Schardenberg

Tuesday September 20
In Which we Arrive at the City of the Three Rivers

It really was a brave decision to go ahead with an overseas bike ride with so many strong minded people. Never before had we ever faced the problem of coping with so many riders. Just to give an idea of some of the problems I faced each and every day I thought I would give you an insight into a typical day. Some of the day's dialogue would go like this.....

"What time is breakfast ?"
"7.00 am"
"No, Dennis said 7.30 am for today"
"When did he say that ?"
"At the briefing last night"
"Was there a briefing ? I went to bed"
"I went to the briefing but could not hear a word"
"I went to the briefing but cannot remember a word he said"
" I want to start now, let's go"
"But it's not time yet"
"Time for what ?"
"Which way do we go ?"
"This way"
"No, that way"
"I am ready for coffee"
"I need a toilet"
"I need a toilet too, and I could be some time"
"It's too early to stop"
"I want a cake"
"C'mon why are we riding so slow?"
"Too fast, I can't keep up"
"I need to take my coat off I'm hot"
"I need to put my coat on, I'm cold now"
"I need a toilet stop"
"I don't want to ride with those people"
"I want my own group"
"Group of what ?"
"Why can't we all be the leader ?"
"Where are we going ?"
"To Budapest"
"I meant, where are we going today?"
"No idea "
"I want to go shopping"
"What's keeping them so long"
"They stopped to take some pictures"
"Pictures of what ?"
"Look at that old dog over there"
"Where ? Can I take its picture?"
"I need another toilet stop"
"I want coffee"
"We've only been riding for 20 minutes"
"Dennis has no idea, does he?"
"Idea of what ?"
"Who's Dennis ?"
"Is it time for coffee yet ?"
"I'm not stopping"
"Stopping everyone !"
"Keep right"
"Right of what?"
"Bollard !"
"I am not riding up THAT hill"
"It's not a hill, don't stop"
"I've just wet myself laughing"
"So have I"
"Are we there yet ?"
"What part of 'I need a toilet' didn't you understand ?"
"Is that our hotel ?"
"That's a Rathaus"
"Let me get to the desk first, I really need the toilet"

And so it goes on every day. There is one recurring theme that repeats so often, that I am seriously thinking of changing our name from the Ghostriders to the Incontinents.

I once had visions of a cohesive line of yellow clad riders riding in pelotonic precision all the way from Donaueschingen to Passau, but that unrealistic goal quickly became impossible when Carol washed her's and David's cycling clothes with her new black underwear and thus ensured that their jerseys would emerge covered in black stains and thus could never be worn again. From that moment everything went rapidly downhill.

And yet, in spite of all the mass confusion, we did all manage to complete our set task. Over 600 km (and about 967 toilet stops) after leaving Donaueschingen we did all somehow arrive safely and triumphantly at Passau. The weather also co operated by providing a dry day, with the clouds breaking up, just in time to let the sun shine through for the final few kilometres.

As we entered the lovely old city and past the famous old decorated clock tower, the massive bells started to announce our arrival with an extended melodious peel. It seemed a fitting way to end such a memorable ride. Our plan had been to ride through to the actual confluence of the Danube and the Inn Rivers and you could imagine my surprise to spot a familiar face in the small crowd that was gathered there. It was none other that John Mudgway. He had no idea that we would be riding into town at just that moment and was just as surprised as us.
The real reason he was there was that he was looking for a toilet ! Old people are like that. At least he was able to assist by welcoming our achievement and acting as camera man to take the group photo.

John is one of the five new riders that will be joining us at Passau. We also bade farewell to Lou and Rhonda Torelli and also Mary Jonas, who will be leaving us at this point. It had been great to share stages one and two with them.Read more