Arrived back home on Thursday the 6th. August after cycling a total of 5365 km without a single puncture and still on the original tires (wouldn't pass MOT though)!
Only had to replace the paddles (ball bearings worn), some brake- and gear cables and the rear brake pads.
What can I say about the whole trip?
Highly recommended: bikeshop 'Atro Sykkel' located on Sundtsvei 2 in Nesstun. First class service. I visit this shop to buy a special wrench to loosen up the pedals from my bike so I wouldn't struggle at the airport trying to do this with my small bahco-wrench.
Tool needed to be ordered but he could lent me one despite the fact that they would close in 5 minutes. No problem to bring it back the next norning and because they were probably closed at my time of departure I could simply leave the wrench on their doorstep. Have not encounter this kind of thrust in a very long time.
Interesting: landscape.
Dangerous: some parts of the road.
Beautiful: met several nice Norwegian girls cycling part of the same route.
Hot: heat wave in Norway - not related to the previous - although?
Exhausting: 25% hills in North York Moors.
Pleasant: meeting other 7 club members.
Wet: Scotland.
Windy: Germany, Denmark and Orkney.
Quick: flight from Bergen to Kirkwall.
Disappointing: campsite in St.Andrews (Scotland): pooring rain, cold and windy 'sorry, we are full'.
Satisfying: arriving home safe and sound and no serious problems with the bike!
Many thanks to Ian, Martin and family and Phil for taking the time to visit me. And a special thanks to Ian for promoting the LRF entry in blatchat and all his extra work by
keeping the clubmembers informed. Thanks guys, it kept me motivated all the way.
BBC NEWS: By 17th, the focus of the persistent heavy rain had moved to north-east England and the Scottish Borders. Rainfall totals approached 100mm in places, with 116mm at Alston, Cumbria in the 48 hours from 16th to 17th.
The greatest impact was seen seen over north-east England with a number of properties flooded, disruption to road and rail transport and interruptions to power supplies.
The month July will go in to the records as one of the wettest period in decades (as the graphic will show).
Disappointment: Kinkell Braes Caravan Park in St. Andrews. Arrived there in the pouring rain around 20:00 hrs, temperature 13 °C, strong winds and wet to the bone but no place available for a lonely cyclist with a tent the size of a postagestamp because I had failed to make a reservation. Rules are rules. While I was contemplating what to do next I noticed that a French couple with small children received the same treatment.
This so-called manager is absolutely the biggest plonker I have ever met and definately unsuitable for the job.
Lots of rain in the morning but cleared up during the day. Plenty of headwind to Little Baddow near Chelmsford.
Lovely campingsite on a field near a farm. Beautiful views and most of rain on the other site of the valley.
Still strong headwind. Suppose to meet up with Lotus Seven clubmember Graham near Nazeing Mead but took me an hour extra to get there
(directions pointed the wrong way leaving Harlow towards Roydon).
Turned out to be a beautiful day and Graham managed to guide me into London without problems (thanks mate).
Managed to find the foottunnel without problems. Followed the No.1 around the Millennium Dome and stick to the No.1 signs.
Not the best choice this turned out to be. Took me far too long to reach Dartford let alone find Bean where I suppose to meet Lotus Seven clubmember Ian and Sue.
Got there in the end thanks to Ian's one man rescue effort and after cycling 152 km.
Ian accompanied me the first 15 km or so in the direction of Canterbury. As advised I stick the first part of the route to the old A2.
Started raining in Canterbury all the way to Dover. Managed to stick to the official No.1 thanks to Ian's supplied enlarged prints of the route.
Still raining heavily in Dover so went for a B&B instead.
Rain never stopped. Ferry crossing to Boulogne sur Mer (should have gone for the Calais option instead).
Very bad crossing with high waves due to which the crossing took much longer than expected.
No rain in France at the beginning. Getting out of Boulogne by bicycle was a real nightmare. Follow the signs and you end up on a motorway time after time.
Took me an hour to leave the place. Then the rain started. Still strong headwind. Needed to change plans a bit because Ypres
would simply not be feasible today. Ended up in the pouring rain on a campsite in Guines (near Calais) instead.
Still raining. Had to do a bit of catching up. Cleared up during the day but still a strong headwind remaining. Managed to reach Blankenberge after cycling 130 km.
Still a long way to go before I reach home. Clear day, wind changed a bit. Managed to get the ferry to Vlissingen in time and reached
the goal for the day (Breda) after clocking a whopping 170 km.
