Preparing to go

Well, I am not quite sure how this started, it was a while ago now. I can’t remember if someone mentioned it, or if I saw an article on it. Suffice to say, I became aware of a recognised cycle route across the whole of Europe from East to West- the EV or Eurovelo 6 route. It is reputed to be fairly flat as it mainly follows three rivers, the Danube, the Rhine, and the Loire. Sounds like a doddle I thought, although I have now seen the gradient profile and it no longer seems quite so easy. 

So, I thought, I should give that a go. Best time to go is May/June or September/October. This is the fourth time I have attempted to organise it and I have finally got in a position to go. 4,000kms is not so much fun when you are carrying a tent on a bike so I thought I would see if I could get some friends to take turns driving a back up vehicle for me. I got lucky- or not, time will tell- and found one recently retired copper at a loose end who offered to drive the back up van for the whole trip. My family drew the line at us wandering through Europe in a battered old van with a tent, so we have a motorhome as our mobile HQ. It can also be a place for refuge if hotels are scarce or I just run out of steam. 

So suddenly, here we are. Support planning team stalwart Nick has planned the route and mapped it on GPX. Backup man Hooner has prepared the vehicle, Katy has cleaned and stocked it, and Hooner is now about to head off across the channel for a leisurely drive across a continent to Constanta in Romania, where the cycle back will start. I have the easy bit- I will join the vehicle halfway there in Budapest, spell the driving the rest of the way and, if all goes well, dip my toes into the Black sea and start my ride back on April 29. 

It will either be the best challenge I have undertaken, or I may have bitten off far more than I can chew. The next 56 days will show us. I can’t wait. 

The fans arrive to wave off the support crew. See you in Europe Hooner.