Coffee with my sister
I live in Raamsdonksveer, in the province of North-Brabant. A village halfway the cities of Breda and Gorinchem. North Brabant is located directly north of Belgium.
However, I grew up in the province of Limburg, in a small village at the German border. The majority of my family still lives there. Like my sister.
During our phone call on Saturday, I got the impression that there was a pretty good chance to catch them at home Sunday. So, I got on my bike and rode down to Limburg. A trip of 117 km.
I took two bottles with sports drink in the bottle cages, and 3 litres of water in a bladder in the Vaude Trail Light 9 on my back. And of course, enough food in a snack pack, and TopLoader.
In the Topeak Backloader I took fresh clothes for the home journey, and in the MidLoader stuff I might need in the train or at the train stations, like cleat covers, tracksuit pants, and a soft shell. In the end, I only needed the cleat covers. Travelling self-supporting, it’s better to be prepared.
When I left from home around 8 o’clock, it was already 16 degrees Celsius. The temperature would rise to 26 during the ride. Fortunately, I was regularly cycling in the shade, mostly of trees.
What bothered me more was the wind. I had a headwind all the way long, varying but up to 19 km/h. Well, there’s nothing you can do than accepting, gearing down and keep pedalling. And that’s what I did.
The route ran through Tilburg and Eindhoven. Cycling around these cities would have made the route a bit longer, but probably also more pleasant and maybe even a little faster.
Crossing the river Meuse with the ferry near Kessel, I Whatsapped my sister a photograph, asking her whether she recognized the location. Well, she did, of course. She welcomed me with a delicious, home-made soup. And my well-deserved cup of coffee!
It would have been great when I was in a shape to ride home on the bike. Not yet, unfortunately. So, I hopped on the train in Venlo, and got off in Breda. From there, the journey home was only a mere 18 km with the bike.
It had been a lovely, sunny Sunday.
