Last thoughts...

Now perhaps is the time to admit that this was the first long bicycle tour I have ever done. The bike (which was left unwanted by the previous tenant in the cellar of my student house) mainly helped to get to uni, Sainsburys and around town - never more than a few miles a day! So this escapade was certainly well outside my comfort-zone! But with the help of several people I managed to do it. And I would like to express my personal thanks to these people:

Firstly, Bastian for putting up with me for nearly 2 weeks – and without whom the trip would have been MUCH harder to accomplish!

Secondly, to all those who graciously helped us along the journey – whether it was lending gaffa tape or providing a warm place to stay the night. Some of these people I knew and some were total strangers. Meeting those who assisted in different ways was for me the highlight of the whole journey.

Lastly, without the support of dozens of friends and family, only the distance of the mission would have been accomplished! I am so proud and grateful to have received such support and am pleased to have raised over $2000, enough to hopefully make the world a better place.

Hans


At this point, two months after setting off on Mission Cobblestone, I have a confession to make: when Hans initially proposed doing this over a year ago, I considered it a joke, and when we seriously thought about doing it and he proposed riding for charity, I didn’t think it would work out. Thank you, Hans and all you people who helped us and sponsored us, for proving me terribly wrong – twice over!

I knew I’d love the feeling of being on the road for what feels like ages – going to and from places you’ve never been and experiencing all those things you don’t feel in a car or an airplane: pain, exhaustion, satisfaction, triumph, happiness. What I didn’t know was how many people – many of whom were strangers to me and many of whom we met under highly coincidental circumstances – would jump at the idea behind this trip, sponsor its purpose or spontaneously lend us a helping hand! In the end, Mission Cobblestone surpassed its aim, not only in terms of the money raised!

Following this great resonance, we now hope all the donations do find their way to kids in need. It won’t change child labour and miserable conditions in developing countries worldwide, but if some 38 kids do get bikes from World Vision, and if for just one of them life becomes a bit easier and a bit happier – then Mission Cobblestone has achieved everything we could hope for.

Bastian



P.S.: A final special thanks to Bernd Schmidt for helping Mission Cobblestone across the finish line!

The Ultimate Cobblestone Diary – Part 3: The grand finale – Germany here we come!

6th July Maastricht – Liblar 111km (711km)

After entering Germany via the 3-land point (boundary between Germany, Holland & Belgium), we stopped in Aachen – meeting Jenny (Hans’s friend from Nottingham) to tank up on carbs at a bakery-café.

The antidote to a rather uneventful day was when we passed a huge, unfenced cherry tree plantation! Hiding behind a hedge until everyone seemed to be gone, we sneaked in. However, what was meant to be a 3min dash for whatever we could stuff our mouths with, ended up being a half hour long strategically planned picking process, leaving us with more than enough vitamins for the remainder of the trip. :-)

That evening, having arrived at a nice lake, we were hopelessly outnumbered by the Dutch, who celebrated their victory in the semis. Yet later that night we randomly got to know Stefan, Sandra and Conni the local intensive youth group trainers who kindly provided us with some beers and an internet to update this blog.



7th July Liblar – Bad Breisig 77km (785km)

Major piece of knowledge gained today: 2kg of cherries + 2 litres of beer for dinner feel real odd in the morning afterwards (duh!). Consequently we took a bit easy on this “short” stage: after eventually being chased off the camp site by the scary old owner lady by 1pm, we went up the Rhine and eventually also in it (as we decided €0.50 was way too much to pay for a shower). The highlight (though a negative one) of the day: Spain knocked out Germany in the semis. For the sake of my non-existent patriotism, however, I decided to proudly keep flying the German flag on my bike though.



8th July Bad Breisig – Kirberg 130km (total 915km)

135km, 1000 metres in altitude, 11 hrs in the saddle, 35°C (and still just one gear)! It sounds painful in itself and it really was the toughest day of all by far. When Hans had two flats in the morning, I gradually lost hope that we’d reach my home that evening. But then, miraculously, we received exactly the help we needed (in form of a carpet tape to seal Hans’ scratched tyre). From there on a heck load of sweat brought us at least towards the Lahn river – never before has some warm, brown and dirty river offered such a welcome cool-down! Pedalling squares for the last miles, I started seeing little tiny stars well before sunset. But before fainting completely we reached my home in the evening with an amazing (but truly deserved) reception: pool, wine, champagne and barbecue! Nice! :-)




9th July Kirberg - Frankfurt 82km (997.05km)

“Mission Cobblestone – 1000km - Finish Line”! Sometimes you need to read it with your own eyes to make you realize… and when you do it hits you like a stone: suddenly the heat is unbearable, the legs too strained to even climb stairs, the backside too painful to sit in a chair! :-) Having covered the last hills of the Taunus from Kirberg down to Frankfurt in absolute high speed within 2 hours, a short detour past our old school was the final reminder that we are indeed finally back home. After the essential finish photo on the Römer (main square) in downtown Frankfurt, it took a proper effort to make the last 15km to Hans’s place – hilarious really considering how long we’ve come! But at this point, two weeks after setting off, I actually couldn’t stand even seeing a bike anymore. Yet it still feels truly great… like a lifetime achievement… well, at least until next summer, right Hans? :-)





P.S.: After running this blog for nearly four months now, Mission Cobblestone is slowly coming to an end with one last „final-thoughts“ blog to be posted soon!

The Ultimate Cobblestone Diary - Part 2: Hitting the continent

1st July Dover – Heuvelland 95km (285km)

After crossing the English channel on a hazy morning, we landed in France only to find out that Dunkerque ferry station is 30km west of Dunkerque. But finally, after crossing into Belgium, over 500km since departing from Bristol/Notts, we entered the world famous village of Westvleteren - glorious site of the allegedly world’s best beer! However, having located the monastery, in which the legendary potion was made, and “Den Engel”, a dingy little place, which is the only pub to sell it off the tab; we found these to be just as deserted as the rest of the entire town.
Not yet half way there this was certainly one of the most demotivating experiences en route. Due to complete frustration, I decided to no longer search for a bike mechanic to repair my gear system, but go all the way to Frankfurt – in top gear!







2nd July, Heuvelland – Kluisbergen 110km (395km)

Mission Cobblestone goes CHICKEN!!!
After serving our trip’s name on the cobbled climb up the Kemmelberg in West Flanders (23%!!!), we skipped back into France and crossed through Lille towards Roubaix in excruciating heat. Totally famished, but confronted with the fact that the French won’t sell you any food after 3pm (and if you starve on their doorstep, so be it!); we stormed into a Carrefour supermarket, returning with two entire grilled chickens – gone within minutes! Before yet another stop at the last chips shop in France (Hans: “Bastian, it’s the last one in France – we have to!”), Bastian got to turn a few laps on the famous velodrome of Roubaix and now believes he should compete against Cancellara next year!
Sprinting away from the approaching thunderstorm we made it to our camping place (called “Panorama”) after the fall of darkness, only to find the next morning that “Panorama” meant full view on the local nuclear plant!





3rd July, Kluisbergen – Brussels, 95km (490km)

First and only day of rain!
To balance things out, Hans’s bike now joined Bastian’s in its desolate state with the crank of a pedal coming loose, which needed tightening multiple times a day from now on. Due to this miraculous fortune of brilliant weather and excellent equipment, we focused on heading towards Brussels in time to see the Germany game and get a place in the youth hostel. We didn’t make it to Brussels in time, despite a (highly accidental) ride on the highway, but did find a bar to watch the by far best game of the world cup – 4:0 over Argentina!! After cycling through London with a German flag on your back while Germany is in the process of shattering England (and you’re not aware of it), being the only two people two watch the mute screen in a dingy Belgian, while being glared at by everyone for enjoying all this (and some Belgian chips alongside) felt almost normal!

After our celebrations that night were suffocated by a Spanish autocorso, Hans indulged in his new lifetime purchase (see photo), while Bastian’s geographical sense of coordination failed miserably: what a brilliant sight it must have been for the Belgians to see these two limping Germans have a go at each other at every street crossing at 2am.

4th July, Brussels – Erps Kwerps, 20km (510km)

The only day of rest was indeed very welcome and resulted in the essential tourism marathon through Brussels: yet Manneken Pis (or as Hans puts it: “the piss boy”) was just as disappointing as the closed European parliament. Far more promising was the stage finish of the Tour de France! Ultimately, it meant standing behind six rows of people staring through two iron bars, seeing an indiscernible blur of colours fly past but having no clue who won and how the race went. On the other hand, Hans now claims to have seen “Eddy Armstrong”! :-)

That evening, whilst heading for Charli Pratt’s home in “Erps kwerps” (despite the legendary name, we missed it 3x), I had my first and only vehicular collision: crossing through the yellow phase of some traffic lights on a steep hill, I was too slow for the dopey white van approaching from the right. It felt like slow-motion when I managed to edge forward a few inches and he only hit the back of my bike, giving me a slight spin, but I was fortunate to stay upright and escape without even a scratch. After a short break (and a go at the driver before Hans calmed me down) we were up and running (cycling!) as normal.

At this point a big “thank you” to Charli’s mum who was a really great host to us that night and welcomed us with cold beers, pasta and a recording of the Tour de France. Sadly our actual host decided not to turn up... ;-D.





5th July, Erps Kwerps – Maastricht, 110km (620km)

On a long but easy and straight road to Holland we were accompanied for a long stretch by Glen: a Filipino doing his own lifetime achievement of cycling to Germany himself (hope you got there, Glen! We still gettin’ that video?). Arrived at a camping site in Maastricht and enjoyed a beautiful starry night sky.

The Ultimate Cobblestone Diary - Part 1: England

25th June, Bristol – Didcot 110km & Nottingham – Kettering 80km

First day of trip! Suddenly cycling 9+ hours in one day -> very painful!! Each of us doing this first stretch alone from our universities. Hans safely arrived at Dan’s House in Kettering whereas Bastian was less fortunate: Having barely left Bristol the bike chose this point to kack up in more than one way. In addition to two punctures shortly after leaving, the bike’s gear system suddenly stopped working. And to make matters worse, that this continental gear system was never sold in the UK and hence no British bike shop could repair it. MEANING: bike is stuck in top gear till at least Dover!

26th June, Didcot – London 105km & Kettering - Watford 130km

More Pain! Both did long stretches. Having done over 70 miles through Northampton, MK, along the A5 and through Dunstable, Hans’ back tyre valve ripped out. Fortunately this was only a few miles from home, so the remainder of the journey was easily done walking and pushing. Bastian spent the evening in London visiting a friend, while I arrived in Watford (outside London) where my gran Shirley had graciously prepared her special Sunday Roast Dinner, a large version thereof!! :)

27th & 28th June, 0km (Bike-computer on after Watford)

Hans: Spent a days rest spent fixing my rear wheel and preparing the bikes (taking off the basket and adding tents and sleeping bags). Enjoyed the tense England-Germany game that evening, with me having split loyalities ;)

Bastian: As crazy, as this may sound, but I actually didn’t see the England-Germany game on that afternoon, because I got lost in northwest London heading out to Watford. As a geographer without a map (terrible state of being), I cruised around aimlessly for hours and wondered what all the people staring at my German flag knew, what I didn’t... eventually I found out: NICE!! ;)

29th June, Watford – Maidstone 90km (90km in total)

Leaving Watford and setting off straight through London. Passed some cool sights including Big Ben, “Hans Road” outside Harrods and the Greenwich Royal Observatory. Although we might have expected London traffic to be a major disaster, this turned out to be a fun day, hopping between cars and lorries through 80km of urban traffic. Along the way we were repetitively asked whether we were sure that we wanted to cycle all the way to Greenwich. If they knew where we were actually goin...

30th June, Maidstone – Dover 100km (190km)

Destination: James Grayling’ House (a friend from Nottingham). Having arrived in Folkestone we made the mistake of following an English “cycle-path” sign (advice to everyone: don’t ever do that!) to Dover – it led us over bloody Dover Hill! Enjoyed some pints with James later that evening in a local pub. One should note that at this point, as we were heading south-east all the time, the left half of Hans’ body was somewhere in the pinkish-red colour spectrum, while Bastian had adopted his traditional farmer’s tan.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !!

Sitting in a comfortable armchair (from which we're writing to you) feels like a totally new experience, considering the majority of the last two weeks were spent sitting on hard saddles. That's right: two weeks ago we left Bristol and Nottingham and it feels no less than legendary to have made it all the way home to Germany!!

But the way here since our last update turned out to be much more challenging than expected. After a somewhat chilled day down the Rhine river on Wednesday (which sadly culminated in Germany's loss to Spain :-(, Thursday ended up being the toughest stage by far, a proper queen stage to finish off! Not only was it at 130km the longest stretch of Mission Cobblestone, but we also had to overcome the biggest difference in altitude (including a 15% climb up 300m high hill above the Lahn river - an absolute shocker when you have 15kg luggage onboard). Sweating profusely after this climb, we shot back down and immediately jumped into the river for a cool off - what a feeling :)

Throughout the tour our bikes had already been in a pretty miserable state (Bastian's with only one gear and Hans' with its wobbly left crank, which needed tightening every few hours). Now, towards the end, Hans' rear tyre had become so worn through braking that the tube nearly showed through, resulting in regular punctures. In a desperate attempt to find a solution, Hans came up with the brilliant idea of carpet taping the inside of the tyre. Problem: we didn't have such a tape! Discussing loudly what we needed on the riverside, a deep voice from up above suddenly asked us what we needed. Looking up we found what seemed to be an angel descending from the heavens: a man on a balcony above us, trying to help us out - and within minutes a tape came flying down. Exactly what we needed - Herzlichen Dank an den netten Herrn aus Urmitz!

Finally, after nearly 12 hours on the bike, we arrived in Kirberg, Bastian's hometown, at sunset. After a grand reception with a pool and champagne by Bastian's friend Barbara (who also kindly designed our logo), we concluded the day with a late night barbecue at Bastian's place.
Yesterday we completed the last stage to Frankfurt with a special stop at the Römer. Arriving at our final destination, we had covered (according to Hans' bike computer) exactly 997.05km since Watford! Mission accomplished!

PS: Since we have many more pics to upload and stories to tell, we'll be uploading a diary in the next few days, so stay tuned! Cheers everyone :-)

Conny, Sandra and Stefan from Liblar!!

...in front of their nice new (well, sort of; 1980s) caravan!

G-E-R-M-A-N-Y !!!!

Hi there everyone,

it's back to the fatherland!! Two more days, totalling seven altogether, brings us to 711km - that's more than 100km a day! We've slightly surprised ourselves, but the best were probably some interesting experiences on the way:

Coming out of chips-country (Hans' Belgium) we met Glen, a Phlippino, who accompanied us on bike on a rainy road to Maastricht - looking forward to some pics, Glen - we arrived at a small Dutch camping site, and here we go with the stereotypes:

Wanting to wait till Germany to get money out, we were quite poor by the time we reached Holland. After Hans haggeled the price for camping down to 3/4, there were nine caravans and one simple tent - guess who isn't Dutch! :) Next, off to the supermarket with only 11.19 euro left, we somehow randomly managed to buy some groceries totalling exactly 11.19. Totally proud of this, we happily passed over all that we had, only to be told that we were 1 cent short; the Dutch have the nasty habit of rounding up to the nearest 5ct! Luckily a friendly Dutch person in the queue gave us the required funds... :)

After crossing the border to Germany we took a break in Aachen. There we met Hans' friend Jenny from Nottingham (who's working in Aachen) for a nice lunch break in a cafe opposite the Elisenbrunnen.

Lastly we were lucky enough to stumble across an unguarded field full of cherry trees. With tummy-ache and 2 kilos extra luggage we made our way to the camping site.

Now, we're slightly west of Cologne, at a lake where Conny, Stefan and Sandra (the friendly intensive youth group) lend us there laptop from which we are writing this and enjoying a beer with them. Herzlichen Dank!

Two more days to Bastian's home, three to Frankfurt! Off again tomorrow :)