Kayaking? Which one’s that? For the previous two sports, cycling and swimming, I wrote an extensive review of all the training that I’d done in preparation. The kayaking training section will be far shorter, simply because the training has been almost non-existent. Back in Dubai, I did a lot of rowing in the gym, whilst […]
Day 21: Roads to Rivers Kirnbach to Donaueschingen (53km) Baring disaster, today would be the last section of stage 3. I had left myself a manageable 50km until Donaueschingen, although this was predominantly uphill, especially the first 10km. I aimed to start a bit earlier today so that I would be climbing in the fresh […]
Day 20: Where’s the cake? Kehl to Kirnbach (64km) When I decided to do this trip and specifically when I gaily threw in this third stage, I had completely passed over the fact that stage 4 starts at the source of a long river, therefore it must be at the top of a large hill. Looking […]
Day 19: À plus Haut-Clocher to Kehl (84km) After an uncomfortably hot sleep in the convent, spirits were not sky high at the start of the day’s ride. A terrible bike path through a forest did little to improve things, especially when the bike path petered out into a field. I decided to simply abandon the […]
Day 18: Religiously Hot Metz to Haut-Clocher (86km) I want it noted that while I complained a lot about the rain in the UK, I never once complained about it being cold. I am stating this now so that I am afforded more leeway in this post to complain about the heat. I haven’t been […]
Luxemburger Arlon to Metz (98km) From leaving the campsite to the Luxembourg border, I knew that I needed to follow the same road for 10km. Despite this simple task, I somehow got lost and gleefully added 8km onto my day. My detour meant that I went through a village that hosted a cycle museum, I […]
Day 16: That’s so French Givet to Arlon (112km) From my time in France as a student, I learnt the hard way that almost everything is closed here on Sundays. This being my first Sunday back on the continent, I was well stocked up with food for the day. I had filled my bags to the […]
Day 15: The good, the bad and the sweaty Mons to Givet (86km) In terms of distance, if today was split into two halves to create two separate days on the bike, then the first day would be in the top 3 for this trip while the second day would be in the bottom 3, […]
Day 14: Nationale feestdag van België Ypres to Mons (106km) Today, the 21st of July was Belgian National Day. Isabelle had warned me that due to this, most places would be closed today. As she had predicted, most things were closed, probably something that I wouldn’t have noticed until it was too late without her […]
Day 13: Étape 3 Calais to Ypres (70km) With the bike back in my possession, it was time to leave Dover and begin stage 3, the 900km cycle to Donaueschingen (as a legal requirement in mainland Europe, I will now be switching to km). I was booked on the 8am ferry and having witnessed the queues of […]