New Love

No, this isn't another sappy post about Mr. Kilt (although I could write at least another 20).

Today when I got home from Mannheim, I headed over to the bike shop to pick up my new bike. After all the cycling tours last summer on my trusty Dutch bike, I decided I really wanted something that could handle trails and the hills in the countryside better. Last weekend, I headed over to the Trek store in Munich, told the boys what I was looking for and took a few test runs.

I quickly fell in love with a mountain bike and after the agreement on a discount and free switch of the tires, I had bought my second bike.



Mr. Kilt met me at the bike shop for the pick up and we had it fitted with lights and bought a lock and then I rode around the parking lot for half an hour to, erm, make sure everything was working okay. Alright, I actually just wanted to play. Hee hee.

If the weather holds up, the first Sunday cycling tour is planned for this weekend with about 15 people signed up. Only a big loop around Munich but I am looking forward to giving the bike (and my legs) a longer work out and catching up with the cycling gang after the long winter.

I also have some company this weekend. An American friend of mine who lives in Brussels is flying in tomorrow and spending Saturday and Sunday with me. I have a fun weekend planned for her but mostly looking forward to catching up and girl time.

Posted from Munich

Back in the Netherlands

I flew to Amsterdam this morning to spend a few days with my client in the area. I checked into the hotel and being particularly attuned to bicycles these days I noticed about 40 Dutch bikes parked outside the hotel.

After check in and a quick glance at the hotel information in the room I found out you can rent the bikes for a few Euros. I decided to brave the break in the rainy weather, rent a bike and ride the 10 kilometers or so into the nearest town, Amersfoort.

The sun poked out and I took a nice tour around the city. The city has been around since the middle ages and I wanted to see the Muurhuizen (wall houses). I was kicking myself for forgetting the battery to my small camera in Munich as the lighting and setting were perfect for a shoot.

I stopped in one of the squares for dinner and grabbed a table outside. The menu was only available in Dutch so I had to guess what things were. I found that if I read the words phonetically many were somewhat close to German food words so I hoped for the best and ordered what I thought might be a steak with mushrooms.

Not only was I right, but it was the best steak I ever had in Europe. Yeah, I know that's not saying much, but it was excellent.

I rode back to the hotel, returned the bike and am starting to think I want one more Dutch bike, but this time an old one! One of my cycle tour mates is into fixing them up and has offered to help if I go for it.

Posted from Amersfoort

Munich to Freising

I took another bike tour yesterday and I think we successfully managed to outdo ourselves yet again in adventures and fun.

We rode from Munich to Garching then on to Freising all along the Isar River bike path and a good 70+ km roundtrip.




Rain was in the forecast but we did not let that deter us from embarking on our serendipitous journey. In the Northern part of the English Garden we joined our two meeting point groups up and, after introductions for the new people, set off in a pack of about 20. We look like one fierce bike gang! Or something like that.

The weather looked hesitant but in time cleared up and became absolutely stunning. Crystal blue skies and sunshine everywhere.




Along the way we hit a few bumps in the road, so to speak. Three flat tires, one nasty wipe out, a couple of tired, whiney people but the best was saved for last. We left our last beer garden around 6 PM and the clouds started to accumulate and threaten rain. We stopped anyway for an ice cream then hit the Isar path hard for the long trip home. With more than 2 hours back to the city, the storm crashed and no rain gear could protect from the deluge.




For 20 minutes it was good fun, then it was wet and cold. It looked like it would let up but it stayed with us the whole way home. When we got back to the English garden with pruned hands, feet, drenched clothes and hair we split off. My friend A. and I were the only two heading over to Neuhausen so we went our own way and couldn't resist stopping in McDonalds for a coffee to warm up. The looks on the other customers' faces were priceless. We looked like two drowned rats squeaking and squishing up to the counter.




After a brief warm up we continued for the next 45 minutes to our houses, attracting smirks and stares for our wet, disheveled appearance. For our part we were shivering and praying for a hot shower and hot cup of tea.

All in all, another fabulous day, even with the soak!

Posted from Munich