We had a rest day and a half as today we rode a mere 60 km from Regensburg to Straubing. The group has grown accustomed to riding an average of 100 km per day rain or shine, so this brief day is a nice treat and a welcome change.
They all seem relaxed and content and I can’t help but smirk a little when I think of the challenges they have ahead. Unlike our expedition through Africa, where things start tough and rugged and slowly become more comfortable as you progress to Cape Town, the Orient Express starts in the western comforts of France, Germany, and Austria, where we cycle into places like Straubing – the cycleway at the main entrance and a full service bike shop a 5 minute walk away, and a grocery store across the street.
This will all change in eastern Europe where amenities are fewer and further between, where people and cars are less familiar with cyclists and how they behave on the roadways. Where the campsites and hotels don’t necessarily match up to what we have experienced so far. The roads are rougher, the mountains are taller, and it’s likely to be damn hot as well. But, all that aside, eastern Europe for me holds much more interest and exoticism. These are places that seemed to have not changed in hundreds of years. These are exciting places that force us out of our comforts of western living and into something slightly different. We will see isolated farming villages, urban sprawl, skyscrapers and the beautiful Black Sea Coast. We will experience the remnants of a communist past and the warmth of the Muslim peoples of Turkey.
Stay tuned...
In the early hours of February 20th, 2008, one of the oldest bike shops in North America burned to the ground. The six alarm fire brought 40 fire trucks and over 90 firemen to the scene.
Duke’s Cycle and Radio Ltd. has been at 625 Queen Street West in Toronto since 1914. The store was started by the current owner’s grandfather. His son, the current owner’s father, was even born in the building. Â
Many past and present employees and customers stood around in awe this morning as the store was reduced to ruble.
As a former employee at Duke’s and current neighbour at Tour d’Afrique's Toronto office, it is truly a shame for me to see it go.
It seems like only a short time ago that we were riding into Istanbul, the view of the Bosphorus in front of us, and a plethora of memories behind us. Now we are just 2 months from the start of yet another Orient Express Tour.
Most of the
rider profiles are now online - feel free to browse through them and see who has taken up this year's challenge.
The route is essentially the same this year with a few subtle changes to add to the experience. We hope everyone keeps checking the website as updates and photos from the tour will be coming through regularly.
The man in charge of this year's Orient Express adventure is a familiar name to many in the TDA community. We are very glad to announced that Randy Pielsticker will be leading the Tour this year.
Randy rode the Tour d'Afrique in 2004, and then returned as the Tour Leader there the following two years, while also assisting in the first year of the Orient Express. Randy's variety of skills in the field and the unmatched experiences he gained in Africa will no doubt add a little something extra for the riders of this year's tour.
The 4,000km Orient Express Bicycle Tour 2006, which started two months ago in Paris has come to a successful end.
Another year has come to a wonderful finish in the wonderful city of Istanbul and a certain level of satisfaction is setting in.
Our group was almost twice as big as it was last year and the contrasts don't end there. I really believe every part of the trip improved from the previous year and we are excited to see it continue to improve in year 3, year 4, and year 20.
There's nothing else like the Orient Express Bicycle Tour, and there's something unique and special about every year and every group of riders that take part...
Yesterday's arrival into Turkey was a huge contrast from last year, when our tour - in its first year - was an unknown to the people of Kirklareli, our first stop in Turkey. This year, with the wonderful help of our local contact Cem Manglay, we have been treated like heroes. We were met at the border by representatives from the municipality, police, jandarma (regional police), and even an ambulance - all of which escorted us to Derekoy where many of the riders took up the offer from the municipality to be driven to some facinating nearby caves.
Then upon entering Kirklareli, police were found all over this small town pointing us in the right direction and controlling traffic. The police also set us up in a camp downtown that was guarded all day and all night and had police security barriers surrounding our tents.
And if that wasn't enough, the Governor of Kirklareli is hosting a dinner for us tonight at new restaurant in town. WOW! It has all been a little overwhelming at times, but definitely appreciated by these tired cyclists who can finally start to treat this as a vacation as we only have three more short cycling days left before Istanbul. Hopefully we can talk the governor to join us for a few kilometers tomorrow...
Tonight we seemed to have taken a wrong turn and ended up somewhere along the route of the Tour d'Afrique.
Why? Because as we slept last night, beside hearing the regular assortment of stray dogs fight with each other, we could also hear a lion roaring.
Our new campsite this year happens to be located right next to a zoo.
On a Tour like ours nothing can be routine or mondane as a trip of this length travelling through 8 countries will always present us with challenges and pleasant and peculiar surprises like our friend the lion.
The flat cycleway and the plains of Hungary are both behind us now, and there is a certain anticipation amongst some of the riders for what will be a much needed, and very challenging series of days ahead in Romania, as we head from Timisoara into the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.
The weather in Timisoara was perfect today for us to unwind and prepare ourselves mentally for the hills ahead.
Tomorrow in Resita, we will stay in the towns finest 1 star hotel. No approariate camping area could be found, so the "adventure tour" again will live up to its name as we venture into the heart of Romania.
It was a pleasant change to have a day on some nice quiet country roads. For now we are leaving the big cities behind and exploring the countryside.
The ride out of Budapest went smoothly for the most part and the route gave us one last glimpse of the stunning parliament buildings.
Tonight a taste for what may be happening more frequently - lively campsites. This one is next to some karaoke bar and the patrons sound like they'll keep it going much past the time when I will go to sleep.
Tomorrow is the last day of riding for Alan. To celebrate the riders drank some local brews and talked and laughed late into the evening - well late for this early rising crew. And when all had quieted down, and camp stools stood empty, and the snores began, Alan yelled out from his tent RIDER MEETING 5 MINUTES!!! A few chuckles were heard before the night again became calm.
Tomorrow Budapest - the city where I joined last year and the city I am anxious to be able to explore further with our Hungarian photographer.
