Europe with Bicycles (Mar-Jul 2003)

Bicycle Transport

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Day Before Departure - San Diego H.I. Hostel

For many years we have fantasized about cycling in various parts of Europe. All of our routes included a passage in Belgium where Marc, our foreign exchange student from 1985-86,  now lives with his wife and children.

About New Year's the time approached to purchase our airline tickets and commit to starting and ending places and dates. We chose to fly into Madrid and out of Amsterdam.  The actual route was to include Spain, Morocco, Portugal, France, & the Netherlands. We wanted to travel during the 'shoulder season' and avoid the crowds so we chose to fly San Diego to Madrid in March and back from Amsterdam mid July.

One week before we were to depart for Europe the U.S. invaded Iraq. We were once again challenged with the question of safety regarding traveling abroad (see Asia 2001).  After checking news coverage and Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum we decided that we would be as safe traveling to and bicycling in Europe as were were here in the United States.

I was not sure how Europeans would respond to us as Americans. I only know English and some Spanish so I knew that my language skills were not going to help me convey the open and friendliness that I wanted. I came up with the idea of making some pannier covers with the flags of all the countries that I planned traveling through. I don't know if it helped or not... but it helped me.

We rode the Coaster (train) from our daughter's home in Encinitas to San Diego where we spent the night in the San Diego AYH. At 5am we  bicycled the 4 miles to the airport and boxed our bicycles for transport.

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