Flemish NRttKust 2014

The first May Bank Holiday is one of my favourite weekends of the year.  It involves going over to Belgium to see my family and celebrate my mum's birthday.

Happy Birthday meim!

After only the second year running, the weekend will now always be associated with the Flemish Night Ride to the Kust also.    

Brussels to Ostend via Ghent and Bruges

The 140km route from Brussels to Ostend via Ghent and Bruges was a dream to cycle.  Only a few cobbles and a stretch of unsurfaced towpath interrupted the smooth sailing tarmac route through quiet villages and medieval capitals.  

The 'rough' section

Seven of us, lead out by BalkanExpress, formed a companionable group where each looked out for each other, helped out with navigation, pointed out kangaroos, spoke French, Flemish and a little English.

We were blown away by the hospitality of our hosts at the middle of the night stop.  Lost for words we were, a thank you doesn't seem to do the trick.

Hard to leave ....

My sister surprised us again, with a seemingly effortless ride on her hybrid bike.

Flandrienne

She was invaluable in pointing out local traffic signal quirks, including that we were standing in the middle of the road rather than on the square in Bruges.

Middle of the road

Once in Ostend, we were spoilt for choice again at patisserie CarusO (just noticed that the O is in upper case).  mmmmartin lead the way saying that the 'petit dejeuner copieux' is the only way to go: orange juice, yoghurt, white roll, brown roll, ham, cheese, coffee/tea/milk chocolate, all sorts of spreads and scrambled egg to boot.   I hope we do this trip again, then I'll try their speciality called 'Misérables'.  I hadn't heard of this before despite the claim it's a Belgian classic.

Patisserie CarusO

It was time to part our ways, and my sister and I went over to the beach where we found it very quiet and inviting despite the number of people around.  It would have been nice to sit and soak up the atmosphere for a while.  Instead we cycled over to the station, bought our tickets and boarded our train.  

A big thank you to all involved, especially our wonderful hosts for getting up in the middle of the night to feed us.  There was no mistaking we had reached the correct house as the candles and string lights were drawing us in.  The door opened to a table laid out with an abundance of soup, croissants, cake, biscuits, bread, tea, coffee, juices ....  just wonderful.

This was a amazing, 'treasurable', night carried out in Fridays' spirits of the highest order.

Karl Marx was here 1847

The Easter Arrow 2014

The death of Gabriel Garcia Marquez broke the ice at the breakfast table.  'One hundred years of solitude' Arabella said with a rising inflection.  No, I have not read it, but I will now!

There was more education to come from our captain when she said she had been abstemious with the salt in the porridge.  Fantastic word.

Porridge, hot cross buns, coffee and tea made for a great start to the Easter Arrow weekend.  I would like to write that it was a sign of things to come, instead I can confirm that it turned out to be one of highlights.

Home made hot cross buns

The other highlight was the finish at the Punchbowl pub in York.

Me at the finish.
Never been so happy to wear pink and show it off!

We had no punctures, no mechanicals, no rain, no snow, no storms, no arguments, no delays, no detours, an excellent route, wonderful scenery .... so what can the matter be: the matter was a strong headwind, all the way.  I hardly came out of granny gear!

I had also underestimated the temperature.  By lunchtime I was already wearing all the layers I had with me.   I go in waves of buying from 'that'll do' cycling clothes to top of the range 'only the best will do' cycling clothes and back down again.  Unfortunately I'm in a 'that'll do' wave, and my jacket turned out to be a boil in the bag piece of plastic.  Every time we stopped cycling, I started shivering through a wet jersey.  A recipe for hypothermia, I thought, if the temperature drops further during the night section.  I was very worried.

Which brings me to another highlight: the 24 hour Asda at Newark.

Watching you, watching me

Oh yes, a 24 hours Asda in the middle of Newark at a time when all the drunk people spill out on the pavement and wonder the streets.  I could see a guy on the pavement losing his balance stepping backwards into the road just as Jo was cycling past.  A few expletives followed.  The sight of scantily dressed women made me feel even colder.  The 24 hour Asda, where we would have the floor of the entrance lobby all to ourselves, was a haven.  A haven with a clothes department where we could buy extra layers.  We were looking for fleeces, but Jo came back saying there was nothing suitable there.  We went back in, Jo to the boy's section and me aiming for the men's section.  But something in the women's section caught my eye that I thought 'if this thing doesn't keep me warm, at least it will make me smile'.  The pink bunny jumper saved my arrow.

Spot the fast laydiz

Unfortunately the arrow couldn't be saved for Lindsay.  Arabella had noted something was wrong.  'How come we're ahead for the fast laydiz?', she said.  But Lindsay had stopped to take a call, bad news, her cycling buddy on another team, had collapsed.  We could hear her agree: 'Yes, making sure he doesn't die is a priority'.  Lindsay has a way with words, and left us three with one: 'Bye!'.

Easter Bunny mascots, courtesy of fboab

Lindsay passed on her mascot to Jo, who had lost her own - it probably flew off in the wind!  Jo's forum name is 'rabbit', so she was very happy to be reunited with a bunny mascot.  Jo has a background in mountain biking.  When we went through Crowland with it's magnificent Trinity Bridge, I had wondered what the history behind the monument was.  Whereas Jo's thinking was what a great mountain biking feature it would be.

The Easter Arrow is a quirky event.  At least three of you (or three machines) need to get to the finish.  Unusually in audaxing, there is a winner.  The team that covers the longest distance in 24 hours is crowned the winner.  It's never a surprise who the winner is because the teams' intentions are often known beforehand.  It does mean that everybody puts a 24 hours effort in, regardless of ability.  And instead of recovered people leaving just as I arrive shattered at the finish,  everybody looks equally shattered at the end of an arrow, and stays for breakfast.  There is another quirky rule called the 22nd hour rule, and one of the reasons why I'm so happy to have Arabella as captain.

Wonder women CrinklyLion

There were many, many familiar faces at the finish - and a good reason to do the arrow again.  I love the 'how did it go for you' chats.  Everybody has a story to tell.  However, CrinklyLion, the cake supplier extraordinaire, will be abroad for Easter 2015.  Which is an equally good reason for not doing the arrow again next year.  Arabella and I had already agreed that we might skip an edition - because this one, truthfully, was an edition where you wouldn't mind getting your bike stolen.  When Denise insisted that I should captain a women's team, I insisted that I couldn't because I would never understand the 22nd hour rule.

The good moments were the villages, the fens, the guided bus, Jo saying 'epic' 14 times,  the food, the company, the chats, the birds, the lambs, the smell of nectar, CrinklyLion and Isaac providing the cake fest, the mountain bike feature and the sun rise.  Arabella said it wouldn't heat the earth, but I happily replied that it would warm my heart.

Sunrise in Selby

Many thanks to Arabella and fboab for planning the route.  Thanks to all three laydiz for a fantastic effort.  I can feel the Tuesday blues kicking in, because I want to thank everybody: Crinkly, Isaac, the teams, the staff at Spoons and the guy calling me 'effing weirdo' as I tried to get my bike out of the beer garden.  You are all wonderful.  Best wishes to Chris, hope you get a diagnosis.

Photos are here: MyPhotos

Other thoughts:

• Seems my Easter Arrow charm worked again when I asked a second time of we could use the 'shut' toilets at the 24 hours Asda.  I figured they were blocked off to discourage the drunks coming in.  The trick was to ask the guy who had given me eye contact rather than the 'shut' guy who was busy reading 'a paper'.
• Once it got light, seeing parked cars with a layer of ice on the windows made me realise it was much colder than just freezing
• I spared a thought for John Radford
• Me singing (!) to pass the night time, prevent the dozies and cheer us up.  Jo must have been pleased when Arabella took over! 'Oh, what a beautiful morning ...!'

Congratulations to Jo 'rabbit' - on riding her longest distance.

The Dean 300

This is how pleased was I to see Andrew!

Me, near Cutsdean (by andrewp)

I was just taking a photo of the farm I still want to buy (if I could!).

2014

2010

My mind was where it usually is at this stage of a ride.  Thoughts of lantern rouge, reminders not to overdo the photos, take it easy, enjoy the day ... even if you're going to be going round on your own... 

I knew Andrew was doing the ride and gathered I must not have seen him in the car park at the start, and now he's way up ahead of me. Shame, I like to have a chat with Andrew.  We reminisce over the Wessex Series rides, and the 10 minute kip we had in the middle of a cycle path.

Where's Andrew?

When he caught up with me, he explained how he had his own sneezing panda moment on discovering he'd overslept.  We chatted for a while before I encouraged him to go ahead without me.   But we chatted some more, reminisced over the Wessex Series rides, and the 10 minute kip we had in the middle of a cycle path.  

A police van pulled up along us, telling us through the open window that we 'really should be cycling in single line'.  I was going to be happy to agree with them, but Andrew said 'No we don't!', and waved them on their way.   

For the first half of the ride, we had tailwind (with a bit of south in it according to Andrew).  But by Chepstow my legs were like jelly.  Refuelling at the petrol station did the trick.   We saw a few other riders and yoyo'd with them till Stanford.  

Refuelling at Chepstow

It's at Stanford that a spoke in my back wheel broke.  I asked Francis if he had a spoke key, which he'd did.  It was only when I was back in the car that I remembered that one of my spanners does have a spoke key slot in it.  With a bit of Francis' encouragement we true'd the wheel and loosened the brakes, enough to make it rideable.  

Andrew replaced an inner tube whilst we were at Membury Service Station.  The Membury stop was cosy with a few other riders around the table.  Service is always top notch with detailed explanations on why they can't print a receipt from one till or another.   Earlier, I had already messed up their system by waiting at the coffee machine for a coffee instead of going to the till to pay first.  'Had I not read the sign?'.  And then I dared to ask for a receipt after they'd cashed up'.  'Can't I see the tills are closed?'.  I was in a dozy enough state to think it was not my problem.  I was reminded that they need to close one till at a time and that they have now already done till 2.  But Mary on till 3 was on to it, she produced the receipt.  Amazing!  I love Membury Services.

We togged up and set off for the last leg back to Oxford.  I got the dozies and requested we'd 'talk' some more.  We had already chatted about the Wessex Series rides, and the 10 minute kip we had in the middle of a cycle path.   I brought up the subject of Toastmasters and Andrew shared insights on e-cigarettes, influencing my views on them on the way.  

Our non-faff stops means we finished the ride with 15 minutes spare.  When we got receipts in Oxford we became surrounded by friendly party-goers, asking the usual 'what are you doing' questions.  The last stretch back to the Peartree car park didn't seem to drag this time.  We said our goodbyes and I snugged into a sleeping bag.  I woke up at day break and then drove off home, still stopping at each service station on the way.

Fabulous day.  My conclusion that my audaxing journey is coming to an end has been shattered again.

Many thanks to Andrew Rodgers for organising the ride. 

Photos are here: MyPhotos

Other thoughts:

• Seeing Frank at the start being able to congratulate him on his engagement.
• Seeing zigzag, the zigzagging Transcontinental hero.
• Seeing oh so many familiar faces like fboab and Priddy.
• Spring signs of skylarks, lambs, daffodils, willow catkins, and sun.
• My running hasn't done my climbing legs any good.
• Hearing the wild pigs in the Forest of Dean.
• Francis on fixed wheel.

The Dean 300 - 29 March

The Dean 300 can be described as a 'Wales and back' ride.  It starts in Oxford (where you'll find oxes), goes west to the Forest of Dean (where you'll find wild pigs), takes you to the half way point at Chepstow (where you'll find Wales), goes to the most southerly point of Marlborough (where you'll find white horses) and then back north to Oxford.

I spent yesterday afternoon audaxifying my bike, which had me thinking about the highlights from previous years:

• sunrise as we cycle out of Oxford into the country side
• skylarks and daffodils
• Cotswolds
• hearing the wild pigs in the Forest of Dean
• the chalk horses in Wiltshire - when I'm quick enough to get there in daylight
• lunch in Chepstow's Aslan's cafe (yes this list is in a random order)
• Severn Bridge
• the climb to Somerset monument
• the magnificent Membury services, only audaxers would note that as a highlight!

In good conditions, this is a fabulous ride showing off some great British countryside.  Weather forecast for next weekend is promising.  I need to be mindful of headwind on way back and the temperature dropping after dark.   Looking forward to it.

Forest of Dean on previous ride.

The Steam Ride 200

I was steaming at the end of this ride!  It was very hot, and all day I was wearing the layers I would need after sunset.   But no one complained , we're all on the same train.

What a great theme for a ride: the Steam Ride.   The route touches  on all the steam train venues in the south east: Ruislip, Quainton, Didcot,  Cholsey and Southall.

The Steam Ride 200

Toy and steam trains at Quainton

I dread it and love it at the same time, when I haven't done a 200 for a while.  All was going well till the first control at Quainton.  I was slow, but having fun taking pictures, enjoying the pre-spring country side.  Daffodils are out, and the trees are just about to pop their buds.  Happy days, it's all coming back to me, I do still love cycling.

I must visit Waddeson Manor and grounds

Then the dreaded happened.  My GPS shut down and rebooted with nothing to show.   Back to the olden days with paper route sheet, which, thankfully, I always bring with me as backup.  I rigged up the folded papers with elastic bands, which, thankfully, I always bring with me in a you-never-know-way.

I tried not to worry ahead of the dark section when reading route sheets and navigation becomes more challenging.   I find it challenging enough without darkness, but there is always silver lining.   For example, although I was on the right way to Wallingford on the Hithercroft Road, I started to doubt and retraced.  I went the Church Road way instead.  This takes you over part of the North Wessex Downs.  I was treated to a great 360 view!  I'd recommend Tim to detour that way for the next edition.  There was a local cyclist taking a breather ... or smoking a cigarette.  I stopped for directions.  'Nice view, he?', he said.  'Oh yes, beautiful, it's worth the climb', I replied.  He then gave me directions consistent with going the wrong way.

The guys wouldn't have realised it, but the group of riders in the photo below, gave me great support.  They were upbeat, having fun, very friendly.  Seeing them at controls and on the road on and off boosted my spirits every time.

A big thank you to Michael for riding with me from Chinnor onwards.  I would have got lost ending up back in Oxford if it hadn't been for him.  We arrived back at headquarters just in time for the BRM cut off, which added to the steam effect once inside 'The Water's Edge' pub.

Many thanks to Tim and team of volunteers for setting up this day of steam rides.

Photos are here: MyPhotos

Other thoughts:

• Cleaning my bike on the Saturday, the chain looked like a scarecrow
• Brilliant to have another local audax
• Spotted Chequers this time
• Controller hats and whistles were a nice touch
• Big field of riders on multiple events
• Red kites flying high and low

Thank you to all controllers!

The Steam Ride 200 - 9th March

"If you weren't a Steam enthusiast at the beginning of the ride, you're sure to return one."

What a promise!  I hope I'll have enough time to stop and look at the Mallards and Bitterns of this world.  I know those trains because they can sometimes be seen at Southall Train station.  

The route going through Southall makes this my most local audax on the calendar.  It's a brand new event also.  I feel one has to ride ones local randonnee.

The most western control is Oxford and we 'visit' steam venues like Ruislip Lido, Didcot, Buckinghamshire, Southall, Chinnor & Princes Risborough, Cholsey and Wallingford Railway Centres.  

Click on image to see detail of route.

Saturday will be dedicated to pre-audax rituals such as cleaning the bike, breaking something on the bike, getting tape and cable ties out, shopping for audax food, going to bed early which usually results in a disturbed sleep ... but ... it's the ritual.  

Thank you to Tim Sollesse and team for putting on the Steam Ride day.  I'm looking forward to it!

FNRttC XMas Tourette

Tourette?  Only the grandest tour of the best buildings in London you could ever have missed.   If I was pointed out just one of those buildings a month, I'd be happy for all of 2014.  Maybe there is a calendar idea in there for mmmartin.

It's not only what you see, it's what it makes you see that gets me shaking my head.  For example the building on the corner of Bethnal Green Road was not part of the tour but caught my eye.

The old Swan Tavern incorporated into a new building.
I like the first floor windows.

Other moments, nothing to do with architecture, made this a bit of a magical tour in itself.  There were the mounted House Guards coming through Wellington Arch.  There was archery going on in Kensington Gardens.  There were star stalkers, a wheel walker, a gutter guy and a white wedding.  Also the 'why a goat?' sculpture in Spitalfields and the street art in the east end generally.

Why use a pavement when there is an empty gutter.

I did quite a bit of post-ride internet searching.  It's easy to get carried away with tenuous links.  Try googling Arne Jacobsen.  You will not find a building, but images of chairs and cutlery.  Arne shares the same birthday with me.  But back to the Danish Embassy building - would I have stopped to look if it hadn't been pointed out to me?

No such question comes to mind when seeing the Blue House.

It reminded me of a photo I had taken earlier in the day.

And round the corner was a little surprise.

Corner of Garner Street

What a treat this modest Tourette was.  Thank you Simon!

Photos are here: MyPhotos