The Back Story

June 28, 2023

It seems such a long time since Ken and I have had a proper cycling adventure. Covid has come and has more or less become manageable, I have had a number of Orthopaedic adventures but now it seems as if we can try again. Our debate has been is this really sensible, although I ride a bike as I always did my mobility off the bike is very limited. When Clark Kent got into a telephone booth he came out as Superman. I am a hobbling old lady with two sticks then get on a bike and I am young and active again with a wonderful feeling of freedom. The route we have chosen is very easy and nostalgically we are visiting many places we have before.

The plan is this. On the 8th July we leave Auckland for Budapest where we will join a river cruise and sail to Amsterdam. Virtually all this we have travelled previously by bike so it will be interesting to see it from our floating palace. There is some opportunity to take bikes from the boat and do a bit of cycling along the way

Once in Amsterdam we will take a train to Bremen where we will buy bikes and around the 28th July start our cycle adventure. This will take us through North Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium then France. We fly out from Lyon on the 30th September so there is plenty of time for exploration. If all turns to custard we can get a car, go to our son’s house in Spain or just come home.

Having recently moved to a Retirement Village departure is easy. Just put the cat in the kennels, sell the steers on our nearby 50acre farm and lock the place up.

Sad to see these beautiful boys off to market

Hope Gabby isnt too lonely while we are away

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Scott AndersonOf course it’s sensible! One way or another it will be amazing. Can’t wait.
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1 year ago

Robyn RichardsI'm so pleased to see your name on a new journal!
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamTo Scott AndersonThank you for that Scott we are counting the days till we leave it has been so long since the has been possible. Our combined years are now 170 but both of us can still ride reasonably and do so most days even though I now ride an ebike. It is well worth a try the major problem will be my mobility because as Ken says you cant ride a bike into a hotel!
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1 year ago

Jill BrinsleyThis great news Trish( and Ken). Really looking forward to more of your adventures . From Jill Brinsley( sister of Judy C and buddy of Robyn and Bruce Richards)-we (3 sisters)came to visit you in Pōkeno some years ago and I’ve been following your adventures with enthusiasm ( and a dollop of envy too🤣)
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1 year ago

Suzanne GibsonThis is going to be a wonderful adventure, I am sure! We even had a few hotels where we could almost ride into the lobby. Hope you have a few like that, too.
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamTo Jill BrinsleyThank you. Judy is one of my favourite people and always so supportive of our biking efforts. I had never realised the connection with Robyn. To me she was someone whose cycling adventures I have always enjoyed
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamTo Suzanne GibsonThanks Suzanne we can’t wait till we get on bikes again but I am afraid Mt Ventoux won’t be on our list
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1 year ago

Jill BrinsleyTo Tricia GrahamIt’s a teeny tiny world here in NZ!🤣 I directed Robyn to your blogs a few years ago. I think you were a huge inspiration!!!👏👏👏
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamTo Jill BrinsleyWith a slight bit of luck we may meet up in Bremen our the Netherlands
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1 year ago

Helen ClotworthyI'm ready for another adventure with you both
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1 year ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesI am especially looking forward to buying the bikes in Bremen. Will Ken relent and go e-bike? Will you try to sell the bikes again in Lyon?
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamTo Helen ClotworthyThanks Helen we love getting comments when we are travelling
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamTo Steve Miller/GrampiesThe reason for Bremen is there is a branch of the bike shop we were so pleased with when we were in Hamburg. Will dispose of the bikes in Lyon how we have no idea. If we can sell them it will be a plus. No Ken says he isn’t ready for an e-bike yet ! Actually it’s good as it helps me keep up with him and not always lagging well behind
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1 year ago

Carolyn van HoeveLooking forward to following another couple of kiwis on tour and what an inspiring couple of kiwis if ever there were!
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1 year ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Tricia GrahamMight be worth a go to contact a bike shop/bike rental outfit in Lyons and see if they would be interested in purchasing your lightly used bikes when you get there. It might work and certainly could not hurt.
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamTo Carolyn van HoeveThank you Carolyn. We are so looking forward to our journey
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1 year ago

Carolyn van HoeveI’m sure you are after spending years reading about everyone else’s adventures! It’ll be wonderful. We’re hoping to go for a month later this year and weighing up whether to buy bikes or rent. I’ll be interested to see how you go with your bike purchase!
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamOn our 2018 tour from Hamburg to Munich we bought bikes in Hamburg. The shop we used was BOC a part of a German chain. They were wonderful to deal with and we were delighted with the bikes. I loved mine much better than the one I have at home. At the end of the tour we left the bikes in a storage unit and returned a year later. The bikes were perfect my bike an e-bike hadn’t even lost any charge. In 2019 we rode them to Paris and gave them to our niece. The reason this year for buying bikes in Bremen is that they have a branch of BOC there and their website tells me they have a good selection of suitable bikes
Before I rode an e-bike we always took our bikes with us but this is impossible from NZ with an e-bike. The reason we dont hire bikes is that you seem to be restricted to a loop ride and I dont think you would save any money on a long trip. What we will do with them in Lyon I dont know but if we just have to give them away it is not a problem. If you would like to talk about our experience buying bikes feel free to give me a call on 021 948737 before we leave on 8th July
You have a wonderful trip
Tricia
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1 year ago

Nancy GrahamI say indeed it is sensible. I don’t know you, but have enjoyed many of your journals of the travels you have done. I look forward to joining this journal as well.
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1 year ago

Keith ClassenLooks like a great plan! Will be following along on your adventures.
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1 year ago

Tricia GrahamIt feels great to be on the move again Seeing places we cycled through from the river is fun. Yesterday the number of cyclists in the gorge before Passau was amazing. It seems that since we were last there are more e-bikes than regular bikes
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1 year ago

Rachael AndersonYou are truly inspirational undertaking such a journey. I look forward to following your journal!
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1 year ago