Preparation

08/12/06
Here we are again with the planning of our next tour.
May is the only time we could get this spring to tour, it is still very early to try and go through the Alps so we have planned to fly over them. There are still four and half months to go, but the anticipation of the next tour is already high.
The idea of cycling through Italy and Greece was born several months ago. At first we had made several plans, which for different reasons we broke down into two for the final decision.
For the final two, I wanted to ride around Sicily and Southern Italy and Monique wanted to ride through Tuscany, well I should have known how that would end :-)
So here is the rough plan for this spring.
As you can see above we have left many options open as to where we will ride in Italy. Greece on the other hand is much more simpler to plan.
The final ride through Greece is not final, the only certain part is that we will be cycling around Peloponnesus. We had ridden around this part of Greece a long time ago by car, and we would really like to see it again, this time from the saddle.
In the coming months I will be adding more material to this page, so do come back :-)

18/12/06
Even though it's just a week before Christmas the planning continues. Still throwing some ideas around and doing some general planning as to what we would like to see and campgrounds available at this time of year.
Since getting the OK from our work and purchasing our plane tickets we are very excited. The weather is not the greatest for riding now and we are feeling quite bored.
Reading some online journals helps some but has got us wishing spring was already here :-)
We would like to wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2007.
Cya next year ;-)

18/01/2007
It was two years ago (on my birthday) when I first started a webpage for my first tour from Maastricht to Athens and it seems a long time ago. I have had many experiences and saw many beautiful places since then but the nicest accomplishment (if I can call it that) was introducing my wife to touring.
Well now for the upcoming tour the training has begun if a bit slow, I never thought I could get so fast out of shape and it's going to be hard work getting back into shape.
As for the planning so far we have this, (weather permitting), we'll ride the 90kms to Lauven, Belgium which is the closest camping to the airport +/-20kms for our early morning flight to Bergamo, Italy. There aren't any camping's near Bergamo so we'll have to cycle about 40kms to lake Iseo where there are several, than its Cremona and Modena to cross the Po river valley. The camping's at Cremona and Modena are not so good but they are near the cities and large supermarkets.
After Modena the hills begin and there are many camping's around so we'll just stop at the nearest one when we are tired.
The plan is to cycle through Tuscany towards Rome, were still not sure if were going into Rome, we really don't care to cycle through  a very large city. Most likely we'll stay inland.
We have purchased all the maps well need for Italy (Michelin # 561, #563 and #564) and in the coming weeks well finalize our route. I am learning web design now so in the future I will be setting up a proper web page so stay tuned.
So by for, now and see you in a couple of weeks.

26/01/2007
After some number crunching we had to revise our plans. We had to shorten the trip somewhat because there wasn't any room for bad days from weather, injuries or mechanical failure. Also the kms are more reasonable, the average kms per day would be about 85kms the shortest being about 45kms (getting into Rome) and the longest about 135kms (cycling to Bari).
We are now going to go through Rome, mainly because we don't see ourselves cycling through Italy for a few years after this tour, and we plan to take an extra day off and check out the city a bit.
Next we will be leaving from Bari instead of Brindisi, and we will be sailing to Patras instead of Igoumenitsa, this alone will shave several days from the trip. We will use these days on the island of Zakinthos, where we will take an extra day off, discover the island and relax.
I have planed for a rest day after every 5 days of riding. Total kms is expected to be around 2200 kms. And the most expansive part of the tour is going to be the ferry from Bari, at 48 euro pp (on deck) ouch, add diner than it is really expansive. We can fly from Brussels to Athens for less.
Now its time to check out the campsite opening dates, and make a list with addresses and phone numbers.
The only problem is going to be finding a place to stay in Benevento, no camping's in that area, as for the rest there shouldn't be a problem. We will be camping as much as possible, with the exceptions of Benevento and Poros.
For now its back to training next update in about a month :-)

04/02/2007
I said a month but OK I'm bored, here is a pretty close itinerary of our route. Some thing might still change as we have 2 full days extra so we might even visit another island before we get to Athens.
Or we might even take a detour and visit Delfi, we always wanted to visit this place. According to our Michelin map of Greece it's just over 100kms from Patras.
We just have to wait and see where we are on time when we get there.
This itinerary is from auto route express and it is not as accurate, it does not show the kms to the supermarket the little detours we always make and off coarse getting lost.  As hard as we try, we always manage to get lost at least ones on every tour.
Two and a half months to go, and we can't wait.
bye for now ;-)

20/02/2007
Carnival is almost over and sadly we did not go. Instead we took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather around 15C and we started our training. For three days we rode 40,50 and 70 kms, which is a pretty good start.
Looks like rain for the next several days, but we were happy to just get back on the bikes, even for just three days.
We have many little things to take care off on the bikes also, we need a new air pump, I need a new cassette and chain, new tires for Monique's bike the old ones are still good but we'll buy the Schwalbe Marathons (bullet proof), new mirror and bar ends for my bike, lower mud guards for the front fenders (to keep the chain's clean) etc. etc. etc.
Still 10 weeks to go, see you all in a few weeks cheers.

10/03/2007
Fifty (50) days left to go and the planning continues. We still have some reservations about riding in and out of Rome, but I will have to do some more research into that.
Training is truly under way, I've got 500kms on the bike already, the longest being 110kms, but all flat. Today I started on the hills and what a surprise, didn't think I was so much out of shape, just means a lot more training ahead.
Monique has done a bit less, but she's making it up in the gym.
The bikes are all set up with the new upgrades, only thing left is a pair of cycling shoes for me, the ones I've had for the last several years are shot.
Anticipation is getting more as the days/weeks go by, we can't wait, we really do need some time to ourselves and away from everything.
Cya in a couple of weeks, till than safe travels ;-)

30/03/2007
Thirty (30) days left, the planning is almost finished. Only problem that I seem to have now, is finding cheap places to stay while crossing over Italy, from just North of Naples to Bari. Further North and we end up riding along the same route as in 2005(very boring) and further South we need more time, decisions, decisions.
I found a new forum for travelers (slow talk) and they have a section on Italy, hopefully someone there could help us out.
I prefer to camp as much as possible, I don't like carrying the tent around Europe and sleeping in a hotel.
As for training, I've got over 1000kms on the bike (partially loaded, and over hills) and I'm very happy with the results, about Monique, well she still goes to the gym but it's not the same, we have to plan some long rides together and very soon.
Cya in a couple of weeks :-)

17/04/2007
13 days left and we're just about ready. We did an overnight shakedown ride of 100km to Velden, just followed the Maas north of Venlo and back on the other side. We did pretty good, the weather was hot for this time of year 28/30c. And the next day we did 70kms all hills and we feel pretty good.
On the planning we are 99% sure of where were going, we will stay with the itinerary above, but will most likely drop Zakinthos. We have one more weekend to do some training than its off to Italy ;-)
Now its time to set some things straight at home and sort the camping equipment.
Our excitement is getting unbearable

Left to Right:
1- Heading South through cherry orchards near Venlo, the picture tells the rest.
2- Our first camp of the year. We found this small farmers camping just before the village of Velden about 5 kms north of Venlo.
3- Returning home along the Maas river. It was another clear and hot day, and cycling along these bike paths was a real pleasure.