8IR-eTO3G_1aDBxdc5IGIzYZ8nME3hYxnfa3zdTmk06zLTCYPel4wq1RN44KvbJ8eP60fxkhNEknhcT07gxokm3a16NC/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049297647637914402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUOEgKkesWOB7TBONX_arrgH2T44exEFMk0RHFAXeeDQKzYq-8IR-eTO3G_1aDBxdc5IGIzYZ8nME3hYxnfa3zdTmk06zLTCYPel4wq1RN44KvbJ8eP60fxkhNEknhcT07gxokm3a16NC/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcpiiW9tu5HLA0ffbBUx7lkzNnw6igHN7QG0SLDpyvtw8b3HcAH-URCcqoYX0GGrKjZbFBJzx6T-Oy-D87lWwWib8oW3krCvvsM8Yqn__cxJb1O6FvajBzsnmlKdipGgeuMPo3tAFjtMb/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049297647637914418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcpiiW9tu5HLA0ffbBUx7lkzNnw6igHN7QG0SLDpyvtw8b3HcAH-URCcqoYX0GGrKjZbFBJzx6T-Oy-D87lWwWib8oW3krCvvsM8Yqn__cxJb1O6FvajBzsnmlKdipGgeuMPo3tAFjtMb/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUtOJGUqI-kEU8sXYSQ78wSnrSqffBFsgFoo6_xm2-hxMn2Mfk6bh5IklwZckhnT1FL7yfNWDb0vL91HvPrN9AU6GUHhtxL-N0Ae1lb6rQ__GEkrPDzo_4Xp5rBXuLPnWlZzWvP0MTVlM/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049297651932881730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUtOJGUqI-kEU8sXYSQ78wSnrSqffBFsgFoo6_xm2-hxMn2Mfk6bh5IklwZckhnT1FL7yfNWDb0vL91HvPrN9AU6GUHhtxL-N0Ae1lb6rQ__GEkrPDzo_4Xp5rBXuLPnWlZzWvP0MTVlM/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Saturday 31st March (Day 14)<br /><br />What a day. I did a lot more cycling than intended. I set off at 10am with the wind behind me. The first bit was a climb to over 600m. But on the way I saw something that reminded me of Cornwall. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EKkoPNvDGjqYvvhSJ4D_HGAJHGRSWdgueCJlNQ5Lsvh2hp_LAJwaGAZH_v3JtNUUa4z8gsIYefVMO79geJ_ThmoYml-yjcrPOIaP86F5pPBM-ArnBtLMXUA_PHC9tuMYFetGg_Fn42PQ/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049297651932881746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EKkoPNvDGjqYvvhSJ4D_HGAJHGRSWdgueCJlNQ5Lsvh2hp_LAJwaGAZH_v3JtNUUa4z8gsIYefVMO79geJ_ThmoYml-yjcrPOIaP86F5pPBM-ArnBtLMXUA_PHC9tuMYFetGg_Fn42PQ/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I think they look very much like the three bladed vepa´s just out side Delabole. Any way after that the descent was great due to the tail wind and I really clocked up some km´s. I thought that while the weather was good and I had the energy since I was well rested I should push on.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7JpUiOYnuiAc5TiNPaT9s9JvcTAqlNKO7y71TqTv8LXw4k3iKWCsSpGulU7lsT4sCycbwsPFFetEJFNzkcsGCAhfgsfS4yUNjVM9mootYesQGkr8sLhseDG7N0LMHxjhDLaHggTcgAQz/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298111494382450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7JpUiOYnuiAc5TiNPaT9s9JvcTAqlNKO7y71TqTv8LXw4k3iKWCsSpGulU7lsT4sCycbwsPFFetEJFNzkcsGCAhfgsfS4yUNjVM9mootYesQGkr8sLhseDG7N0LMHxjhDLaHggTcgAQz/s400/6.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYaniX68Nl0WexQrDJ-AWZunOQqbdkFlT32td0ON4Abzzv1DtuPal-ne1tSjLI5RqKxvXJaHWAegbTmeyYz0szwvEpl4crOLS1_LHIIPamm1lmQxb2k0O1XgyqCN4Y-iiEGIMoawvTb5o/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298115789349762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYaniX68Nl0WexQrDJ-AWZunOQqbdkFlT32td0ON4Abzzv1DtuPal-ne1tSjLI5RqKxvXJaHWAegbTmeyYz0szwvEpl4crOLS1_LHIIPamm1lmQxb2k0O1XgyqCN4Y-iiEGIMoawvTb5o/s400/7.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049297656227849058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9l8y_-4WaDXwdT7pX0PjkVaGjfyu22XMbx20-mRMlw0pG9uivLaiAJdmPc0-UgJ7qx5qK8kBE2J5gg-dtXsrcxt_rhqGPTU2j4cPlP45p8AKwME6mqZ18tppC1YpzFfHbodoq5KZAbHA/s400/5.JPG" border="0" /><br />When I got to Balaguer my revised destination due to good conditions, I found that there was no hostel and only a hotel. It was starting to get dark but there was a camp site a further 10km along my route so again I pushed on in the dark. When I got there I found that it was 5km down a dead end so I though I can not be bothered with that, I will carry on till I find a good place to wild camp. Found a nice spot by a river and picthed my tent at 10pm after covering 204km (127miles). It was quite a comfertable night apart from the sounds of a wild hog of some kind rooting around my tent. Next time I wild camp I am going to make sure that my knife is by my side.<br /><br />Sunday April 1st (Day 15)<br /><br />Very, very, very wat night so quite a damp start to the day. Woke up to nice views of the Rio Serge which I camped next to. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LyS1AU59qVe4Ihryv7OhVxD01bXkyDfhmWCK0tCkuFriaaC-Xe1iZx9eehXdOHk39WM9anNccCdmn-2xmDGJq3PpzaA_KoStuLMwkfe1GfCJXjWd8MBhNu7VnP3pqIvpcQIGjR_3C6Qx/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298120084317074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LyS1AU59qVe4Ihryv7OhVxD01bXkyDfhmWCK0tCkuFriaaC-Xe1iZx9eehXdOHk39WM9anNccCdmn-2xmDGJq3PpzaA_KoStuLMwkfe1GfCJXjWd8MBhNu7VnP3pqIvpcQIGjR_3C6Qx/s400/8.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7drrMXUFlrtQMYiADKs0FD5pHxgEPAZnz89fcVn5qVQxjfN536fg8IDit24Z3uucSR9h09A3Cc_O4tHmbx2KkbFeAxtGeaiZqLm9KAUWkrjgmYjafZ69vgYX1GUhwLcnjXYeU1f1rbr2/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298120084317090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7drrMXUFlrtQMYiADKs0FD5pHxgEPAZnz89fcVn5qVQxjfN536fg8IDit24Z3uucSR9h09A3Cc_O4tHmbx2KkbFeAxtGeaiZqLm9KAUWkrjgmYjafZ69vgYX1GUhwLcnjXYeU1f1rbr2/s400/9.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was quite tierd this day and with the weather I was soaked and quite cold. Needless to say motivation was at a low point. When I got to a place called Tremp at 3pm I gave up after only covering 40km, but considering the average over 2 days still pretty good. It was Sunday and every thing was closed. I could see snow on the hills around me which are only 800m high so I started to seriously question my planned route through Andorra. If there is snow at 800m and I was cold and wet, what is it going to be like at 2400m through Andorra. Not a good day, when I was in the hostel I took my trainers off and there was a lake of water in rach one.<br /><br />Monday 2nd April (Day 16)<br /><br />What a difference a day makes. It was nice and bright out side when I got up. First thing I had to do was to repair a puncher that I must of picked up from the previos day. When I finally got going it was into a visious head wind. It was so strong I had to cycle down hill otherwise I would of stopped. The plan was to attemp a pass at 1300m to assess the conditions and see if the pass across Andorra was possible. It was fine, only a trace of snow at 1300m and some grat down hill sections on the other side. I did not have to peddle for 10km. Some good views as well. Saw some thing on the road that reminded me of Andy´s t-shirt. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298124379284402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1msJflQvJ2aHc-FaEc3arR6Bbc3DGGW-ve5FQw3FNWep6M_Qc55d2nhcovNpvTccQh_YruNoX__X2uBNGhfXeuBW4iSgpveqBhX-g4y8kDkK4s750KYp-fKonpdzMJYw7VulW7fJ0xB1y/s400/10.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3joAde7cmUImye2L3adSLzl2OWgGDUZoEmq8mmrMn2J6sL28CgTAeodTuV_KyDDGVVbcUgtIQDGGhxs7xlbCnu5w6TAM3siAQZDxciTpaSqvAX4APogoUh4b5cXfXqKMxWwn7_mIi8PQY/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298493746471874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3joAde7cmUImye2L3adSLzl2OWgGDUZoEmq8mmrMn2J6sL28CgTAeodTuV_KyDDGVVbcUgtIQDGGhxs7xlbCnu5w6TAM3siAQZDxciTpaSqvAX4APogoUh4b5cXfXqKMxWwn7_mIi8PQY/s400/11.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkSISx7ykSazPS0CRG0uJK_S6ef0GXDjc7XPSsYmxu0btaQsT1n27XFp8WmrwT_SAfH5rYlb-QP0G8FBdnR9FntnU2qsxvCFsUCS_-YcT3ZKv04F7oDLV8OMYequfr0wkHVhSN-TtbLkK/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298493746471890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkSISx7ykSazPS0CRG0uJK_S6ef0GXDjc7XPSsYmxu0btaQsT1n27XFp8WmrwT_SAfH5rYlb-QP0G8FBdnR9FntnU2qsxvCFsUCS_-YcT3ZKv04F7oDLV8OMYequfr0wkHVhSN-TtbLkK/s400/12.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCqQNOE3goS_piS7YgkOEFIsmlAV90n3_neTmfQ-pVVJnh1sgaG2TBh_2x4SgPrsMPYNRqE-slKd4JigkFDD7f3R2Lrl7KMndIdRa9G8XXuAuWCCRK9v2ZmE7N8_njFXKy32DuSg7-os2/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298498041439202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCqQNOE3goS_piS7YgkOEFIsmlAV90n3_neTmfQ-pVVJnh1sgaG2TBh_2x4SgPrsMPYNRqE-slKd4JigkFDD7f3R2Lrl7KMndIdRa9G8XXuAuWCCRK9v2ZmE7N8_njFXKy32DuSg7-os2/s400/13.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />At the end of this my spirits where lifted especially when I saw a sign that said Andorra 37km so I pushed on. Along the way I passed a very special point. 1609.3km, thats 1000miles to you and I so I had a little selibration (A kiwi fruit) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY3Ara0gQMeeOZ_db5anYYlMifMumNKGFGGXmV4L6wgpsSb0wEesuRqsXiAdBNJGquBHsNM04guuqvDbzBJ255FFAu6E_L4fXmbY71kpb2U2vICyDY8czJAyMt9HKbeQMw4pbiOVXIK4H/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298498041439218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY3Ara0gQMeeOZ_db5anYYlMifMumNKGFGGXmV4L6wgpsSb0wEesuRqsXiAdBNJGquBHsNM04guuqvDbzBJ255FFAu6E_L4fXmbY71kpb2U2vICyDY8czJAyMt9HKbeQMw4pbiOVXIK4H/s400/14.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgJFeif2lOL6UhAwSqUyoWhB7Cgf2jv1Ov5U241Mw-2Oykmxv0O_7RZD3PlWIWdZcSWUz2rLQiI9TYjTOB6zt5lGueKmW6GPWsbj5q-w-l8iHYKdO-yQvhGOblDvPRCyKqESukfnY4w_a/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298502336406530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgJFeif2lOL6UhAwSqUyoWhB7Cgf2jv1Ov5U241Mw-2Oykmxv0O_7RZD3PlWIWdZcSWUz2rLQiI9TYjTOB6zt5lGueKmW6GPWsbj5q-w-l8iHYKdO-yQvhGOblDvPRCyKqESukfnY4w_a/s400/15.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I found a camp site 13km short of the boarder so I pitched ny tent there for the night.<br /><br />Tuesday 3rd April (Day 17)<br /><br />I am most happy now because I am now out of Spain. It was just such a huge obsticle in my way. I crossed into Andorra at 12pm and have had a huge smile on my face since.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktPU7hAK-YWGiRYrzQFZA1otYt_c6sljY2tDQJ-Qd6eJTvsiMKe8hxW0rh2PN5nCaIrJQsSkm4d_bXVtVeJ4ERo6e8B-Ta2XLmii8SC1S6PGtkdXu60SzoWEIIHJ0WfjV5TWzDNYR5hab/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298712789804082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktPU7hAK-YWGiRYrzQFZA1otYt_c6sljY2tDQJ-Qd6eJTvsiMKe8hxW0rh2PN5nCaIrJQsSkm4d_bXVtVeJ4ERo6e8B-Ta2XLmii8SC1S6PGtkdXu60SzoWEIIHJ0WfjV5TWzDNYR5hab/s400/19.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I think I will chill out for a couple of days here and go snow boarding. Only done it once before. It would be more fun with others, but by myself at least no one will laugh at me. I´ll try and get a comedy video though. Just thought, I did not opt for winter sports on my travel insurance. I am sure I´ll be fine. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMutjyxe7gG6HNnK14pTD5EuyzFBRNfT48VFSzQD5fjhBzQ9VJS7CExYGOpSFpAKTFO7hUg3nIirYG3OMw5Ywvm8fhS9ZoroqvO9COmfVnuBDnAv2n87LTS04fiUxzCpJdoBS2Jk5ioES/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298708494836754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMutjyxe7gG6HNnK14pTD5EuyzFBRNfT48VFSzQD5fjhBzQ9VJS7CExYGOpSFpAKTFO7hUg3nIirYG3OMw5Ywvm8fhS9ZoroqvO9COmfVnuBDnAv2n87LTS04fiUxzCpJdoBS2Jk5ioES/s400/16.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Final point, how happy am I that I have found jaffa cakes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N9MCCnrBJePH_3XTGG74L7V8BLxZiXKaRw-QOiZ9LJOWpm9U5nmgjk8lKLrSbiGzzXItdF_fTsTCCg4e7oV7vBAmAejH9G7dzmYpUxnFPOcm6wJwCWi5KbWoFooInQtjq6eyRxOMNw7Q/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049298712789804066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N9MCCnrBJePH_3XTGG74L7V8BLxZiXKaRw-QOiZ9LJOWpm9U5nmgjk8lKLrSbiGzzXItdF_fTsTCCg4e7oV7vBAmAejH9G7dzmYpUxnFPOcm6wJwCWi5KbWoFooInQtjq6eyRxOMNw7Q/s400/17.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cheers guys, I´ll keep you posted</div></div></div></div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-53263508938445280182007-03-29T06:25:00.000-07:002007-03-30T01:47:34.512-07:00What a WeekOk people it has been quite a week since I last updated this web site inPlasencia. It has been full of ups and downs (more topagraphical than emotional). I have had 7 full days cycling and this morning (Today being Thursday 29th March). My total milage is now up to 803.5 so that means I have now cleared every thing up to Tom´s donation. Well I still have to do another mile and a half to clear his.<br />I am averaging over a 100km a day so I really motering through Spain. This is what I want to do since I have never really bonded with Spain. I see it a hugh obsticle on my ride, it is a very large country to cross. The others I will see I will only pass through a bit. But Spain, I have had to cycle straight through the middle. As a result I have been through so really remote places that make Slapton look like the pinicle of civilisation. I am having a couple of days off chilling out in Zaragoza so I am pretty close to the boarder now. Possibly 4 more day cycling depending on weather and how hard it is in the Pyrenees.<br />Any way Same stucture as before, I will go through each day individually now.<br /><br />Wed 21st March (day off in Plasencia)<br /><br />Below is my favourite picture that I took. It was a really nice little stop off. Some really nice old buildings and small streets with café’s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZT7jQSbfdHinCOBtO4qDOd9A8g96HFigTKD9-Ehx2t-wwNOQ8UfN8vHJMjmWsrFE6qhWD2oOu3tuQ9EodnjVKuHOa-LzQD9r0_PJ9XSGYPTdkmjS1sv2m5MzyIwaKzi3K2fZhFrPZnkQ/s1600-h/IMG_2210.JPG"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZT7jQSbfdHinCOBtO4qDOd9A8g96HFigTKD9-Ehx2t-wwNOQ8UfN8vHJMjmWsrFE6qhWD2oOu3tuQ9EodnjVKuHOa-LzQD9r0_PJ9XSGYPTdkmjS1sv2m5MzyIwaKzi3K2fZhFrPZnkQ/s1600-h/IMG_2210.JPG"><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047344369526137602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZT7jQSbfdHinCOBtO4qDOd9A8g96HFigTKD9-Ehx2t-wwNOQ8UfN8vHJMjmWsrFE6qhWD2oOu3tuQ9EodnjVKuHOa-LzQD9r0_PJ9XSGYPTdkmjS1sv2m5MzyIwaKzi3K2fZhFrPZnkQ/s400/IMG_2210.JPG" border="0" /></a> Thurs 22nd March (Day 6)</p><p>Well this was the best day so far, I was fully rested and even though the first bit of the ride was up hill the km just kept clocking up with no real effort. To give you an idea of how chilled I was this day, I totally meant to stop in this particular town to buy so food but cycled straight through it with out realising. How could I miss a bit town like that. I think it must of been all the happy thoughts I was having about cycling through a Granite landscape.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriEHuNG6A5o2hWdqnY648qhtpwwpBwBbmCebg1_hLpnqYHfiK-WWac_wtl31fKYuQgm7aOp3yXfjwlYon8zrEzkaZZYz0s2IGlcTeO6Ij0MKWkPAbcjBIM_X2M91D_rAxGyYpSIMa8jzH/s1600-h/IMG_2219.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047344373821104914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriEHuNG6A5o2hWdqnY648qhtpwwpBwBbmCebg1_hLpnqYHfiK-WWac_wtl31fKYuQgm7aOp3yXfjwlYon8zrEzkaZZYz0s2IGlcTeO6Ij0MKWkPAbcjBIM_X2M91D_rAxGyYpSIMa8jzH/s400/IMG_2219.JPG" border="0" /></a> There are some great views from the EX 203. I pretty much stayed on this road for the whole day. The great thing about it that made me rather happy as well was that all the camp sites along it were open. I took one minor deviation off this road to go and see the river Tietar. I was quite disappointed with it, it was not very interesting. But on the way back up to the main road I came across one of it tributaries and I just had to go and take a closer look. It was amazing, its bedload was mostly large rounded granite boulders and along the edges there was some fine sand. I just had to strip off and go for a swim. A fantastic end to a good days ride.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-08rGwliI2d2rcxy8x0CsWti7xcYCMebzQe-w5NjjTenNxtK1WOveDyvoiKKGiKneJy3vV6s8UOwWYBmNlpUea5lnmXhWqffpUPEzD0AMG5_Gw7UWVSo9QcKOh_XuG4gGl8OpHqdr4XKr/s1600-h/IMG_2227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047344189137511090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-08rGwliI2d2rcxy8x0CsWti7xcYCMebzQe-w5NjjTenNxtK1WOveDyvoiKKGiKneJy3vV6s8UOwWYBmNlpUea5lnmXhWqffpUPEzD0AMG5_Gw7UWVSo9QcKOh_XuG4gGl8OpHqdr4XKr/s400/IMG_2227.JPG" border="0" /></a> That evening I stayed in a great campsite that had a view of the mountains that still had a bit of snow on them. I also had a fantastic dinner. I tried to cook egg and chips on my stove. It did not really work but the end result was still lovely.<br /><br />Fri 23rd March (Day 7)<br /><br />That was a bloody cold night in the tent so I stayed in my sleeping bag till 9am so it warmed up a bit. Another good ride to day caring on along the Ex 203, saw some cool old buildings.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoZmHgQ0JP_JXBMX9wt210PBLJbyqiEMF9F5YCTovthTy2RddiuzPcGk9F527C8WmN8x24SM9itTFaI_NmGa203-Km81sHomBF1H2WnOSqHjS5rQNdiqLoG69fqCT0oQF5bqYRIXEhryZ/s1600-h/IMG_2240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047344193432478402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoZmHgQ0JP_JXBMX9wt210PBLJbyqiEMF9F5YCTovthTy2RddiuzPcGk9F527C8WmN8x24SM9itTFaI_NmGa203-Km81sHomBF1H2WnOSqHjS5rQNdiqLoG69fqCT0oQF5bqYRIXEhryZ/s400/IMG_2240.JPG" border="0" /></a>After a bit I started to descend off these foot hill and had some amazing bits of down hill cycling. The road cambered with the bend so I could really lean into them and maintain my speed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Xpuu8TFvBUMGSNA5eEfWj-DPQrDSsXsUGsfnZKhSimQ8JIUuwXL3X4I67JDQ4P9TEEpPTKkh4l8xLHkfHFcD_7qC_sALq56ypLsntJp_2NhWDF59OhiOU-m-raC1cmoF9LLipZy2KWs/s1600-h/IMG_2243.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047344193432478418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Xpuu8TFvBUMGSNA5eEfWj-DPQrDSsXsUGsfnZKhSimQ8JIUuwXL3X4I67JDQ4P9TEEpPTKkh4l8xLHkfHFcD_7qC_sALq56ypLsntJp_2NhWDF59OhiOU-m-raC1cmoF9LLipZy2KWs/s400/IMG_2243.JPG" border="0" /></a> In the afternoon I really had to push it to get to where I was heading because it was getting late, the weather looked like it was going to become more threatening as well. I ended up in an overpriced camp site and had another cold night.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJGV8WuiQFTWf_0frV2Y2RW6ZQUoDkCLM5bcXP5Zowylvcyi-xOj7DaDVm-EhxBCRlZqMdi339rfmiXgMh3f4pk0AeI37_tS1nadBZPBXCUY5IdHCraCeZhFcYnS43hDDgZlwxOvrfjny/s1600-h/IMG_2251.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047344197727445730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJGV8WuiQFTWf_0frV2Y2RW6ZQUoDkCLM5bcXP5Zowylvcyi-xOj7DaDVm-EhxBCRlZqMdi339rfmiXgMh3f4pk0AeI37_tS1nadBZPBXCUY5IdHCraCeZhFcYnS43hDDgZlwxOvrfjny/s400/IMG_2251.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sat 24th March (Day 8)</p><p><br /> This was a day where the first part was spent going mostly up hill. I decided to navigate around Madrid. I did contemplate visiting it for a few days, but the thought of the roads leading into it put me of. I had two choices, to take the northerly or southerly route. Looking at the map I could see that there were more camp site to the north. So that is what I went for. It is also the route that goes through the foothills for many of the mountains. Quite a momentous day really, I also passed my 500mile mark. Because of the large amount of up hill I prepared my self a large lunch.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3l2Uq9uwCkszEIaCArvIhP2U3CuJdvapRiRbo2fg8jin2gSp7mbBooIV3_BYq1wqzHP76VkN8x4fli_iha4mkmV-1DeU-HKdGdjHkfUyUYZWsN0MY_x4MvsiWMc5NvapMouotZJYcSS95/s1600-h/IMG_2254.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047344202022413042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3l2Uq9uwCkszEIaCArvIhP2U3CuJdvapRiRbo2fg8jin2gSp7mbBooIV3_BYq1wqzHP76VkN8x4fli_iha4mkmV-1DeU-HKdGdjHkfUyUYZWsN0MY_x4MvsiWMc5NvapMouotZJYcSS95/s400/IMG_2254.JPG" border="0" /></a> This kept me fuelled as I headed up to the pass which is 1255m. Higher than any mountain in England or Wales. On the way up though I had a fantastic view and I can say that I saw Madrid, if from only 40km away. You can just make out the sky scrapers in the photo.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IagvdGJT2_PKtx-3sj9ELy6jvx4-EVKxgyS3TDePt4XG8hU3CgIuTxUiYBYIkpSo_lrRP8_rSnsnQD83RkhzYsHS3T65QulcqzV3gUOSEogTlALmA59oi3XEk0DTFOeWeKirG7y1mzjV/s1600-h/IMG_2256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343811180388962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IagvdGJT2_PKtx-3sj9ELy6jvx4-EVKxgyS3TDePt4XG8hU3CgIuTxUiYBYIkpSo_lrRP8_rSnsnQD83RkhzYsHS3T65QulcqzV3gUOSEogTlALmA59oi3XEk0DTFOeWeKirG7y1mzjV/s400/IMG_2256.JPG" border="0" /></a> At the end of the day I ended up in a camp site that was pretty high up. I pitched my tent at 983m (that’s 5m higher than Scafell Pike). Due to this I thought that it was going to be a cold night, so I layered up. I put on my long sleeve cycling top, my berghaus base layer and my micro fleece. The result, I could hardly move but it kept me warmer than the other nights.<br /><br />Sun 25th March (Day 9)<br /><br /> I am glad that I put so many clothes on because when I woke up in the morning I found frost on the inside of my tent.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteH0jbLzYoxJLHQ3LPNUR357rVoIT8QePMTmEFK1PBbEuo4e_SUr7LggD5xQzQK1W1hGT916FJpD4P0W-9PXds5aYZYYucFDi3G1XQHBOT8aUh7FnvxiTBawFmC1ebUDhbNUAslQK-MhV/s1600-h/IMG_2272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343815475356274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteH0jbLzYoxJLHQ3LPNUR357rVoIT8QePMTmEFK1PBbEuo4e_SUr7LggD5xQzQK1W1hGT916FJpD4P0W-9PXds5aYZYYucFDi3G1XQHBOT8aUh7FnvxiTBawFmC1ebUDhbNUAslQK-MhV/s400/IMG_2272.JPG" border="0" /></a> FROST, I thought Spain was meant to be warm, that’s why I brought my lightweight one person tent and one season sleeping bag. The inner of my tent is only mesh and is designed not to get to hot so it lets heat escape. Do not get me wrong I love my kit. It will be perfect for a couple of months time. I felt myself longing for my Terra Nova tent and Rab Atlas 750 sleeping bag. But never mind.</p><p><br /> Question for any biologist, can you identify this bird. I have seen hundreds of them along my route through Portugal and Spain. Sorry about the quality of the photo Edmunds. I had to use 12 times digital zoom. I do not pack such a big lenses as your self.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4PG12wR5WwHzdKV66ZSQm3VLnBxxb5iE5qNxD84MXlYxc-CSn45dp6_UI6Y7Upns_2-KD4QAGAA9OiwOTQ5qeEbo86CBfDr20FESYeLlYDqyLEzYOFbgU5Z_DMRkA-0S8eUSCyc50vQ-/s1600-h/IMG_2273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343815475356290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4PG12wR5WwHzdKV66ZSQm3VLnBxxb5iE5qNxD84MXlYxc-CSn45dp6_UI6Y7Upns_2-KD4QAGAA9OiwOTQ5qeEbo86CBfDr20FESYeLlYDqyLEzYOFbgU5Z_DMRkA-0S8eUSCyc50vQ-/s400/IMG_2273.JPG" border="0" /></a> Any way the ride this day was pretty good. I was very remote, The road I chose was completely flat and the land around was just open grassland. There were hardly any cars and this road is quite high at 900m. The only thing that gave it character was the view of the mountains I had cycled past the previous day that were behind me. Since I was alone up there, I felt like a king of all I surveyed. You can see the snow on the mountains behind me and if you look closely you can see my muscle tone developing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRX5urpTD3eODY43YDsfQwfgDzvgt7KnYTcaFZCGQpr6qPP90oA0vZPg3q5VoV-GSFkjBcs9s7sYqyUNWLSOVBCBF3YP4QoqyIRwy7Lup2sLH-LPt7kGG8D_gMg9quySlEUeMHV9SvO8z/s1600-h/IMG_2278.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343819770323602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRX5urpTD3eODY43YDsfQwfgDzvgt7KnYTcaFZCGQpr6qPP90oA0vZPg3q5VoV-GSFkjBcs9s7sYqyUNWLSOVBCBF3YP4QoqyIRwy7Lup2sLH-LPt7kGG8D_gMg9quySlEUeMHV9SvO8z/s400/IMG_2278.JPG" border="0" /></a> At the end of the day I decide to stay in a hostel after 3 cold nights in my tent.<br /><br />Mon 26th March (Day 10)</p><p><br /> This was a much longer day than expected because when I got to my planned destination (Povedal de la Sierra) the hostel was closed. But again quite a good day. An important point was passed this day, the 1000km mark, Or 625miles (Does not sound so impressive when you convert it). I had a mini celebration any way.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx495KbafmfX71qj7prNjOZleaLoZuG2KksqzzwpW7pK7VZi5EMH1SMJkamtEkY5W9H1-mf4mzOiMn9MA77AZ5WgZAY7bBIzi9pYRH7PC7UvbSIg0O4loVj27yiG23WLek2GGVpV5eX_Af/s1600-h/IMG_2297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343824065290914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx495KbafmfX71qj7prNjOZleaLoZuG2KksqzzwpW7pK7VZi5EMH1SMJkamtEkY5W9H1-mf4mzOiMn9MA77AZ5WgZAY7bBIzi9pYRH7PC7UvbSIg0O4loVj27yiG23WLek2GGVpV5eX_Af/s400/IMG_2297.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>A little bit further down the road I passed something that made me think of you guys in Slapton, so I had to get a photo of them and could not but help feel how good they would look at Beesands.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343201295032914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMRLGb8OhWRA_V93x7GD7DvcTsh751dnuDV8z_sQUM9EddLukAcj6GGcxiHcu6o7utR9fP0p3QeVv9dXCPxia9aKbMGJ8iVoHj57LPK9aLhw1CJOUuhelDnq8J_2u5KtvhOKzlMKT3NYU/s400/IMG_2298.JPG" border="0" /><br />I also crossed the river Tajo again today, twice. So that means that I have now crossed it 3 times. It is the river where its mouth is by Lisbon. When I was crossing it I had to do some quick measurements of the width to make sure that is was getting smaller so I knew that I was still heading East. In it’s course it has cut a beautiful gorge.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343197000065602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC61x2HaLofbabmmVktsnobY1rqNqVE4DoM0mUleBYo0XOzWnvhiIeGUdKaDplFj0sQSNiN9r1GD9wylXYGTHqR5-4J9pUbLme_A-KfFYfwQv8HGP8sJYFwsdwoVP6M9gEZ3olFQp0x4aY/s400/IMG_2314.JPG" border="0" /><br />Any way back to the predicament of the hostel being closed. I really had to push on to try and make it to another settlement but it was starting to get dark. It was quite overcast this day so I thought it would not be to cold so in the end I opted for a wild camp. It was relatively warm considering I was at 1195m. I found this nice secluded spot and started to put my tent up in the dark. I was half way through this when I thought I heard something, so I stopped and listened. I then heard a zip not to far away. Some other people must have been camping not to far away from me. I did not see them but I knew they were there. I do not know if they knew I was there. I heard their zip go a few times so I must have been making them paranoid. I was trying to be quite but with my bloody luck because it was overcast that day I had packed everything in plastic bags. They must of wondered what the hell was going on. It was so quite, I must of made lots of noise. I bet they were quite nervous.<br /><br />Tues 27th March (Day 11)<br /><br /> I got up early before sunrise and packed away and got on the bike before the sun came up. The aim of the day was to reach Daroca by 1pm. Very nostalgic day, the first bit was cycling through undulating hills and green valleys with mist rolling down from the crests. It made me think that I was in Wales which was quite nice. Then the landscape changed and it started to rain, and it looked and felt very much like the moors in Cornwall because it was exactly the same type of fine rain that persistently gets you soaking.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzDGnmCWLLkLkmH30hqLe7SI-y9eJAN2gjzcqH74FwzZmSe27o85aX_9nNDupTYZUDw3vHWjtO5qh68gJoycZm1Si5CA7CbNDx3bMTvmg-k-5R_zYU3I1d6D302-q2RkKxf1jcjsoc1sJ/s1600-h/IMG_2321.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343192705098290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzDGnmCWLLkLkmH30hqLe7SI-y9eJAN2gjzcqH74FwzZmSe27o85aX_9nNDupTYZUDw3vHWjtO5qh68gJoycZm1Si5CA7CbNDx3bMTvmg-k-5R_zYU3I1d6D302-q2RkKxf1jcjsoc1sJ/s400/IMG_2321.JPG" border="0" /></a> I got to Daroca where I was planning to spend two nights and have a rest day. Boy was I disappointed with this place. There was no internet and no place to buy a map since the I had came to the end of the one I was using. Such a dismal place, it just reminded me of Bodmin. Not a good thing, so I changed my plans and thought that I must push on the next day to Zaragoza which would have been over 100km, so I set my alarm for 6:30am and got an early night.</p><p><br />Wed 28th March (Day 12)</p><p><br /> I got up and looked through the window to see if it was still raining since it was quite horrid the day before. I had a bit of a double take because I thought that looks like snow, and it was.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343188410130978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6pWZTuFe8eAkgWCov0vpis79NAvMpX7CtIPgOCcX6Yilp1uSduc7XtpteWgTMdBLI5Bfa69UG86czTxmYj5-x1zj3FVi2mk15bNdFi4J40tMaxqC6m_WmJu-punWCkScOAAIqW176i5B/s400/IMG_2328.JPG" border="0" /> This put my plans right up the spout, so I thought I would go back to bed and see what it was like at 9am. There was still snow and I did not know what to do. I was at 800m and all I had was a basic map I got from the tourist information place. It had no spot heights but I could guess what it was like by looking at the different colour shadings. I could see the back road route was probably out of action. It was quite a bit higher and there was no guaranty it was going to be clear. I thought that I will have to stay in a Spanish Bodmin for any day. The thought of that was quite depressing so after much deliberation and careful study of the cars coming past on the main road I thought. They have no snow on them, cars are going in both directions so the road must be open. I looked at the map and I could see that the next settlement was only 37km away. I had to climb from a light yellow through a dark yellow to get to it though (Colours on the basic map). I thought what the hell I might as well try and boy am I glad I did. I have never cycled through a snow covered landscape.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047343184115163666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8xv_fAUkrmQ7rbo_l5-RYNVctKWEvwyIq2UqzFGjbMUw9Czp5mVU8iEkaGgUhRqGrWMjnxIM3fcN6rKaDr8BRdCeS81nQ2QlgWgmS3QhfHsQUCML_fDZYxtZLDWpUjLeJRhrk1kyGqp8/s400/IMG_2329.JPG" border="0" /><br />The road was clear and it was warmer than I expected. When I started to climb above 900m the snow disappeared and it was replaced my a thick fog which was bad. I only had about 50m visibility, or more to the point the lorries rushing past me only had 50m visibility. I then passed a sign that said Pass de Paniza 938m. This was great news because I now knew that the up hill was over and it was not that bad. I then started to descend and as I dropped below 850m the dense fog cleared to light mist and I carried on down hill. I got to that settlement and thought it is actually ok now so I carried on along the road to Zaragoza where I am now. It was to far for one day considering that I only started to cycle at 11:30 after biting the bullet, so I ended up in town called Alagon in a really nice hostel. Quite expensive though.<br /><br />Thurs 29th March (Day 13)<br /><br />Just a short 27km trip to where I am now. It is a really nice city and I have enjoyed chilling out to day. I am staying in a youth hostel for next couple of nights, so that is pretty cheep. I have finally been able to get onto the internet and the hostel has got a washing machine. I have been hand washing up till now. I still have not had a social chat with any one since the Friday I left Lisbon. That will be 2 weeks tomorrow, I have been so remote I have not really met any one. My only conversation for the past two weeks is, how much for one night and is there a camp site in some very bad broken Spanish. I do not think there are any other travellers in this youth hostel. I think it is more for students since this is a university city. But never mind, not long to the south of France where I will have a longer stop and try and sort out the patchy tan that I have been developing.<br /><br />Cheers guys, I will keep you posted as often as possible.Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-107599141755341572007-03-21T04:23:00.000-07:002007-03-21T09:19:29.165-07:00Goob Bye Portugal, Hello SpainOk people, sorry it has been so long but I have been doing lots of cycling through some pretty remote areas where they do not seem to know what the internet is. Any way last time I wrote I said that I was going to start the ride on Satureday, but as always plans change (I got impatiant and wanted to get on with it). I actually started on Friday and so far I have cycled 541.6km (336.5 miles) in 5 days of cycling. Or to put it another way I have cleared my, Keira´s, my Bro´s and Susie´s donations as well as 11.5 pounds of Chris Bayliss´s.<br /><br />Below is the details of the week gone past.<br /><br />Thursday: The evening started very respectable as you can see below, but once that beer touches your lips it tastes so good.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044343752292558626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZPve7C6pr2fg7WCoN8CT5fLZTjTkcI_po7wBsO_3JlfF264-lHlTLwRBThqSayhtmj4963He7o8RtNbLmdv1OlIA9kM7wOpU6sxjgdfAXE-DKf2dK7vzZIL4TeXiL9R_xxW2hgFwP2xQ/s400/Imagen1.jpg" border="0" />I ended up drinking loads more beer back at the hostel with some people there and we then went out and hit the town. We ended up in some dodgy nightclubs/bars on the water front. Needless to say I was very hung over for the next day.<br /><br />Friday: I thought I would start the ride on Friday since I just wanted to go out and get on with it, this day was quite a challenge considering the previous night. So I went to Cabo Do Roca (most westerly point) and cycled back to Lisbon. The first bit is really nice and you get to see some really good beaches.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044343756587525938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXeTBJkusmwcRh7NGhy5lkruVYlbQaxJ_Mw_JuZSufhhNWguEYYZZu8RqrcXw4f14ez1V96dlbWfhBsPMe5HaCrdqwIzz3EVNyW6C20xqInODwQLF70QoBzzFhDWYDMMz7qED35HWaPA1/s400/Imagen2.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044343760882493250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtOT6b-_VX00dxz4XvzE_sOeMZvXywlG5bNKP6YyDxNcXyhg4wovyXauOZihH1HzR3Noy99lMkSRowLNePifhnVraKeT8evJ1akzL_fE4JwFlC0Mc6hqeCWKBnNRgycyIbkTjtG4UsR61/s400/Imagen3.jpg" border="0" />However as you get closer to Lisbon it becomes more of a nightmare. I have poor spacial awareness when I am hung over, so all those fast cars passing me on my left hand side freaked me out a little. Any way got back into Lisbon safely and decided to try and find a camp site on the other side of the river. Again these roads or any roads within 20km of Lisbon are not suitable for cycling. Trying to get to this camp site I ended cycling along a motorway. I was not enjoying this so I had to hop the barrier (quite difficult with a fully loaded touring bike) and try and find another road. To cut a long story short I found the camp site just as it was turning dark. So a good end to a stressful day. </p><p>Saturday: The map I have got for this area is pretty crap, it does not show half the roads on there. The map is designed for motorists. So it neglects the smaller less travelled roads which are the ones I like to cycle on. So for the first part of the day I had no Idea where I was. I just keep heading north east. In the end I found the road I was looking for and quite liked it to begin with. But it is dead straight for over 30km so it got a little soul destroying in the end. Could not find any where to stay so I had to opt for a wild camp. Thought I found a secluded spot out of the way so I picthed my tent. Went to light my stove when it was dark and it must of made me quite visable because lots of dogs started barking. I tried to turn it off but anyone who has used a MSR multifuel stove knows it takes a good minute or two to burn the fuel left in the pipe when you turn it off. All this time the dogs were still barking and I heard something in the bushes behind me. I thouht I was going to be attacked by a large savage hound that had ran over, but it must of been something else because when I stood up it russeled off deeper into the bushes. The barking stopped when the stove went out and I went to bed on an empty stomarch.</p><p>Sunday: I got up and packed my stuff before sunrise so I was not discovered and set off cycling at 7am</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044343760882493266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W7Qq_GNrJmkpMUqu0MOiOY4yJaSpmBcMHy1bZjNRGP-bc-DFSPh0QOa8D7ta9H6kH4bMlA8n51AEnZYSRNAR9NuaCSVZyHgBQ7tWR3N5zE8gVw8nsTlHlci9NlQrSqM8PF9Rh6AX6n7V/s400/Imagen4.jpg" border="0" />I new that I had a big day ahead of me. I was aiming for Portalegre over 120km away. This was the first days cycling I really enjoyed. Lots of nice countryside.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044343765177460578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_JXNT1bX_lbKWopL5f1I8Ks2cVmYD7afm6MZ8b5JkKJ8OUl1Cweu26ibr8YeueNBBcT2UwN1cngEBYwk-9pTwhkzk26eHPaNnuN1s959_lx0E_NUEqs8a0gKXzir1yhv-GxLpccSPNbm/s400/Imagen5.jpg" border="0" />Again I do not seem to be having muck luck with dogs. As I was going along the road (above) I passed a farmer with 2 of them. They then started barking and running after me. I suddenly had to push it because they were catching up. I must of been doing at least 28km/hr and they stayed on my tail (forgive the pun) for 500m or more before they gave up, I was knackered after the pursuit. Anyway got to my destination at 6pm after covering 120km to then find out that the camp site was at the top of the moutain. So I then had to go up the road which climbs 400m in about 3km, I´ll admit it, I was very tired so I pushed it most of the way. When I got to the top I found the site but it was closed. Not a happy chap, I could of almost cried. Looking at the map I just thought I would carry on till I found some where to wild camp again. Found this nice spot in some trees, but it was a bloody cold night it being on a mountain. </p><p>Monday: The good thing about where I camped the night before is that it was very close to the boarder. Again I had an early start as to avoid being discovered, on the bike by 6:45am. I crossed the boarder into Spain at 9am that morning. Very uneventfull, no customes, no boarder guards. All there was were some rusty old hinges which I assume were for the old gates.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEmy7v8-g1yjUIJElX4TifzxxbKPAzZIsjhrbA6XU3uv4z5eCArIZoinYerurcVqhIMgTiznTejBtp1hKEhTHtfS7VYBjchJR5SA1Ntf_PaO7FQxXj_Gjys1RF4VKWAX6c6JdNTfd3KgN/s1600-h/Imagen6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044343997105694578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEmy7v8-g1yjUIJElX4TifzxxbKPAzZIsjhrbA6XU3uv4z5eCArIZoinYerurcVqhIMgTiznTejBtp1hKEhTHtfS7VYBjchJR5SA1Ntf_PaO7FQxXj_Gjys1RF4VKWAX6c6JdNTfd3KgN/s400/Imagen6.jpg" border="0" /></a> This was quite a relaxed day as cycling goes, only 80km. I despiratly needed to find some where, where I could have a shower. This being Monday and the last time I had one was on Friday, 72 hours and 350km earier. Again no camp sites are open so I booked my self into a hostel. But Hostel over here is a word for cheap hotel. So for €22 I had a room to my self with a double bed and private bathroom. It was worth it just for the shower. The water going down the drain looked like it would not of been out of place as flood water of the Amazon (no picture of that)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkwxGagMLHI16Tf9fcclDZu7Z1UniE9HodA91t9Su0_vxW2xCZY9lviaizgF_LmhBgHo8lPcEGJAKdUoQp33DNb5EJOfhP82di_tZQ2Vr0BC7D1WN6B0SNFmXDydHPc-mNOmSpF824Gav/s1600-h/Imagen7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044343997105694594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkwxGagMLHI16Tf9fcclDZu7Z1UniE9HodA91t9Su0_vxW2xCZY9lviaizgF_LmhBgHo8lPcEGJAKdUoQp33DNb5EJOfhP82di_tZQ2Vr0BC7D1WN6B0SNFmXDydHPc-mNOmSpF824Gav/s400/Imagen7.jpg" border="0" /></a> Tuesday: Woke up nice and relaxed, fresh and clean and headed out to Plasencia, a very nice ride yesterday. It remined me of Dartmoor because it is very remote (actually it made Dartmoor look like a bustling city), but more importantly; some of it was a Granite landscape.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UoucyLRyH__C_QCX7C_L_rHsp4sTMXE__hbqfkumrie6dYIwZ7V1A8wzahdelVpxBJi23Ms2p_k8gY_CEdFKgT0BAcZJbqzqmhQhXKYg2NgTQtlOn5nwCCqV74R3oB19WB6p2dZUpZCs/s1600-h/Imagen8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044344001400661906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UoucyLRyH__C_QCX7C_L_rHsp4sTMXE__hbqfkumrie6dYIwZ7V1A8wzahdelVpxBJi23Ms2p_k8gY_CEdFKgT0BAcZJbqzqmhQhXKYg2NgTQtlOn5nwCCqV74R3oB19WB6p2dZUpZCs/s400/Imagen8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGT22hkDaeideLg8d2Mj4r7cN8ssf8vMy4jlAH67y6zkLs2nTpo4hJUAzVMMSt9eX4NSqyEyO5CLakUwEqaYjwySfPdYhn83V16GfEAJU29GIsQWK7xANXBS-nwQx3ojqjvzUj4qnHzKw/s1600-h/Imagen9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044344001400661922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGT22hkDaeideLg8d2Mj4r7cN8ssf8vMy4jlAH67y6zkLs2nTpo4hJUAzVMMSt9eX4NSqyEyO5CLakUwEqaYjwySfPdYhn83V16GfEAJU29GIsQWK7xANXBS-nwQx3ojqjvzUj4qnHzKw/s400/Imagen9.jpg" border="0" /></a> Boy did I have a big smile on my face due to that. About 20km short of my destination I started to get worried because the road I had intended to go along has been revamped into a major dual carriageway (boy do I love these up to date michelin maps). Not the nicest of ends to what had been a good days cycle up to that point. 20km of a busy road into a head wind and huge lorries flying by on my left buffeting me all over the shop. When I finially got into the town it appeared quite nice so I thought I will stay for two night to sort out washing and this web site. I went to the Tourism Office and asked for a youth hostel. The guy gave me an address of a place he recomends and a map so off I went. Very wierd place at first, could not work out what it was. I thought it was some sort of drop in centre. Truth be told that is not far off. I found out this morning that it a homeless shelter ran by the catholic church. So here I am not able to speak a work of spanish in this shelter, quite a wierd expirience. There was a large communial meal last night and breakfast this morning. I thought that this place is not for me so I left early this morning to book into a Hostel (cheap hotel to you and I). When I asked how much it was for the night (as in the place I had just stayed in), they said it was free of charge. I said I would really like to pay since I am able to or make a donation, but the bloke then said that it was a service ran by the church. He suggested if I wanted to do that I could leave a donation at the church, so that is what I am going to do.</p><p>Thats about all so far, I´ll keep you posted when I can. I think what I´ll do is to try and push on through the rest of Spain as quickly as possible. I do not know why but I have never really felt a vibe whith Spain. I want to get across the Pyrenees and relax in the south of France. I should imagine that the camp sites on the coast will be open when I get there. Any way people I wish you all well, sorry for any spelling mistakes but it has taken me the best part of 2 hours or more to get this post sorted. Everything is in spanish so it simply a hit and miss situation every time I click on a drop down menu, so I have no idea about a spell check.</p><p>Cheers<br /></p>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-46535250875629687182007-03-14T13:30:00.000-07:002007-03-15T10:31:06.612-07:00Lisboa<div>Well here I am at my starting point. I flew out of Heathrow yesterday (13th March) and landed at 6 p.m. But by the time I sorted out reassembling my bike and the panniers it was dark in Lisbon.<br /><span style="font-family:monospace;"><br /></span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmovTTBwsMLT7pVF8O2aTkAkEtNuqSAXkhdonDSX9SQ_W1oEDeKQCwfNFJRPHLmaVbP_UBvcsCWN6vhPoXscVLmhF9ddzTKZrKiG9eOhy4jVatcBTYXBaEHKIGa72XIkx_lGR0Pj3wgzM/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041891857931241570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmovTTBwsMLT7pVF8O2aTkAkEtNuqSAXkhdonDSX9SQ_W1oEDeKQCwfNFJRPHLmaVbP_UBvcsCWN6vhPoXscVLmhF9ddzTKZrKiG9eOhy4jVatcBTYXBaEHKIGa72XIkx_lGR0Pj3wgzM/s400/1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Quite an experience cycling in a city you are unfamiliar with in the dark on what seems to be the wrong side of the road. But all was well and good in the end.<br /><br />Well today has been quite a relaxed day apart from this guy that was trying to sell me dope. He ended up following me down the street for some time. At one point I thought he was going to try and mug me, so I stopped, turned around and shot him some major evils to convince him to bugger of. He was quite a persistent chap. Must be the man bag, I always seem to attrack the weirdos. But anyway apart from that it has been quite a nice day. A bit of sightseeing, reading and a visit to the Castelo de Sao Jorge. St Georges Castle I'm guessing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-cvoNBi-qFL0TChFL_hqf1DZC7gV4SkZuSgh0ztPI5IN2Xt4GR3xGMQY97UYUuZ_lKZnUEwTCZo8HILlP3AD7ZfdTDKnnXZRfYyp1kbDfbh-O6nBggFK0IJ5Fsip34S8fLd1ITPEtRw2/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041891913765816434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-cvoNBi-qFL0TChFL_hqf1DZC7gV4SkZuSgh0ztPI5IN2Xt4GR3xGMQY97UYUuZ_lKZnUEwTCZo8HILlP3AD7ZfdTDKnnXZRfYyp1kbDfbh-O6nBggFK0IJ5Fsip34S8fLd1ITPEtRw2/s400/2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AswKlZ29cTnEizlhltdJZ7_wedRY86uPBofnEPRTiQFDaBMxZf8LYG9mee6_kyg2yUkHNGwYhBmb-Ymtr7XhxFPfuJr_g3LjbqPsOQqK757mNOC9vCpLwWkp-seh_wekXLyOsU35kRPH/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041891922355751042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AswKlZ29cTnEizlhltdJZ7_wedRY86uPBofnEPRTiQFDaBMxZf8LYG9mee6_kyg2yUkHNGwYhBmb-Ymtr7XhxFPfuJr_g3LjbqPsOQqK757mNOC9vCpLwWkp-seh_wekXLyOsU35kRPH/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr7-b9Ak2ufYI_uuWM2nwfLGiw5N59jCyPg2yqYnIF1nIAowu2oBtAErIXCAGlChkerJgyyh_hbmqAHeIY-BHyCSe-6G3g5Sp787nHMLGuux8js1-jk4CHGyLNhyphenhyphenQ1Rwq7absHxNgPfaT/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041891926650718354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr7-b9Ak2ufYI_uuWM2nwfLGiw5N59jCyPg2yqYnIF1nIAowu2oBtAErIXCAGlChkerJgyyh_hbmqAHeIY-BHyCSe-6G3g5Sp787nHMLGuux8js1-jk4CHGyLNhyphenhyphenQ1Rwq7absHxNgPfaT/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-trU-Ij6jBsFm4D430rqa-u8PJacqbXAeXOOUNXn9JYV2Q0HH9hSPig-wZDamKWI07hvSWqsoadAWJ0O48XyL6I6Ul7N4hsjPj6GrIieuVrxpDVVRPdg2IkuGWuv8r5msasmX67wxnEHb/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041891930945685666" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-trU-Ij6jBsFm4D430rqa-u8PJacqbXAeXOOUNXn9JYV2Q0HH9hSPig-wZDamKWI07hvSWqsoadAWJ0O48XyL6I6Ul7N4hsjPj6GrIieuVrxpDVVRPdg2IkuGWuv8r5msasmX67wxnEHb/s400/5.JPG" border="0" /></a>The plan now is to start cycling on Saturday. So that leaves 2 days left for Lisbon. May head to the beach for one of them since I have worked out that I am Not going to be by the coast till after I cross the Pyrenees and drop down into France. I'll miss the coast so I better go and see it while I can. Looking at the web site I see that it is now up to 1825 pounds, so that is a lot of miles ahead of me. But that is all good motivation for when I start.<br /><span style="font-family:monospace;"><br /></span>Well cheers guys I'll keep you posted as often as possible.<br /><div> </div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-16495487644388071492007-03-05T14:20:00.000-08:002007-03-06T03:31:00.221-08:00The spawning of an ideaI would have to say that the 3 years that I worked for in the FSC has been some of the most inspiring. It has been due to meeting people who are passionate about travel and environmental issues and hearing some of their tales of their trips that spawned the idea of a Trans European Bike Ride.<br /><br />Before I started at the field centre I only had one bike and that is built for speed. I have always enjoyed cycling, but I mainly just used to go out for a days ride or enter time trials. But thanks to the likes of Nigel Coles and Chris Avent (featured in the pictures below of our Plymouth to Ilfracombe ride) I started to become interested into touring cycling and thus the purchase of bike number 2, Georgia May Dawes (A Dawes Horizon touring bike). Hearing of their cycling adventures it made me want to get out there and see a bit more by bike. So I set out on my solo Lands End to John O' Groats and I loved it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXd5OmDxOrLIV7lyqKDL2K4CWw3ZL_wYm1L2QnG-6uk5Ctngy-kcHboX8le1QP1_xa6opoh3yurJRerpGVczDDfxlSN6wxIQwro2O1_6ekWgD4M4tfsrJOXv54NNbTHRmX1P6sz1BzEFU/s1600-h/Picture2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXd5OmDxOrLIV7lyqKDL2K4CWw3ZL_wYm1L2QnG-6uk5Ctngy-kcHboX8le1QP1_xa6opoh3yurJRerpGVczDDfxlSN6wxIQwro2O1_6ekWgD4M4tfsrJOXv54NNbTHRmX1P6sz1BzEFU/s400/Picture2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038772112375939922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1-TXV4quQgUoXNddMUEKEO6hufI4LCUKmHR15wYK2v6IvYMXEscAb7hW4P4-vMiSpOvoB05auPuM0DeKpukbM6kmIUTDvvZWj4D22Js_0NQd3z2DgifbLZwhj_z1l5rzzPjICAz7kLK5/s1600-h/Picture3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1-TXV4quQgUoXNddMUEKEO6hufI4LCUKmHR15wYK2v6IvYMXEscAb7hW4P4-vMiSpOvoB05auPuM0DeKpukbM6kmIUTDvvZWj4D22Js_0NQd3z2DgifbLZwhj_z1l5rzzPjICAz7kLK5/s400/Picture3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038772116670907234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3vCMpfigf8yrYORtOEiY3J9mhyphenhyphent3QBPM0Ec8saEghEYmpXTFK_9ZFrBRHiF3cyRBtTsseESAxG08MJxirlnPn2ZO7RyeVvLf8NIKfLi8xG6iucwbaUxB-VQQ99FzElxyV0ynqnq1JG4E/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3vCMpfigf8yrYORtOEiY3J9mhyphenhyphent3QBPM0Ec8saEghEYmpXTFK_9ZFrBRHiF3cyRBtTsseESAxG08MJxirlnPn2ZO7RyeVvLf8NIKfLi8xG6iucwbaUxB-VQQ99FzElxyV0ynqnq1JG4E/s400/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038772116670907250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This combined with the ideals that I had started to adopt after working in a field centre for 2 years such as; save money on hair gel by not washing it (You'll get that messed up look you require soon enough), is deodorant really necessary and do I need a shower if I'm going to a river today, set in motion the idea of a greater ride.<br /><br />I look forward to the days ahead of cycling though different lands in pleasant sun shine and a gentle tail wind pushing me along. But knowing my luck it will be more like the Bike ride of 2005 in the wettest August in resent records and cycling into strong head winds(An interesting time, due to those conditions I looked and smelt like a wet, wind blown dog)<br /><br />But what ever the conditions I look forward to it and will keep you posted.Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-75798324272474775662007-02-13T04:27:00.001-08:002007-02-14T06:26:01.088-08:00Spain Bike Ride (2006)I decided to go to Spain in the end after the Ireland bike ride fell through, thought it would be good practice for the Trans European Bike ride I'm planning. Quite a nice little trip and fairly easy to organise. Cycle to the train station, catch a train to Plymouth then go to the ferry port and get on a boat. It was like a mini cruse, booked myself into a shared cabin so I got a bed for the night and when I woke up I was practically in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Santander</span>.<br /><br />I had 10 days to cycle round and explore the area, the main goal was to get up into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Picos</span> De Europa. Had some fantastic days cycling, it was cloudy for a couple of days but the rest of the time it was nice and hot. Needless to say that the tan was topped up quite nicely. Drank so much water, it's very tiring cycling over mountain passes that are over 200m higher than Ben Nevis in 30 degree heat with the sun beating done on you.<br /><br />Low point of the trip, breaking my camera when I was pushing (and at some points carrying) my bike fully laden with panniers along a 12km mountain pass that follows a deep gorge. Fantastic views, but not the best route for the faint hearted considering that you are walking along a rocky path that's only about 2m wide that has been carved into the side of the gorge with a 100m <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">plus</span> vertical drop to the bottom. The 3rd from last photo shows this path. Absolutely amazing to walk along because of the scenery, just not the best for what I was doing. But it was a case of grin and bare it, because I had the choice of push the bike for 12km through this pass (which is the only pass) or cycle around the mountains which would of been two days worth of cycling. This was probably the most physically and emotionally draining task I have ever undertaken. Completely knackered at times carrying my bike up a steep rocky path in that heat. I'm not the most confident with heights especially in those conditions when a slight stumble could of resulted in a big red splat at the base of the gorge. It was really upsetting at the time but luckily my most major stumble only resulted in damaging my camera and breaking my pannier carry on my front forks.<br /><br />Left the mountains after that day because I felt very drained so I headed down to the coast to see the sea to recharge my emotional batteries. Very nice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">stretch</span> of coast, I remember on one day when I was cycling back towards <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Santander</span> I stopped and went swimming at 3 different beaches.<br /><br />All in all some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lovely</span> areas to explore by bike.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJIdaFQu1-MS8C7jLP-U8ZY2xFggidZwxDuak4aBm-BuRpTpz3lk86hh_xCURJj876N-PdC20T_olxdKNBaU6BpWVl3eN4g5ehUAbCkS4FjBQ0yFn0gRZCkOgzTh1Xm0WUByCGh43pU-b/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJIdaFQu1-MS8C7jLP-U8ZY2xFggidZwxDuak4aBm-BuRpTpz3lk86hh_xCURJj876N-PdC20T_olxdKNBaU6BpWVl3eN4g5ehUAbCkS4FjBQ0yFn0gRZCkOgzTh1Xm0WUByCGh43pU-b/s400/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031005783783771058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjGaWfGbBQuSahGiqZ14E-0Yj44eyfIxNRn9KHzHq1JbUCqsRNRStEV_G0W-ah5Rxa1pmBGTvs05ufAmRGWOyv7l2Wl-S8Cr4nMDLNgjkbztgdiZ6x5tnkaTELoQNOEAEis7oEZf4qWiM/s1600-h/Picture2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2h6AtQ8ggUSiO6POq2lag703GGKGDbRFFu1PBbLab4mnVW2t-33CHpQxarX9w-kEWBP3KlNZsFpEx2p0-dnnJI9Vugjc1Qbc8V4vRmSKNqxCsuYqwCeE321gKW1vih2egz2TnRemy3ig/s400/Picture10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031006097316383810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI4YZA0SeOn4LliyBN_wcmERqO3no8ksc19p4fTXTVD-OIwZcEnQ3e5Z3DP7Y5JpSoanAjGSZzkgmrYVTvEJDw7TmlPodaLZXYbBiXhAWD5wtgINcKY5Tgyz6W92RIJOEjGb7PHelCjw_/s1600-h/Picture11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI4YZA0SeOn4LliyBN_wcmERqO3no8ksc19p4fTXTVD-OIwZcEnQ3e5Z3DP7Y5JpSoanAjGSZzkgmrYVTvEJDw7TmlPodaLZXYbBiXhAWD5wtgINcKY5Tgyz6W92RIJOEjGb7PHelCjw_/s400/Picture11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031006775921216594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18caxAHBHAZ11PEHoUJ7um_hImquPL-Fcj74Kj85x1BPWMJup9Mtf206j0iXJXydouRCuL5npj_evwUk7z1lTO9uJfSayC8f7dDVa0HFRacdHDuoqeze2VexjQu5xL1_b6vOqjKki4d2p/s1600-h/Picture12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18caxAHBHAZ11PEHoUJ7um_hImquPL-Fcj74Kj85x1BPWMJup9Mtf206j0iXJXydouRCuL5npj_evwUk7z1lTO9uJfSayC8f7dDVa0HFRacdHDuoqeze2VexjQu5xL1_b6vOqjKki4d2p/s400/Picture12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031006780216183906" border="0" /></a>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-58074157094577905812007-02-12T11:04:00.000-08:002007-02-13T04:09:45.250-08:00Trans Devon with Speare (2006)The Idea was to go for a little bike ride to prepare <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ourselves</span> for the ride in Ireland we were planning in the summertime. The route, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Prawle</span> Point (the most southerly point in Devon) to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Foreland</span> Point (the most northerly) covering a distance of 120 miles over 3 days of cycling. The only problem was that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Speare</span> had not used his bike since he passed his driving test. So his bike was not in the best condition, nor was he. We also learned that trying to cycle through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Exmoor</span> with a hang over from hell, in not the nicest of weather does tend to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">dampen</span> your spirits. Strangely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Speare's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">commitment</span> to the Ireland ride started to wavier for some reason.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnEge5PGsvWG1upwHnCF-wK1eU8G9bva8EQsy7EdtCYZgvM9i68_E0G-D3-IAOdoX_-vjv42_eP-9uyZCgeELuhYfr44lDEcTlxCoiNLZKzzv5K_lKqNhg-ceQLwsRVk0fopTork0LRUR/s1600-h/Picture5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnEge5PGsvWG1upwHnCF-wK1eU8G9bva8EQsy7EdtCYZgvM9i68_E0G-D3-IAOdoX_-vjv42_eP-9uyZCgeELuhYfr44lDEcTlxCoiNLZKzzv5K_lKqNhg-ceQLwsRVk0fopTork0LRUR/s320/Picture5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030992439320382306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeTJBOPW5fE2Z7CEU-M_jOzZdeJ7HPZw5jWX_8l75oyyd8qAroNpg8va-vYK4uLzB5d5JoylfntFhNyXQgZRaFJscSK-UD7xYo8mWngg_bHac1VlG5AX7lGFjN3I8SKfwQLWGGVAu6BF_/s1600-h/Picture3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D97QPdecJOaZ83BdU2qV_8SF69D5o3uXRu7SUmEWOMD37Hyt_I1BniZeAUGoyNn7dmPERQ4x4er8hNlsmP2G5IgkxkU4esfoJBZrdKzWLeUY6khipfsDjaNdxXbunqZHDr_iZz3uzeTZ/s320/Picture2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030992435025414962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6JEAogzcGOFXyh5Ubzt8w33IwNGUrZkpiEzp3XjKAXtDAaaW9VvEg0f0tKJhzjjCS4T-vLdAU1iVFFFhB3ZlUHswBtd6Sd7MJcWIgEL09LwRG83-Vp8rtTuFB_oHZT2NUPT1FizMFql4/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6JEAogzcGOFXyh5Ubzt8w33IwNGUrZkpiEzp3XjKAXtDAaaW9VvEg0f0tKJhzjjCS4T-vLdAU1iVFFFhB3ZlUHswBtd6Sd7MJcWIgEL09LwRG83-Vp8rtTuFB_oHZT2NUPT1FizMFql4/s320/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030992426435480354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnEge5PGsvWG1upwHnCF-wK1eU8G9bva8EQsy7EdtCYZgvM9i68_E0G-D3-IAOdoX_-vjv42_eP-9uyZCgeELuhYfr44lDEcTlxCoiNLZKzzv5K_lKqNhg-ceQLwsRVk0fopTork0LRUR/s1600-h/Picture5.jpg"><br /></a>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537089898100050229.post-29114786424439224432007-02-12T10:22:00.000-08:002007-02-13T05:16:35.127-08:00Lands End to John O' Groats (2005)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvftcrZ9xiZqHss_Z38GWtKAdSmt-BpoAwt8ABpZVDQqUBjR7LC1Aqkj83owcAWyL5Wi8EFhcith1VmqKxmz48yDqSbt3kamsdip-6wGD0CZ6zWzigpTtmBT4g47rZZ6W8sI6R6Gg3ftUL/s1600-h/22.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvftcrZ9xiZqHss_Z38GWtKAdSmt-BpoAwt8ABpZVDQqUBjR7LC1Aqkj83owcAWyL5Wi8EFhcith1VmqKxmz48yDqSbt3kamsdip-6wGD0CZ6zWzigpTtmBT4g47rZZ6W8sI6R6Gg3ftUL/s320/22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030722590820141794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This was the big adventure to date, something that I had wanted to do for years. I have always liked exploring by cycling, but this was the ride that started me thinking of setting my sites higher. Cycling is such a great way to see the country around you, it just passes by to quickly by car and walking takes to long. This ride was a fantastic 3 weeks of my life. I did not see many other cyclists on the 'End to End' as it's popularly known, but that's because I chose what I like to call the geographers route. This being going via the most southerly and northerly points and taking 3 days off cycling on route so I could climb Snowdon, Scarfell Pike and Ben Nevis. The result was that I did not really see many people on some of the days because of the remoteness of the route. Here are a few photo's to help illustrate that.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM0oy9uTgOMPhz2hsUYgIT3B6YJAZf6qQDJmG1Fp5HTH3xS4pnvfH1olwE69G70SpDk3rhObaGUOySuIE20hcMqCihjK5ogbjC8lmoo8MJkYbZ_MW4_OnQBKwHDSnCU2UbGOBsLgGJxJU/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM0oy9uTgOMPhz2hsUYgIT3B6YJAZf6qQDJmG1Fp5HTH3xS4pnvfH1olwE69G70SpDk3rhObaGUOySuIE20hcMqCihjK5ogbjC8lmoo8MJkYbZ_MW4_OnQBKwHDSnCU2UbGOBsLgGJxJU/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030722586525174466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs5gHjfakljtBKUM-ST-XJP1111X6rPoAwoNfXx4nWnlMIHixWjZi98wV42WmBVwiDgh0ny3W4pzZ6Cll5AXcVWI08xz1hN1phrSBZmbPPxttPTgzy-yRoJKbyDcak1Z0nxgqXFK8GDcT/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs5gHjfakljtBKUM-ST-XJP1111X6rPoAwoNfXx4nWnlMIHixWjZi98wV42WmBVwiDgh0ny3W4pzZ6Cll5AXcVWI08xz1hN1phrSBZmbPPxttPTgzy-yRoJKbyDcak1Z0nxgqXFK8GDcT/s320/9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030722590820141778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsLdcFI4hTi4gbhobwhOMwN4ZKgujTfQ15d5DruGpbqHiESlyprDiH0HqzOHfD-RmnGbmE8XTV1K2TnXRc0H6sAKE5kNaFvjojeZd6WCYTV4LmbrVTEGUV2dQhKe8RW5jjDnu0WeFJ1hE/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsLdcFI4hTi4gbhobwhOMwN4ZKgujTfQ15d5DruGpbqHiESlyprDiH0HqzOHfD-RmnGbmE8XTV1K2TnXRc0H6sAKE5kNaFvjojeZd6WCYTV4LmbrVTEGUV2dQhKe8RW5jjDnu0WeFJ1hE/s320/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030724394706406162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_3U3CqSoUmY1pqL_MuqEwQjQhnSLYZIzXtE-HvT8FlffJ6SXoWPf13RWOTFmcPrxsURXpatmfqDsxqwVt-VniFQs3FFuDqYBkpmokg8kUjTGGDyG5dPLCTH4NjzSaTV8gR17WWJNcDT9/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_3U3CqSoUmY1pqL_MuqEwQjQhnSLYZIzXtE-HvT8FlffJ6SXoWPf13RWOTFmcPrxsURXpatmfqDsxqwVt-VniFQs3FFuDqYBkpmokg8kUjTGGDyG5dPLCTH4NjzSaTV8gR17WWJNcDT9/s320/13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030722595115109122" border="0" /></a><br /></div> </div>Steven De'athhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978444855285799025noreply@blogger.com0