Well, sportsfans, we did it. We actually did it. From Amsterdam to Villers Allerand - 686km in 22 days. So much laughter, so many crazy moments, so many great places to stay, so many terrible places to stay! Such amazing food. So many funny moments. So many swearing moments. Rain, hail, snow, sun, freezing temperatures, very cold cabins, cobblestones, mud, water, grass, lots of fields, AMAZING SCENERY, INCREDIBLE CHEESES, and a shitload of FUN!!!!
It's hard not to get philosophical, but that could get really boring, so instead, here are some pics and moments from our last day on the bike - 48 crazy km, including the longest 2km of our whole trip - the last 2km, on the "country" track between the champagne vines coming into Villers - it took us over an hour to get through it! INSANE ending to and INSANE TRIP!
Our final breakfast - feeling happy and sad at the same time
Bikes packed and ready to go for the final hurrah!
Final morning selfie (ah the nostalgia already as I type this, two days later) - at this stage we're thinking 40km to go, a few hours and we'll be there. Hmmmm.
Before we left, though, Mike had to say goodbye to his new friend at the camping ground - Rex, the Robot Lawnmower
After an eventful morning of bad tracks, and meandering roads, we are on the bike path into Reims that follows a canal - gorgeous riding, and the perfect place for a pit stop
Roses is so happy, she's doing a snack dance - GO ROSES!
We hit Reims, had a quick lunch stop at Macca's - and so excited to be so close to home. We knew some family had trained it in to help us celebrate - though our bodies were weary, the mood was high, and we were ready to roll in as heroes (to ourselves and each other)...
I have no pics of the final few kms into Villers - Mike had taken my phone to navigate, and I was so busy swearing anyway. Cody went to take a pic of me about an hour into me pushing my bike through the mud track - he said "smile", and I just said "NO" - so, um, no pic!
Mike and Cody had mountain bikes, so theirs was a lesser struggle - but Roses and I had to stop about every 400m to get the mud scraped out of our brakes and other bike parts I don't know the name of, because we actually could not move forward everything was so clogged.
Literally, we were stuck in the mud. Alot.
There was the odd swear word.
But never fear, as the pros we are, we sorted it out, put one foot in front of the other, and kept going (I was a little um churlish, Roses thought it was a hoot, Cody was super supportive, and Mike was the best mud-scraper ever).
If you look closely, there are a few dots on the mud track - that's us. Reims is in the background. Mike's brother, Bob, took the pic (he'd arrived yesterday with Jen to cheer us in).
We finally got to the bottom of the track. We spent 10 mins trying to get more mud off the bikes, and off our shoes and pedals - took an awesome pic...and then headed up the hill (bloody final hill almost killed me) - to be welcomed by the cheer squad. AND IT FELT AWESOME.
(thanks Bob, for this one)
Champagne was drunk, a few short stories told, then off to our little house to shower, rest, and get ready for the celebratory feast...
We are home.
The bikes are happy to be home too.
LET THE FEASTING BEGIN!
After a fabulous 3 hour dinner, and recounting of more stories, our aura of super-hero status was well cemented. Our bodies were sore and our spirits full. What a trip. What a hoot. What an adventure. One of the best of my life. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE MOMENT, even the swearing ones.
And to my fellow Hamster Jams, YOU TOTALLY ROCK. I thank you for your adventurous spirit, your optimism, your practicality, your wisdom, your support, your strength, your toughness, ALL THE LAUGHTER, and most of all, your generous and happy souls.
💝
A small epilogue:
Mike this morning pressure cleaning the bikes - he cleaned them so well he punctured Roses' tyre! GOLD!
Fab!!! Congrats super hero's!! Amazing. We have loved being on the adventure with you, thanks for sharing.
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