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Section Guide For:Europe (Mar-Jul 2003) Map Bicycle Transport Details & Notes Spain (Mar-Apr) Madrid Cuenca Sevilla + Portugal (Apr) Lisbon Sintra Spain (Apr) San Sebastian Bilbao France (May) Bordeaux to Belgium Belgium (Jun) Marc Watelet & GR5 + 5 Cities (Jun-Jul) Brussels London Brugge Amsterdam Paris |
Europe with Bicycles (Mar-Jul 2003)Details and NotesPost Travel Notes | Pre-Travel Planning | Baggage List Cheryl Gelder Post Travel Details & Other Notes- Where Madrid Spain Through Portugal France Belgium Netherlands When March - July 2003 Why We feel a sense of freedom traveling by bicycle. To experience Europe To travel with my sister Jacki for her 50th birthday.. Resources Along the Way Michelin International maps by country . Local Libraries Reference Maps Lonely Planet Internet [top of page] Camera Fuji Finepix 2800 set to maximum quality Photos in the Photo log For these web pages the jpeg files were then resampled to about 360 x 270 and compressed about 15% using Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 to reduce the transmission and display time. The reduced photos are not as exciting as the originals but I am expecting to hold your attention longer with the shorter transmission times. Lodging Normally we stayed in hotels and hostels. We did have tent and sleeping bags though for when it became evening and we were not near a town with a hotel or hostel. Food We are bicyclists and we burn calories. We eat everywhere we can...restaurants,
bakeries and grocery stores along the way.
[top of page] Transportation Airfare Once we decided that we would fly into Madrid and out of Amsterdam we found tickets for less than $500 and our bicycles flew at not additional charge. Bicycles We cycled to the San Diego airport, purchased boxes for $15 each, turned our handle bars, took off our pedals and slid the bicycles in. We did the same on the trip home and it worked perfectly. Train $20USD ea - Ayumonte-Merida Spain $50USD ea - San Sebastian Spain to Bordeaux France. $17USD ea - Koln Germany to Liege Belgium. $80USD ea - Eurostar Brussels to London (r/t) $62USD ea - Brussels to Amsterdam (r/t) $78USD ea - Brussels to Paris (r/t) . Bus $43USD ea - Merida Spain to Lisbon Portugal $15USD ea - San Sebastian-Bilbao Spain (r/t) Border Crossings Not a problem within Europe. Not a problem in Madrid. Keeping in Touch Internet Costs $84/day for both of us including airfare. Things Learned Bicycling long distance for extended periods in Europe is more fun than I imagined. April is too early for the weather in cycling in France long distance. I enjoyed time with my sister Jacki. We've traveled for 3 years. I miss her. Cheryl Gelder Pre-Travel Planning Timetable[top of page] Conception of Idea Very long ago we wanted to bicycle Europe. Mentally Committed to a Start Date and Length of Travel Dec 2002 We will fly into Madrid the end of Mar 2003 and return from Amsterdam in July before our daughter Buffy has her baby.. Committed Money Dec 2002 Purchased our air tickets.
Cheryl Gelder Baggage & Other Equipment[top of page] Bicycles (with toe clips so we can wear walking shoes) Chuck Cannondale (15 years old) Cheryl Cannondale T600 (10 years old) The point in noting the age of our equipment is to shout the message, You don't need new equipment
Panniers - Lined with white garbage bags for added waterproofing and visibility inside. Chuck Front - RhodeGear (20 years old) Rear??? -??? (20 years old) Cheryl Front - ???r (10 years old) Rear - Rhode Gear (12 years old) I prefer ones with Velcro straps rather than bungee or elastic straps. Basically I'm lazy. If I use panniers with bungee or other elastic straps I must loosen them at night. Clothes Cycling 2 riding shorts 2 light weight sleeveless tops 2 light weight long sleeve tops 1 North Face lightweight pile over shirt 3 sets under clothes 1 shoes rain pants and jacket 1 pair Travelsmith - Not quite tights for cold days Street Another pair Travelsmith - Not quite tights long sleeve shirt black jacket/shirt for a more dressed up look light weight sandals for walking and use in public showers Camp at Night long underwear tops and bottoms balaclava down booties black pile vest that can double during the day [top of page] Toiletries small towel toothbrush/paste antibacterial dish soap for hands, body and hair disposable contact lenses eye drops electric razor ibuprophen comb toenail clippers small scissors #45 sun block vitamins panty liners (cheryl) razor (chuck)
Other Riding Gear helmet riding gloves pump
Guides, money, and papers ATM card Visa/MC Drivers License Passport Cash ($200) Maps [top of page] |
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