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Europe cycling
  • Maree Crawford
  • Maree Crawford

Europe cycling

Belgium then Amsterdam to Copenhagen by bicycle, then Denmark. Read more
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  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    It might just be me but the ATrain looks like it's leaning on the other buildingBreakfast barThe loungePhotos in the liftGood to see they included a Melbourne clockThe "Station Master" sitting at his desk

    The A Train Hotel

    July 7, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Well.... My accommodation is just getting funkier still!!!

    This place is amazing. Long and narrow, obviously someone is obsessed with trains. Situated across from the Central Train Station. The front building is from c1820 and the three other back buildings are from late 1600's to early 1700's.

    Free tea and coffee downstairs but I had to set up my own kettle in my room again.

    Free breakfast. Extremely obliging front desk.

    Room is tiny but it's all I need.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Cows looking at me at lunch time. It was a steak place next door
    This translates as "Over time a sprout becomes a tree"You can buy 5 seedsMagic mushroom cookiesThey sell spliff holders in ones or threesPedestrian underpass with blue and white tile pictures

    Walk to find a Post Office

    July 8, 2024 in the Netherlands

    After the bike ride I had some lunch, then walked about a km to find a Post Office that had a good google review for being helpful. Lots had bad reviews.
    It was worth the walk as the guy at the counter was super helpful, was easy to post a box of the souvenirs and chocolates back to Steve. Weight I don't have to carry around.
    It was only 35 Euro, with tracking, it's often more expensive than that!

    I then had a nice walk back, saw a market, pretty streets.
    Found a street that was pretty well dedicated to getting high and sex.
    This is Amsterdam!!
    I don't need to buy any cannibas, just walking around the streets smelling other people's is enough!!    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    1Cheese shop
    Raw, picked herringFried cod1Our group3 cheeses, Gouda X2 and sheep cheese1Indonesian rendang in a sandwich. Dutch always eat a sandwich for lunch1Our captain, on a wooden boat1Great bike buggies about,for kids and dogsBitter balls, like arancini, served with the Dutch version of rocket fuel shot. GeneverMe and JennyLocalsThe flag of AmsterdamDancing housesCarpet on the table was a sign of status

    Walking food tour and canal cruise

    July 9, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Today I meet up with the cycling tour people. I'm joining on Stage 2.
    1 person is leaving from Stage 1 (Paris to Amsterdam) and 4 of us are joining. I now have a roommate Alison from Melbourne.
    This hotel is not funky, it's a bit flash.

    This is a rest day for Stage 1. Those who want to can go on a food walking tour and a canal boat cruise. I go on that. Wasn't expecting the walking, I thought the food was on the cruise.

    It was good though. We walked around the streets with a guide and ate traditional Dutch food from shops on the street.

    On the cruise we saw the "dancing houses", yes the houses are indeed on a lean.

    A 3 hour tour turned out to be 5.

    Back at the hotel, us newbies got an orientation and bike fitting.
    Then tea at the hotel then bed.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    The group at the start of Stage 2
    Riding with the sore foot with Tony, my "minder" 🙂Ferry crossingOur lunch spotThe Love Boat!! With Dutch captionsLocals getting excited for the big game.

    First day riding to Kampen

    July 10, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Up and at 'em and ride off with the Alltrails cycling group out of Amsterdam. I'm on a red e-bike and I like it.
    I find 2 others to ride with and all is great.
    15 km out, on the outskirts of Amsterdam I get bumped off my bike by a car at the lights. I end up on his bonnet, fall into the road onto my upper back. I roll into a ball and bounce a bit. I'm amazed I came out of it ok. A sore right elbow and a sore right outer foot.

    I get up and I feel ok. The driver makes sure I'm ok and when a few other riders gather around he drives off.

    I get back on my bike ride another 30km to a lunch spot. The foot is sore but feels better on the bike. It's painful to walk on though. It's been drizzling a bit so I decide to get in the support van at lunch so people can stop worrying about me. Then it buckets down so good timing!!
    I can barely walk the 500m to the van.
    We put an ice pack on it and I stick it up on the dashboard. It's throbbing!!

    We get to Kampen and I'm in a bnb, ground floor, thankfully.
    I spend the rest of the afternoon and evening on the bed with my foot bandaged and up on pillows. One of the guides Jorg, brings me pizza for tea. I watch the Netherlands vs England soccer game on TV. Apparently there's 3000 people in town watching it on an outdoor screen.
    I also find a couple of English speaking shows.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler

    To Coevorden

    July 11, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    I'm in the van today with Jorg, I can't weightbear on my foot. Along the way he finds me some crutches to buy. They help a lot.

    Today is a lovely sunny day and only 76 km. I still enjoy the scenery in the van.

    When we get to Coevordon I take my crutches and walk the short distance into the town square, have an ice-cream, buy some sunnies (I lost mine in the crash) and walk back. Still very painful but do-able.

    Dinner together in the hotel.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Getting bikes ready
    Off they goThis guy's Lycra is a Lederhosen,fitting as we're going into Germany today.Sheep on the roadsideBerries from a roadside stallLots of solar and wind farms aboutBucketing down again, glad I'm in the van.50th wedding anniversary2

    Over the border to Cloppenburg

    July 12, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    I'm back in the van again with Sonja. Woke up not being able to walk on it and feeling like a big lump is under my outer foot. I make myself put weight on it after I've put my good supportive shoe on.
    I hobble down with crutches to breakfast, but when I get up from breakfast it feels a bit easier to walk on.

    Today is 105 km day mostly in the rain, so again I'm happy to support the support van driver 😉.

    Throughout the day, I've been able to walk short distances without crutches!!! I have a theory the outer bone of my midfoot may have been dislocated and it or a part of it has gone back in!! I hope so. It's now just sore and not excruciating.

    We get into Cloppenburg. The riders are cold and wet.

    For dinner we have to walk "7 minutes", "no actually it's only 3 minutes". Turns out we walk about a km to find the place!! My foot with crutches can handle that,but I couldn't yesterday!!

    We have a lovely traditional German meal in a restaurant in the middle of the Open-air museum. I did actually want to see that! 🤣 Looks like they're also setting up for a fair for the weekend too.
    Jorg felt guilty about making me and another fellow rider with a dodgy knee walk so far so he taxi'ed us back.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    The famous Musicians of Bremen statue. People rub it, hence the golden bits.
    The troop setting offA procession of these cars on a rumbleI took this tourist train to sightsee. Saved my foot! German commentary thoughSaw a few variations of the statueBubble man. The kids loved it

    To Bremen

    July 13, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    In the van again with Anje today. Lots of support needed today. Minor collision, flat tyre.

    Pretty countryside.

    Wedding party being transported in the bucket of a tractor with the local fire brigade waiting to spray them or make a water tunnel thing (?)

    Apparently the bike paths in Germany are not good, wouldn't be good for my foot. Still a bit rainy also.

    When we got to Bremen, there was time to explore the old town square. Thankfully, only a few metres from the hotel.

    Tea together in a tiny restaurant.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    The Shepherd and his pigs
    Above a door

    A few more Bremen pics

    July 13, 2024 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 19 °C
  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    When Jorg is bored he gets out and does push ups and posesSupport vanComing into HamburgCo Aussie tour leader, JoPeterKerryAussie tour leader, RichardThis was blown up like a balloon, getting betterProbably a handlebar bruiseThere's actually not much bruising on the foot!

    From Bremen to Hamburg

    July 14, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Another day in the van with Jorg. Decided not to ride today, tomorrow is a rest day so give it 2 more days.

    As it turns out it was a wise decision, the German bike paths are not good. Bumpy and unsafe.
    As it turns out, my roomie Alison came off her bike metres from the hotel! It rained, she was on a road bike with thin tyres on cobblestones and went down. Lots of bruising, she hit her head so they took her to hospital for x-rays. She's ok. She's still recovering from getting knocked off her bike 6 months ago in Melbourne and ending up under a tram!!!    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Anje, on the left and Sonia on the right. 2 tour leaders from European team.

    Hamburg Harbour Cruise

    July 15, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Today is a rest day.
    This morning a harbour cruise, organised by the Tour, happens in lovely sunshine.
    Hamburg is a deep, very busy harbour. Like Antwerp it is on very big rivers that flow out to sea many miles away.
    Hamburg is still very tidal though.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Green bean and roasted bean on the saucerThe cute coffee shop in the arvo

    It's all about coffee today ☕

    July 15, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    After the cruise, I hobble ( no longer on crutches but foot is still a bit stiff and sore) to find the closest Hop On Hop Off bus stop but get distracted by the smell of coffee.

    I'm glad I followed my nose! Inside the cafe is a massive coffee bean roaster!
    I saw them tip the green beans in, roast them according to their computer, spill out into the mixing bowl to cool and get the husks off. Some beans were still making cracking noises. Then they sucked those beans up a shoot to then dispense into the big metal drums.
    Interesting. While I drank their coffee "roasted especially for you".

    Then in the afternoon had a coffee in a cute coffee shop.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Red light district to "service the sailors".The Philharmonique, their Opera House. Cost 💰💰💰💰💰

    HOHO bus to save the foot

    July 15, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After coffee I found the bus just around the corner. There is a red, blue or yellow one, they take different routes. I hadn't bought a ticket yet so thought I'd jump on the first one that turns up. Blue won!!!
    Turned out to be a pretty good route too.
    Hamburg is very pretty. Leafy suburbs, lots of water play. Some very rich houses and some not so much.

    Half way around I got off in Rathaus (main square?) and had lunch and a little walk around. Didn't go too far. Found a chemist for more pills and a very supportive foot support.

    Finished the circuit at the place I thought was closest to the hotel. 700 metres away, normally easy-peasy but I was glad to see the hotel!!

    Injured Alison and I didn't want to walk anywhere for tea so we had dinner in the hotel restaurant. It was lovely....after a 1 1/2 hour wait!!! It wasn't even busy!    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    My 15.5 km bit
    Someone else's photoFixing a tyreJane and DavidWendyAlisonAnneJen and MarkFiona and Ian who are leaving us to go on a cruise from Budapest, and FionaJust across the streetIndian spices

    Back on the bike!!! In Lubeck

    July 16, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    I started in the van again so I didn't have to deal with Hamburg traffic, etc. Only a 70 K day today for the others.
    I got on my bike 15.5 km out of Lubeck, a lovely man John convinced me to do it. "I'll ride with you". I'm glad he did, he guided me through the town, etc.

    Foot felt good and supported, only hurt a bit on the sections we had to walk!!

    After a wee rest and a good thunderstorm, I headed off for a walk with today's roomie, Anne to explore the town. Very pretty. Didn't walk too far.
    Then Alison and I decided we might try the Indian restaurant across the street. It was really good!!    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Boarding a shuttle bus to go through a tunnelLovely seaside town on the Baltic SeaTheir black-headed seagullsHad lunch in this little town square

    First full day ride to Malente

    July 17, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Today is only 54 km so I start with everyone in the morning and see how I go.
    With my whiz-bang e-bike I do the whole lot easily. My foot is very supported with strapping,etc.
    I ride in a slower, but not the slowest, group with someone in front navigating.
    Very pretty towns and scenery, including a beach!!    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Shuttled over the bridgeGoodbye GermanyBelow decksLunch on the ferryHello Denmark!!A Danish bbq for teaFirst off the rank of the 4 day Jazz festival is at our hotel.The best jazz in DenmarkView from bedroom windowThe jazz bandOur mob in orange having some beers

    Travel 109 km but only cycle 95

    July 18, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Today's cycle is supposed to be about 95 km. We travel 109 though as we get shuttled in a bus again over a bridge under reconstruction and 20 K's after that the ferry to Denmark.
    My foot holds up well, I did the whole distance. The e-bike is an amazing help.

    We get into the hotel around 3.30 -4 and it's buzzing! A 4 day Jazz festival is about to start. Locals are everywhere in the courtyard, enjoying food and drink.

    We finally get a lovely sunny day.
    It is so good being back in Denmark    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Another bridge being builtOver a bridge to island hopHad lunch hereMarket in the squareOur hotel is on the beach!!!Danish enjoying their sommerA good drying day for everyone's washing

    Maribo to Rødvig

    July 19, 2024 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    94-98 km today.
    European summer has arrived!! Some people even have sunburn!!

    Very pretty fields and villages. Crops look like wheat/barley, broad beans, definitely peas! I saw pea pods, should have got off and picked some. Paddocks aren't fenced.

    Our hotel is by a beach. Very strong smell of seaweed, just like home!! 💕💕
    3 of us have a swim. Water is quite warm. Lots of Danish families enjoying it.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Floating barTheir Opera house but I was actually taking a photo of the wooden boat in the frontStreet edges packed with people ready to jump in the riverThis was a torpedo factory, now a hotel.More peopleThis is a waste incinerator but it has a ski slope on the roof!!This is a hotel with only one room, you can park your boat under itThe Royal Yacht!! You home Mary??

    Canal cruise

    July 21, 2024 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    In the middle of the HOHO bus routes is a canal cruise.
    It's Sunday, a beautiful warm, nearly hot day, and everyone is out sunbathing and swimming.

  • Maree CrawfordEurope cyclingTraveler
    Pure white peacockThe founder

    Tivoli Gardens

    July 21, 2024 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Tivoli Gardens was founded in 1843 by Georg Carstensen (b. 1812 – d. 1857), who obtained a five-year charter to create Tivoli by telling King Christian VIII that "when the people are amusing themselves, they do not think about politics".
    It has become a national treasure and an international attraction. Fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen visited many times, as did Walt Disney who even found the inspiration for his own Disney World here. When the garden was founded it was placed outside the city’s moats, but today it’s located right next to the Central station and within walking distance of City hall.

    Part of Tivoli Gardens' secret is that there is something for everyone. The scenery is beautiful with exotic architecture, historic buildings, and lush gardens. At night, thousands of coloured lights create a fairytale atmosphere that is completely unique. It has quirks and charm, and details for you to discover – you might catch a glimpse of the guinea fowls or peacocks running freely through the gardens. 

    Magical, nostalgic and spooky rides

    The rides are all designed to match Tivoli's architecture and gardens. Some rides are wonderfully nostalgic, while others will match the expectations of the keenest thrill seekers. Tivoli’s oldest and most popular ride, the wooden Rollercoaster from 1914, is one of only seven rollercoasters worldwide which have a brakeman on board every train. In contrast, you’ll also find Vertigo, which will turn you upside down at 100 km/h. It was voted Europe’s Best Ride in 2014.

    The newest ride of all is Villa Vendetta, Denmark's largest permanent haunted house complete with actors, where guests embark on a journey through 12 different rooms spread over 800 spooky square meters.

    Lots of restaurants and a good hall    Read more

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