Heathrow Airport

We flew from Columbus to Chicago then to Heathrow in London. Flight was smooth and I splept for about half of it. Bikes arrived along with all other equipment. I took them outside and assembled them. We thought we would be able to take the "tube" into London, but some Eastern European hardass babe would not let us. We t ook the Heathrow Express tO Paddington Station and then walked two miles to our little hotel. Room is small, but nice. We took a three hour nap and then took a walk. We had sheperds pie and a BLT in a pub. Excellent beer. We then walked about 3 miles around town and then took the tube back. I am using my Garmin to navigate. I got a little confused tonight, but starting to get the hang of it. Tomorrow we plan on doing some site-seeing after a traditional English breakfast.

I threw in a picture of the "boys", Aslan and Wrigley. We wish we could have taken them on the trip.

The big day is finally here. We are scrambling around to get everything ready. Bikes are boxed. Going to go over gear one more time. Heading to the airport around 12:30. Fly to Chicago at 3:45 and then on to London.

DougStock
Yesterday, about 70 of us rode from Progressive Health to Doug Morgan's farm near Mount Vernon. It was dubbed the first "DougStock", although a smaller group of us did the trip last year. What a beautiful day. We had a gentle Northeast breeze in our faces. Although it slowed us down slightly, it brought temperature relief. The ride was a little less than 50 miles, with some pretty good hills. A good last training ride before HEADING TO ENGLAND TOMORROW!

Riding Fully Loaded

This week we packed up our gear and road fully loaded for the first time. The first trip was a little 15 miler up the Olentangy bike path. I had WAY TOO MUCH STUFF! I was really dragging ass. I decided to s-can my ultra-termarest for a Big Agnes air mattress (non-insulated). This saved several pounds right away and it is much more compact. I also got rid of tools that I most likely will not need... Big crescent wrench, free-wheel tool. If I break a spoke, we will just limp along until I can get to a bike shop to fix it.

We went on a 30 miler fully loaded on Thursday in 90+ heat. My weight was much better. The heat was a killer, but Jordan did fine. I also decided to bring a half-gallon igloo type water container. I did this when I went cross-country in 1980 and it was a good move. I removed one of my water bottles and cage.

"Doug-Stock" is today. Riding 50 miles from Westerville to Doug Morgan's farm near Mount Vernon. I worked most of the day yesterday with Doug and others setting things up. We expect about 75 riders.

Jordan and I at the halfway point (Delaware, OH) of our FIRST 50 mile ride. Picture taken by Jerry Kurtz. He and his wife, Marie, joined us for breakfast. My little girl is a "toughie". She is going to do just fine!

Getting in Shape

Starting a week ago last Thursday, Jordan and I have been training. The first day was about 15 miles in a steady rain, which went just fine. We rode up to the north end of the Olentangy River Bike Trail. The next day we increased the mileage to 20. Last Sunday we rode out to Rick Fredecker's house in Muirfield. That was a 36 mile round trip. A couple days later we did 25 miles, took a four hour break, and then did 25 more. After that ride, I pronounced that Jordan will be able to handle the trip. The hills will be difficult, particularly with a full load, but she can do it.

A couple days ago we rode from my place through downtown to Town Street. We took Town east past Nelson where it becomes Bryden Road. Bryden runs right into the Alum Creek bike path. We took that south all the way to the end. It meanders through several parks (3 Creeks) and finally dead ends. The round trip was 40 miles and it was about 90 degrees. I had to take my hybrid because my touring bike was in the shop. The right pedal would NOT come off. Dave Baer is working on it. I ended up having a flat on the Alum Creek trail, but repaired it without too much trouble. We took yesterday off so we could move Jordan's stuff out of her house and into mine. Today we plan on riding up to Delaware. Should be a 50 mile round trip.

I have been getting more familiar with my Garmin GPS. I am logging in WayPoints for each of our stops. There seems to be several standards for lattitude and longitude coordinates. I had it wrong at first and had us camping in the middle of the English Channel! I finally found a web site that converted the coordinates to the format that Garmin understands. The amount of technology I have on this trip just astounds me!

Training

Jordan just finished school on Wednesday. We started training on Thursday after a rough night of celebrating the completion of her sophomore year. We started biking around 3PM and did about 22 miles... mostly in the rain. I think this kind of weather will be good prep for England. She was very sore, but all is looking good. We followed it up on Friday with about a 15 mile ride. She does not trust my estimation of mileage, so I bought her a Cat's Eye computer which I will install on her bike tomorrow.

I am going to Toledo for my 2nd (or is it 3rd?) cousin's wedding... Carol, who is my first cousin, Dan's, daughter. No ride for me today, but Jordan says she is getting out.

Rough Trip Itinerary

I have finished my first draft of our itinerary. This is subject to change at any time due to any reason. The reason these notes say "WALKING DIRECTIONS" is because I used the walking option on Google maps so that it would keep me on smaller roads. Since we do not meet Barb and Donna (Madlener) in Munich until August 28th, I have left plenty of wiggle room.

European Bike Trip Notes

Flight Info
Orbitz Record Locator: AP1101012273IDBD
Mon, Jun 29, 2009Departs 3:45pm, Arrives 9:20am (American Eagle on behalf of British Airways... Embraer jet - AA # 800-433-7300)British Airways 5502 / 294Columbus, OH to London, United Kingdom

Mon, Sep 7, 2009
Orbitz Record Locator: AP1101012273IDBD

Departs 11:55am, Arrives 9:50pmBritish Airways 949 / 297 / 5367Munich, Germany to Columbus, OH

Paddington station
July 2, 2009
Train Ticket to Oxford


Biking directions from Oxford to Malmesbury, Wiltshire 49 Miles

Camp at Burton Hill Caravan Park in Malmesbury http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=1023&map=on
Leave the M4 at junction 17 and take the A429 toward Cirencester, about 1/4 mile south of Malmesbury off A429 Chippenham road, turn into Arches Lane opposite Malmesbury hospital. The site is very well signposted. Recommended restaurants... Summer Cafe, Dog and Gun Pub



July 3, 2009
Walking directions to Glastonbury, Somerset, UK
46.1 mi –

Camp at Old Oaks Turing Park http://www.theoldoaks.co.uk/tariff.htm phone 01458 831437
From Wells: Take A39 towards Glastonbury. Follow signs for West Mendip Hospital. Just past hospital turn left at sign for Wick and Brindham. The park is on right in 1 = miles.



July 4, 2009

Walking directions to Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
48.3 mi – about 15 hours 55 mins

CAMPING IN SALISBURY
SalisburySalisbury Camping and Caravanning Club SiteHudson’s FieldCastle RoadSalisburyWiltshireSP1 3RR
01722 320713Stay on A30 past Wilton to A345 (Castle Road)
Go left to Hudson's Field Road and go left. Camping will be on left.


July 5, 2009
Walking directions to Portsmouth, UK
43.1 mi
Ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg
https://priclub.directferries.com/ferry/secure/1_booking_details.aspx?stdc=DF10&orid=65-12&rrid=12-65&psgr=2&micr=0&midu=0
Should cost about 35 pounds per person and take 3 hours on the Brittany Ferries
Ferry leave at 2:45 PM on Friday - Sunday, 8AM on all other days...


Hostel in Cherbourg
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Cherbourg-Octeville-020044.en.htm
55 Rue de l'Abbaye50100 Cherbourg (Manche)FranceTel. +33-2-33-78-1515

Camping in Cherbourg
http://www.anse-du-brick.com/gb/camping_normandie_anse-du-brick.htm
L'Anse du Brick
18, Anse du Brick
50330 Maupertus / mer, France
02 33 54 33 57
Left on Rue du 8 Mai which becomes D116 towards Barfleur. Go 6 miles past Le Brecquet and Bretteville. Camp on the right of the road.
Cherbourg
France
.
July 6, 2009
Cherbourg to Omaha Beach 82.6 KM
France

Camping Omaha Beach
rte Grandcamp14710 VIERVILLE SUR MERTél:02 31 22 41 73


July 7, 2009
Bike to Pegasus Bridge 55 KM
Pegasus Bridge
Place du Commandant Kieffer, 14970 Bénouville, France



July 8, 2009 110 KM (wed)
Caen, France to Ancinnes, France Caen, France

Stay at B&B La Basse Cour, Ancinnes, Pays de la Loire 59E
http://www.normandie-chambres.co.uk/reserve.html
0844 562 1726
Mobiles and others:+33 (0)2 33 82 01 19

or camping
http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/france/basse-normandie/orne/campsite-mun.-de-guerame-103606/#07
+33 (0)2-33263495
GPS: N 48.42637° E 0.07368°

July 9, 2009 114 KM (Thursday)
Alençon, France to Chartres

Camping http://www.auxbordsdeleure.com/indexgb.html
23, Avenue Neigre
28000 CHARTRES
TEL: +33.2.37.34.27.64


July 10, 2009 (Friday)

70 KM to Versailles
Camping at Huttopia 33 4 37 64 22 33

July 11 or 12th, 2009 Versailles to Paris
14 KM


July 11th - 14th at Paul Zilk's place

July 15th Take RER to Disneyland and bike to Epernay 103 KM

Camping Municipal d' Epernay
Allées de Cumières
51200 Épernay, France

July 16th, 2009 to le Chesne 91 KM
Camping Website - http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/france/champagne-ardenne/ardennes/campsite-dept.-du-lac-de-bairon-104086/
+33 (0)3-24301166

July 17, 2009 82 km to Lise Pelletier, Linzo's cousin in Neufchâteau, Belgium
Stay the 18th with Lise


July 19, 2009 101 KM to Namur, Belgium 91 KM

Stay at Auberge de Jeunesse hostel

July 20, 2009 to Brussels 64 KM
Sleep Well Hostel 0032-2.218.50.50
http://www.sleepwell.be/EN/contact.html

July 21, 2009 to Bruges (99 KM)

Stay at St Christophers or
http://www.bauhaus.be/hotel.html is their hotel alternative (at 133 Langestraat) (40 Euros total)
Outside Belgium: +32 50 34 10 93Inside Belgium: 050 34 10 93

July 22, 2009 (to Renesee, 82 KM)
Camping De Wijde Blick BV
Lagezoom 23
4325 CP Renesse, Netherlands


July 23, 2009 (102 KM to Uylenburg)

Look for campgrounds in Uylenburg

July 24, 2009 (62 KM to Amsterdam) - Staying 2 nights


July 26th Take train to Berlin and stay there two nights.
Get on Priceline several days before to reserve hotel in Amsterdam. Also, get Berlin hotel for two nights.

July 28th take train from Berlin to Nuremberg and bike to Donauworth (102 KM)
Campingweg 1
86698 Eggelstetten
Phone: +49 (0) 90 90 / 40 46 (Would probably need to eat in town or get food from there)

July 29th to camping area East of Ulm, 97 KM
Machtolsheim
Laichingen, Germany
Heidehof Camping
http://www.camping-heidehof.de/
+49 7333/6408I may want to stay at New ULM instead of going here. We we would have to go through mountains the next day.

July 30th to Sigmaringen 75KM

July 31st
Walking directions to Am Riedsee 11, 78166 Donaueschingen, Germany
64.6 km

August 1st
Walking directions to Zurich, Switzerland
80.4 km
Zurich
Switzerland
Use Priceline to get a hotel. Book recommends City BackPacker 044 251 90 15
Take train to Lugano the next day (2.5 hours)

August 2nd Stay with Vic Rush for a few nights. Consider taking train to Zermatt or Jungfrau.


August 4th
Walking directions to Bellagio CO, Italy
36.4 km
August 5th
Walking directions to Bergamo BG, Italy
54.1 km

Aug 6th
Bergamo BG to Verona (128 KM)

Aug 7th to Tronchetto, Venice... Take the ferry to Lido and get a hotel
Walking directions to Tronchetto, Venice, Italy
119 km Cannot use Priceline for Lido. Use http://www.booking.com/ I saw some for about 60 E per night

Aug 9th Train from Venice to Genoa takes about 3.5 hours... Arrives at 8:25PM
Price of train tickets is $106 total
Get hotel in Genoa... Lonely Planet recommends hotel carola
pensionecarola.com +39 010 839 1340 via gropallo, 4/12, 16122 genova (GE), Italy

Aug 10th
Walking directions to Finale Ligure SV, Italy
Campgrounds here...
Aug 11th
Walking directions to San Remo IM, Italy
72.0 km
Aug 12th
Walking directions to Nice, France
53.4 km

Aug 13th
Walking directions to St Raphaël, France
67.5 km Campgrounds are between Agay and Saint Raphael. Or use PriceLine

Aug 14th
Walking directions to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France
85.9 km
Aug 15th
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume to Aix-en-Provence 48 KM
Aug 16th
Walking directions to Arles, France
73.8 km

Aug 17th
Walking directions to Aigues-Mortes, France via Nimes
67.6 km

Aug 18th
Walking directions to Narbonne, France
123 km
Aug 19th
Walking directions to Carcassonne, France
83.2 km
At this point, take a train to someplace like Frankfurt and then bike to Munich. Need to arrive in Munich on Aug 27 to get Barb and Donna on August 28th.