jul. – aug. 2017

Pat's Cycle Tour - 2017

Et 38-dagers eventyr av Patrick Les mer

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8. juli 2017
Pat's Cycle Tour - 2017 Patrick Leary
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Dag 1
lørdag 8. juli 2017
⛅ 21 °C
Høyde: 9 m
Nederland De Brakke Grond 52.37066, 4.8945852°22’14” N 4°53’40” E
Pat's Cycle Tour - 2017
8. juli 2017, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
The time has arrived. Cycle tour 2017. Central Europe from North to South
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Enjoy go carefully hope weather good
15.06.2017Svar
ReisendeHave a safe trip Patrick, looks amazing so far👍🏻👍🏻
10.07.2017Svar
Enjoy and be safe
10.07.2017Svar
3 flere kommentarer
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Dag 2
søndag 9. juli 2017
☀️ 20 °C
Høyde: Sjønivå
Nederland Museumplein 52.358722, 4.8835652°21’31” N 4°53’1” E
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Amsterdam (NL)
9. juli 2017, Nederland ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Arrived at Schipol airport, unboxed my bike, loaded my gear and pedaled the 15 km into the city. Very fortunate to be hosted by friends from South Africa in an apartment close to the city center.

Amsterdam is considered the most bicycle friendly city of the world. Bicycles by far outnumber the cars in the city. No Peter Sagan wannabes in flashy lycra, with top of the range carbon bikes around here, and also no helmets.

Got my cultural fix and visited the Rijksmuseum. One of the sixty museums in Amsterdam, and ended the day, at the other end of the spectrum, the Heineken Museum.Les mer
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I am extremely envious
10.07.2017Svar
Hope you have another wonderful adventure - enjoy and thanks for sharing - Tops
11.07.2017Svar
Seems like the bicycles outnumber the cars, but Heineken bottles outnumber the bicycles...good luck Pat! Beer and bicycles, sounds awesome!
11.07.2017Svar
Denyse HalseI could never believe there were so many bikes in Holland with mothers ferrying kids back and front of bikes uphill and over canals. :Enjoy
11.07.2017Svar
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Dag 3
mandag 10. juli 2017 13:00
⛅ 23 °C
Høyde: Sjønivå
Nederland Zaansche Schans 52.4728, 4.8222152°28’22” N 4°49’20” E
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Zaanse Sanchs (NL)
10. juli 2017, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
The Zaanse Schans is a residential area in which the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life. It is a little hamlet, really just for tourists. My timing was perfect, as I was leaving all the tour buses began arriving.

Leaving Zaanse Schans I battled a bit with my navigation. Lesson #1: don't always believe directions given by a local. Finally found my way and began heading towards the coast, and the North Sea.Les mer
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Denyse HalseSo pretty and what luck you escaped the tour buses
11.07.2017Svar
Denyse HalseHow long will this cycle route take? Thoughts with you
11.07.2017Svar
Denyse Halse Looking good like a local cyclist
11.07.2017Svar
Denyse Halse Something magical about these windmills and canals, such good pics
11.07.2017Svar
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Dag 3
mandag 10. juli 2017 17:00
⛅ 20 °C
Høyde: 6 m
Nederland Hook of Holland Ferry Port 51.98094, 4.132551°58’51” N 4°7’57” E
Hoek van Holland (NL)
10. juli 2017, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The next stop after Zaanse Sachs was Zandvoort. First glimpse of the North Sea. The coastal section was quite pleasant until the wind picked up later in the afternoon, direct headwind but fortunately only for the last 30 km.

Went through The Hague and then settled down into a campsite at Hoek van Holland. The ride was slightly longer than I had planned at 136km.Les mer
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Denyse HalseWell done riding against the wind
11.07.2017Svar
Jenni Botha - At least you did not also have hills to battle with the headwind. Such neat rows of umbrellas on the beach - that would not happen here - enjoy
12.07.2017Svar
ReisendeHi Pat Wonderful pics... thanks. Impressed with the extremely neat way you load your bike. Must be quite q thing to balance weight. The bonus I guess is the flat terrain. They really do have a lot of windmills.
13.07.2017Svar
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Dag 4
tirsdag 11. juli 2017
🌧 19 °C
Høyde: 10 m
Nederland Gorinchem 51.83722, 4.9758351°50’14” N 4°58’33” E
Gorinchem (NL)
11. juli 2017, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Left Hoek van Holland with a glorious tailwind. Happiness !! At some stage during a serious downpour, I think I passed through Rotterdam (world's third biggest sea port).

The route took me through Kinderdijk, known for its iconic 18th-century windmills. Its water-management network features 19 mills, plus dikes and reservoirs that control flooding in the polder (low-lying land).

Lost count of how many ferries I used today to cross the numerous waterways.Les mer
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Denyse HalseYou're making good progress despite the varying weather conditions thrown at you. Such cute ferries.. Safe ride today.
13.07.2017Svar
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Dag 5
onsdag 12. juli 2017
🌧 15 °C
Høyde: 40 m
Nederland Rhenen 51.962, 5.5708751°57’43” N 5°34’15” E
Rhenen (NL)
12. juli 2017, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Woke up to rain. Checked the weather App and 99% chance of rain most of the day. Decision time. Bunker down all day and do nothing, or bite the bullet and get on with it.

Back on the bike. Stopping once on the bike was not an option. At 13 deg and wet you just get to cold.

Did my deed of the day and stopped to help two kids stuck with a puncture in the middle of nowhere. The younger was just 7 yrs old.Les mer
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Pedal AfricaGreat stuff Pat ... wish I was there riding with you 😀
13.07.2017Svar
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Dag 6
torsdag 13. juli 2017
⛅ 18 °C
Høyde: 13 m
Tyskland Wesel 51.66431, 6.6295751°39’52” N 6°37’46” E
Wesel (DE)
13. juli 2017, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Along the cycle paths they have what look like windsocks, only larger and made of netting. As you cycle along you lob your trash into the net !

Rode over a hill today, must be out of the Netherlands now.

This area is heavily populated, and with all the towns it is slow going. All the wind turbines that dot the countryside were stationery, which if you are cycling is a good thing.Les mer
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Dag 7
fredag 14. juli 2017
☀️ 21 °C
Høyde: 48 m
Tyskland Old Market 50.93775, 6.959750°56’16” N 6°57’35” E
Cologne (DE)
14. juli 2017, Tyskland ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Not all green pastures, and tranquil meadows. This northern section of the Rhine is also known as the Industrial Ruins. Slow going and without a GPS it would be even worse.

Rode through Duisburg (couldn't help myself and stopped at a Starbucks for a cappuccino) also Europe's largest inland port, then to Dusseldorf (the Tour de France started here 2 weeks ago), then to Cologne (one of the oldest cities in Germany.

The biggest landmark in Cologne is the gothic style Cologne Cathedral completed in 1880 and took 632 years to build !Les mer
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Don't overtake the TDF Peloton Pat...that would be plain embarassing!!
15.07.2017Svar
Patrick LearyWho's that ??
15.07.2017Svar
Denyse HalseWell done Pat you're doing so well. We visited the Christmas markets in Koln and recognise the cathedral in your pics. Glad you treated yourself to a Starbucks cappocino
15.07.2017Svar
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Dag 8
lørdag 15. juli 2017
☀️ 18 °C
Høyde: 87 m
Tyskland Koblenz 50.35783, 7.5888550°21’28” N 7°35’20” E
Koblenz (DE)
15. juli 2017, Tyskland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Approaching now the more scenic part of the Rhine.

When its a long day, to pass the time it's fun to chase the eBikes till their batteries go flat, then pass them. Once done with the eBikes, then start pacing yourself against the barges heading upstream along the Rhine (barges are slower).

Passed the remnants of the last bridge that was still intact during the 2nd World War. The USA troops used this bridge to cross into Germany. Hitler had four of his officers executed as he believed that it was sabotage that they had not blown it up.Les mer
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Dag 9
søndag 16. juli 2017
⛅ 20 °C
Høyde: 112 m
Tyskland Mainz-GE 49.99362, 8.247949°59’37” N 8°14’52” E
Mainz (DE)
16. juli 2017, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Today was the start of the Middle Rhine, the picturesque section with medieval castles. This section has no fewer than 50 castles, and is also know as the Romantic Rhine. All the castles and fortresses are proof that this section of the Rhine was an important trading route during the Middle Ages.

Lining the Rhine from the Netherlands to Switzerland are nine UNESCO World Heritage sites.Les mer
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Dag 10
mandag 17. juli 2017
☀️ 25 °C
Høyde: 106 m
Tyskland Domplatz Speyer 49.31728, 8.4412249°19’2” N 8°26’28” E
Speyer (DE)
17. juli 2017, Tyskland ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Not much happening on the route toady. Still a few barges carrying cargo but not nearly as many on the lower section of the Rhine. You can see now why the Rhine is considered Germany's economic transport vein, and one of the world's busiest waterways.

The route largely runs through nature-reserves and wine-growing regions. Some of the best Riesling wines are produced in this region.Les mer
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Dag 11
tirsdag 18. juli 2017
☀️ 28 °C
Høyde: 147 m
Frankrike Strasbourg 48.57474, 7.7507948°34’29” N 7°45’3” E
Strasbourg (FR)
18. juli 2017, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Big day today with 140 km. So far nine days on the bike and 1,088 km clocked.

The past two days have been sweltering with today reaching 36 °C. Doesn't help much starting early as you still on the bike in the midday heat. I knew my "Rehydrate" would come in handy at some stage.

Found a bike shop on route to carry out some much needed repairs which cost me about two hours.

Somewhere today I crossed the border into France.Les mer
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Denyse HalseHi Pat drink loads of water in this heat. Do hope your bike has had the necessary Tlc for the days Ahead. Love your pics.. Did you get the thunder and lightening storm last night.
19.07.2017Svar
Patrick LearyAbsolutely no rain, however severe storm expected tomorrow morning and evening. Oh well.
19.07.2017Svar
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Dag 13
torsdag 20. juli 2017
⛅ 22 °C
Høyde: 282 m
Sveits Basel Minster 47.55678, 7.5914547°33’24” N 7°35’29” E
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Basel (CH)
20. juli 2017, Sveits ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
The start of today's route followed a wooded canal cycle path almost dead straight for 50 km (144 km in total today). Somewhere on route I crossed another border, now in Switzerland.

Basel - a drop of Germany, a pinch of France and a splash of Switzerland !

Two new learnings today. Fun pastime is to take your kit, stuff it into a drybag, and then drift downstream using the bag for buoyancy for as far as want.

The other, a non-motorised passenger ferry. The bow of the boat is attached to an aerial cable across the river. Pointing upstream steer across the river using the current as propulsion.Les mer
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Dag 14
fredag 21. juli 2017
☀️ 24 °C
Høyde: 369 m
Sveits Flaach 47.57539, 8.6084647°34’31” N 8°36’30” E
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1 1
Flaach (CH)
21. juli 2017, Sveits ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Some big mountains beginning to loom now on the horizon. Scary stuff ! Today was the first day with a few small climbs. Gravity sure slows you down when the combined weight of bike plus kit is 40 kg.

The route today took me past one of Europe's most powerful and impressive waterfalls just downstream from Schaffhausen. Also had the privilege of some fresh snacks alongside the cycle path today, raspberries, apples, and plums.Les mer
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My favorite flowers 😘
21.07.2017Svar
d
22.07.2017Svar
Beautiful countrygoodluckwith the climbs
22.07.2017Svar
ReisendeHey Pat seems like you r having a good time. Pics and story are very inviting. Thanks and enjoy it, you could be back home here working like the rest of us - now that's some motivation for those looming hills!!
22.07.2017Svar
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Dag 15
lørdag 22. juli 2017
⛅ 23 °C
Høyde: 387 m
Sveits Steineloh 47.52521, 9.4203547°31’31” N 9°25’13” E
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Lake Constance (CH)
22. juli 2017, Sveits ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Today's route followed mostly the shores of Lake Constance (Konstanz) which borders Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Lake Constance, known as “the heart and soul of Europe". At some stage today I was back in Germany.

Perfect weather and many families out on their bikes riding along the shores and stopping at all the recreational facilities on route.Les mer
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Stunming Pat..you are definitely on very scenic route.
22.07.2017Svar
ReisendeLooks quite warm that side - were freezing here u know. Enjoy it, looks great
22.07.2017Svar
Really beautiful - what a fantastic view at the campsite - Tops
24.07.2017Svar
Shady stopover Neyse
25.07.2017Svar
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Dag 16
søndag 23. juli 2017 13:00
⛅ 19 °C
Høyde: 395 m
Østerrike Höchst 47.45889, 9.6348947°27’32” N 9°38’6” E
Hochst (AT)
23. juli 2017, Østerrike ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Stopped for a coffee and tried to pay with my Swiss Francs, only to find that I had crossed another border, this time into Austria.

A very brief excursion into Austria, and then back again into Switzerland.Les mer
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Dag 16
søndag 23. juli 2017 14:00
☁️ 20 °C
Høyde: 464 m
Liechtenstein Vaduz 47.14132, 9.5214747°8’29” N 9°31’17” E
Vaduz (LI)
23. juli 2017, Liechtenstein ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Crossed a border yet again, this time into the small country of Liechtenstein. It has an area of just over 160 square kilometers, and an estimated population of 37,000.

Very quite being a Sunday and was through the country in a flash.Les mer
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Dag 16
søndag 23. juli 2017 16:00
⛅ 21 °C
Høyde: 568 m
Sveits Plessur 46.862, 9.5072746°51’43” N 9°30’26” E
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Chur (CH)
23. juli 2017, Sveits ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
The majestic Alps beckon !!

From Liechtenstein the gradient starts to go up as you head towards the source of the Rhine. Heading towards Chur the river passes through breathtaking ravines.

Today is the day where I say goodbye to the Rhine, my friend off and on, for the past 1,477 km. The Rhine passes through six countries, and under three different names; Rhine, Rhein, Rijn.Les mer
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Dag 18
tirsdag 25. juli 2017
🌧 9 °C
Høyde: 1 470 m
Sveits Splügen 46.55319, 9.3231946°33’11” N 9°19’23” E
1 1
Splugen (CH)
25. juli 2017, Sveits ⋅ 🌧 9 °C
Time to now cross the Alps.

Yesterday I was caught in two storms before 10am and only made it halfway of my planned route. Called it a day and decided to find some place dry.

Second attempt today not much better. Started out, but turned back after a few km. Freezing cold and raining. Opted out and caught a bus for the last section (20 km), with the bike hanging precautiously on a rack at the rear of the bus.Les mer
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ReisendeYour pictures are amazing Patrick👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
26.07.2017Svar
Reisende Love the way they stack the wood. quite an adventure... wondered how the weather was.
30.07.2017Svar
Reisende absolutely sutnning
30.07.2017Svar
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Dag 19
onsdag 26. juli 2017 13:00
🌧 7 °C
Høyde: 2 123 m
Italia Piz Tamborello 46.50555, 9.3306446°30’20” N 9°19’50” E
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Splugenpass (Alps)
26. juli 2017, Italia ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
The lower section of the pass leaving the town of Splugen had five switchbacks. The upper section had sixteen switchbacks !

At the summit of the pass was again another border, this time crossing into Italy. On the Italian side of the pass is Montespluga, a small village which is cut off from both Italy and Switzerland during the winter.

Going up was one thing, but the decent going down was hair-raising. Going to need need new brake pads after today.Les mer
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:-)
26.07.2017Svar
Reisende👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
26.07.2017Svar
Well done - no mishap on the descent with the weight on bike - Tops
27.07.2017Svar
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Dag 19
onsdag 26. juli 2017 18:00
⛅ 27 °C
Høyde: 217 m
Italia Mandello del Lario 45.92123, 9.3126945°55’16” N 9°18’46” E
Lake Como (IT)
26. juli 2017, Italia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Once down the pass it was time to head towards Lake Como. My route followed the eastern shoreline.

This area really is picturesque. Towering mountains on the one side, and stunning villages hugging the shoreline on the other. Took my time along this section enjoying the scenery.Les mer
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Dag 20
torsdag 27. juli 2017 19:45
⛅ 28 °C
Høyde: 130 m
Italia Torrente Seveso 45.48395, 9.2146245°29’2” N 9°12’53” E
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Milan (IT)
27. juli 2017, Italia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Leaving Lake Como and Lecco, I eventually found a path (away from the traffic) alongside the river leading away from the lake. Along the river were a number of small hydro electric plants and locks to control the flow.

Getting closer to Milano I was able to follow a canal that guided me into the city. With 10km to go I then resorted to the trusty GPS to guide me into the city.

More bike repairs in order and the trusty stead is spending the evening at a friendly bike shop. Will be collecting the stead tomorrow evening ready for the next leg.Les mer
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Dag 21
fredag 28. juli 2017
☀️ 27 °C
Høyde: 132 m
Italia Monumento Equestre a Vittorio Emanuele II 45.46381, 9.1891745°27’50” N 9°11’21” E
Milan (IT)
28. juli 2017, Italia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
The city has long been named Fashion Capital of the World. Today was a day for exploring, on foot, and a bit of Metro.

The Milan cathedral is the 3rd largest in the world, and took nearly 600 years to build. That's just mind boggling !!

Accommodation was a B&B with a view of onto one of the main fashion streets. Free entertainment from the small balcony watching all the hustle and bustle in the street below, and in the evening some musicians added to the entertainment.Les mer
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Dag 22
lørdag 29. juli 2017
⛅ 27 °C
Høyde: 94 m
Italia Piazza Garibaldi 44.86652, 10.06144°51’59” N 10°3’40” E
Fidenza (IT)
29. juli 2017, Italia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Left Milan fairly early to miss the traffic. Good to be back on the bike again. A solid 150 km today. Again another 36 °C day at least the route was very flat.

Cycle touring tip: Most towns are like ghost towns most of the day, and if you need water, look out for the church spire, then the church, then the graveyard. There is a tap in every cemetery.

50 km out of Milan I joined up with the "Via Francigena" route (The Via Francigena is the common name of an ancient pilgrim route running from France to Rome, though it is usually considered to have its starting point further away, in the English cathedral city of Canterbury)Les mer
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Dag 23
søndag 30. juli 2017
☀️ 25 °C
Høyde: 145 m
Italia Villafranca in Lunigiana 44.30729, 9.9474544°18’26” N 9°56’51” E
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Filattiera (IT)
30. juli 2017, Italia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Big change today, from the flat farmlands of yesterday, where the only action seemed to be the farmers working their lands. Heading back towards the coast now.

Today was another mountain pass, the Passo della Cisa (1600m of climbing). Amazing scenery and views from the summit. Not many cars but loads of motorbikes racing up the pass.Les mer
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