Arsenal to Schalke by bicycle!

Fords, Ferries and Football - Football Fans take the Champions Leage Very Seriously! 4th November 2012

As I left home one November Sunday morning my bike had been transformed. All that advice from Greg Collins, RB58 and Adrian to remove the excessive ness of lights, luggage, locks and whatnot had been shot to pieces as not only did it have a large Carradice bag on the back it also had mudguards!! If this was an FNRttC there would be serious eyebrow raising.

The rain had stopped but the roads were wet. I weaved my way to Olafs House, met Mrs Olaf who was sadly suffering with a nasty cold.  We left her to hopefully recover speedily and Olaf and I headed to the Emirates Stadium for photo opportunities.

I used to work for the architects who designed it so after all those conversations about the north bridge it was funny to be cycling along it. We found a passerby to take our pic and I sent a photo to one of the interior designers who is now back in Sydney but designed the loos when she was here.

Then we were off. This was it. We were heading for Germany! We weaved our way eastwards avoiding main roads, the rain began to fall very lightly but consistently and we put our overtrousers on in the hope we might stay dry. 

Out into Essex, turning into country lanes - the standard of route I've only ever experienced on DZ rides. Picturesque, rural and people free - this was a sight of things to come. We headed down a small slope at the bottom of which was a lake. 

On went my brakes as I gawped in amazement as the Moulton and its little wheels - semi submerged in water. Is he serious I thought to myself? Apparently he was, so I just pedalled or rather paddled my way through -absolutely beside myself that I hadn't brought my Pampers wetwipes with me. Ian Euk Rauk would be shocked!  And this not the only ford we went through. We did find three others which were too deep to tackle and one even had snared a car.

At about 3pm we found a perfect restaurant - Graham on the Green - in a village called Whitle opposite a duck pond which I made sure Olaf knew was not a ford! 

On to Chelmsford, the route being tweaked as roads were closed or too water filled for cycling. We found Costa in Colchester for coffee and cake followed by the first hill of the ride at the top if which ... taran tara .... Auntie Helen was waiting for us!! brillo pads! We trio'd our way eastwards, chatting about stuff until she turned off to head for home. 

The next section of the trip was the scariest as we were obliged to stay on the A120 all the way to Harwich.  A-roads are not my thing. I am sure topcat1 and martint235 would have loved it but they are not for me. I put my head down and pedalled like fury with Olaf and his super lights behind me making us visible to the traffic behind. I dont think we were overtaken by a single lorry but that's probably down to luck. The cars were few but fast. We kept going all the way and arrived at the ferry terminal at 22:15. if we hadn't done the A-road we'd have missed the ferry.

Washed and changed in our cabins we went to the bar for a drink whereupon Olaf gave me a fabulous Arsenal Shalke04 Champions League scarf. How cool is that?! More tea and beer please - we've cycled 85 miles today (rounded up beautifully a la Agent Hilda!) and before we knew where we were it was 1.20am! Ooops! night night!

I didnt really sleep and before i knew where i was the tune "Dont worry Be happy" was pouring out of the ship's PA system. A huge breakfast was consumed, we disembarked and started our Dutch ride along a river path to Rotterdam which has an industrial look to its skyline.  We pootled along the path, seeing ships - big ships sail by.  The air was cold but it was not wet.  The scenery was fantastic.  Mile after mile of waterways.  Just as we arrived in a town for elevenses there was a visitation from the Fairy.  Needless to say Olaf fixed it in next to no time whilst I was watching the goings on of a water bridge as we were on the top of it!
 

On our way we went until lunch where we stopped for lunch in a very nice little restaurant. Ham, Chips and salad for me - delicious. And uberly civilised!  On we went, over roundabouts designed for cyclists which work well - Holland certainly has the space for that. The rest of the afternoon was just lovely.

Past farms where the animals just ignored us which reminded me of LonJoG where we became unobtrusive visitors to the landscape giving us a privileged view of life in the countryside. The roads were so small that you couldnt really see them, as they turned corners around fields and farmyards.  It was all so pretty.  And quite incredibly - it was absolutely pancake flat.  I couldn't believe it! We chatted away as we cycled. At junctions one of us would say "All Up"! in a loud voice in  true FNRttC manner.  

The next stop was McDonalds!!  I don't do McDonalds - unless it opens up at 4am just for us and even then I dont eat in them.  Olaf had a burger and chips! I had a piece of pineapple and a cup of tea. 

As we cycled up along the Dykes they just went on and on.  As the sun went down and it became darker and darker the pedestrians were all wearing high viz as they walked their dogs. It was a case of Haute Viz rather than Haute Couture but it did make sense.  One mistake and they would be in the drink!  Once we were back into the darkness we were under an incredibly starry sky.  It was all quite surreal.

In FNRttC style we took two ferries over rivers.  The second one we made with only minutes to spare.  As we crossed the river we could see in the distance an luminous blue chimney which was in the town where we were staying.  Also in true FNRttC style I never have any idea of where I am or where I am going so I cant say where it is but it did have the letters Njimen in it!  

We were a bit off schedule and by the time we arrived at our B&B I was maxed out of energy and couldn't really think straight. I should have had some raisins or snacks about half an hour earlier as I was truly wasted.  The owner however was absolutely charming, it was a lovely place to stay - we had a studio room each with our own bathrooms and the bicycles were safely stored in the garden.  

The owner recommended a restaurant so off we headed.  What a place! Another sensational success - the food was absolutely top notch.  Our waitress confused us a bit as although she was Dutch she spoke English with the most pitch perfect American accent! It was not what we were expecting! It transpired that she had spent a year in America after school. Three courses later we were back at the hotel. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I slept like a log! 85 miles for the day (I think!)

The next day we left at about 8.30 and headed through the town out to another canal path.  The sky was blue, blue, blue.  At some stage during these two days we past the most amazing sight of windmills along a canal. Stunning and a real treat.  

As we headed eastwards there was a bit of a headwind and Olaf took the helm and pulled me along.  After about 20 minutes I thought I had better take over so I went to the front. It was hard work!  But onwards we headed along lane after lane and still not one hill.  

 At some point apparently we were in Germany!  We took out the Schalke banner for a photo opportunity. This "cycling with a celeb" thing is rather novel!  The scenery stayed stunning   We stopped at a bakery for the most fabulous elevenses - a freshly made roll, black tea and an enormous stollen something or other stuffed with berries - Olaf said it was at least two of my five a day!  Apparently every German village has a tip top bakery. We were certainly in one of those.

On we went, the football match was more and more on our minds.  I am a Gooner and a fan of football.  That's not the same as being a fan of footballers.  They let the sport down on so many levels. Our chatting continued all the way to a forest.  What on earth?!!!!  Parallel with a river my poor bike was bouncing off tree roots, boggy puddles and sludge.  After about 20 yards I had to walk.  Next time I'll bring a mountain bike!  

Back onto the road and the countryside and we went through a stretch of road that was so beautiful I will never forget it.  The green leaves of the tree tops were forming a luminous arch and at the very end of it, slightly up a weency hill, the sunlight was blasting through like an orange ball of fire you could touch.  It was just stunning. It took my breath away.  We saw the Rhine and the Rhone - two great rivers - from our bicycles.  Amazing.

The conversation went back to the infamous spaghetti ice cream.  Does'nt that sound disgusting?  And it is soooo not.  In another fantastic bakery we ate it. And in case you are wondering, it is in fact delicious ice cream but shaped like spagetti - its in thin strips and the decoration is so lifelike. The brain says spaghetti and the mouth says Wayhayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!  What a treat!

Onwards we headed and then we were there -  Schalke!  Just as we reached the Welcomen sign it was my turn for a visitation.  Fixed fantastically, we were on our way again.  We popped into see friends of Olaf's who had very kindly laid on a lovely tea.  Unfortunately we were so late we hardly had a chance to take part and as Olaf was busy explaining that we couldnt stay they give me the most welcome cup of tea!  

On we headed to my hotel, dumped the luggage in a hotel. Spent 10 minutes (that may not translate well in German!) changing and we cycled to the Stadium.  We met a friend of Olaf's who had travelled from Cologne for the match.  We ate delicious hot dogs (actually that's an insult to what we ate) popped into the Bar full of Schalke Supporters then made our way to our seats.

 

I never knew that the theme tune at the beginning of Champions League matches is actually played at the stadium, I thought it was just on the box.  From where I was sitting I could see Arsene Venger!  I had to really control my support - Arsenal scored twice in the first 20 minutes and I nearly lept out of my seat!  Then Schalke scored twice.   

By the end of the match I was in awe of the whole thing.  What an adventure. What a fantastic cycling companion Olaf was, what fun it had all been.  I was on air! 

I made my way back to my hotel. My bike had a garage all of it's own!! I slept like a log and the next day took a train (several of them in fact) to The Hague to spend a couple of days with a friend of mine.

I left my camera on one of the trains so my photos are limited but the memories I have are bouncing out of the keyboard.  Thank you Olaf.  Truly.