Bristol - Berlin : Butterflies

Blimey – just over a month to go – I’m getting butterflies already! Maybe that’s just because spring has arrived and John spotted some in the garden?

Or maybe the dawning reality that I’ve got 700 miles to ride before I get to Berlin?!

It's probably not helping that the choice of accommodation on offer in Dunkerque (after one of the longest days) is looking decidedly iffy!

A big thanks to everyone who's put their hands in their pocket's - It's been amazing - you've all got big hands and deep pockets! I really can't get over how generous you've been.

Bristol - Berlin : Training Diary

Nick and Graeme look after my bike during our local 'tour de cafe stops'

Thank god for milder weather - it has meant that I can get back on my bike and ride again.

Last weekened involved a Saturday morning "training ride" - meeting up for a mountain bike ride with Nick (coffee-stop in the Centre) and then Graeme (got a puncture and then we stopped for tea / bacon roll in Ashton Court) .. Stunning weather .. dry(ish) trails and plenty of cakes and beverages - probably no more than three hours out riding.

Sunday was a morning "training ride" out to a cafe stop in Chew Valley in the company of the worlds smallest fixed-gear club! Sociable, good weather and toasted tea cakes - was out for about 4 hours but not sure about the distance - probably only about 40 miles?

Will have to up the mileage over the next four weeks - I need to be certain that I'm good for 100 miles with luggage!

Bristol to Berlin "B-Day Landings"

Planning the trip has certain logistic elements - like where to aim for each day and most recently, where to cross the channel!

I wanted to go to Oostende but turns out the ferry company doesn't take foot passengers. How odd? I can't think of a reason why ... they could get a few quid and I wouldn't take up any space!

An evening spent on Google maps plotting my route (Gmaps pedomoter - thanks for the info Calum) has largely been wasted as I now have to piece together a route from my new ferry destination "Dunkerque".

I'm now going from Bristol to Dover and then crossing via the channel to Dunkerque. Then forward to Arnhem and over the border into Germany and on to Berlin. As far as I can tell I'm practically retracing the Normandy landings! Maybe I'll have to paint the bike olive green and put on a tin hat?

Bristol to Berlin - Route

I've just been piecing the route together:

• Get an idea of distance
  
• See what are manageable stages
  
• Give me some idea of where to aim for so I can pitch up and get a bed for the night!

It's shaping up like this and I'm hoping to save it properly using a Google Map. (Over to you Conrad?)

The distance is working out at approx 700 miles excluding the ferry crossing!

• Bristol - Ramsgate
• Oostende-Arnhem
  
• Arnhem – Munster
  
• Munster-Hoxter
  
• Hoxter- Goslar
  
• Goslar – Dessau
  
• Dessau – Berlin

Automobiles Anonymous

A quote from an AA spokesman that I rather liked:

"Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA, said people feel they still have to drive, even when all other forms of transport have ground to a halt.

He said: "You know we all accept that trains don't run, that aeroplanes can't land. But we never seem to accept that a car driver can be late or not come at all."... 

 

The big freeze

Lorries stalled on The A37 Wells Road outside our house. We heard about this on the radio over breakfast .. and there they were stuck in the snow outside !

Bristol - Berlin : A word to my sponsors!

A big thanks to everyone that has chipped in with sponsorship. You've all been generous at a time when I know you may be feeling 'the pinch'! (or should that be the crunch?).

John has been ace as usual sending out emails to all and sundry with donations coming from surprising corners of the internet!

If you are thinking of donating, it's only February and there are two months before I trundle out of Bristol so there's plenty of time to chuck some pennies in the pot.