endurance

Day 13: Grenna to Varberg

| tom@Childsi

Julien didn’t have a very eventful day today as the ferry ride from Denmark to Sweden took around four hours he only ended cycling about 10 miles.

He set out from Grenna early this morning, arriving at the ferry port at 8.20. However he then discovered that the first ferry didn’t depart until 2.30.

So he made his way back to Grenna and had a big lunch before heading back to the port and taking the ferry ride across to Sweden.

Sitting out on the ferry Julien managed to get very burnt but at least he was able to rest up a bit having cycled around 1000 miles over the last twelve days!

After disembarking Julien cycled to the nearest campsite in Varberg. He chatted to some friendly locals who gave him some advice on his route through Sweden.

Thankfully the landscape should be a bit flatter for Julien now he has reached Sweden.

Although there are some hills coming up they are nowhere near the size of those he had to cycle over in Denmark.

Julien hopes to make it to Boras tomorrow or perhaps slightly further if the cycle paths are of a good standard.

Here is the day’s Google Map. Please also visit the Child’s i Foundation and sponsor Julien on his Just Giving page. Thank you!

Day 12: Vejle to Grenna

| tom@Childsi

Today has been Julien’s most tiring yet, he covered 90 miles most of which were over very large hills.

He set out from Vejle this morning and had a chilled ride to Horsens where he tried to find somewhere for lunch but kept ending up on an industrial estate!

So he delayed lunch for a while and continued on to Aarhus, one of the largest cities in Denmark.

Julien says that Aarhus was a really nice place to visit and he saw an interesting sculpture exhibit there.

He also found nice a café to eat in and met some lovely Danish people who were very interested in his trip (and who are hopefully reading this entry tonight!)

After lunch Julien took the coastal route and enjoyed the beautiful views along the Danish seaside. Unfortunately though the large hills kept coming especially around Kolindsund.

With all the ups and downs Julien was extremely worn out by the time he reached Grenna where he found a great campsite to stay in for his last night in Denmark.

After a good rest Julien will catch the ferry to Sweden tomorrow and continue on his way to Nordkapp.

Here is the Google Map for today and also a Google Map of the Journey so far.

Please also take the time to visit the Child’s i Foundation and Julien’s Just Giving page. Thanks!

Day 11: Flensburg to Vejle

| tom@Childsi

Julien set out towards Denmark early this morning and had to contend with awful weather all day.

To avoid the rain Julien stopped in at Flensburg and found some cover which he shared with many wet Germans!

After a while it became clear the rain was not going to stop, so Julien decided to carry on his way and the sun did make a brief apperance just before he crossed the border.

He found a beautiful scandinavian style beach just on the edge between Germany and Denmark but soon after he had to cycle across some serious hills and deal with the undulating Danish landscape.

There was some respite in towns like Aabenraa and Haderslev which are at sea level, but outside of these towns the hills rose up again and it was back to riding in a low gear!

As it continued to rain heavily Julien stopped in at cafe in Kolding and watched his bike get soaked outside!

Julien told the owners of the cafe that he was planning to cycle on to Juelsminde but he was told that the town was much futher away than his map indicated.

Instead he was advised to cycle to Vejle. Just before he reached the town Julien faced a massive drop and reached around 20mph in a thunderstorm – not very nice!

Once in Vejle Julien found a decent campsite to set up in for the night and is pleased with the progress he has made so far, estimating that he is currently a day or two ahead of schedule.

Here is Google map number eleven. Please also visit the Child’s i Foundation and Julien’s Just Giving site. Thanks very much!

Day 10: Dageling to Flensburg

| tom@Childsi

Julien set out from Dageling early this morning and managed to clock up an impressive 80 miles by the end of the day.

He stopped in for breakfast at Itzehoe which sounds like a nice little place before taking a river crossing and carrying on past Rensburg and Schleswig to Flensburg.

It took Julien a while to find a campsite to stay in for the night as many of those noted on his map didn’t actually exist! In the end though he settled down in the area around Flensburg.

Julien has now covered around 800 miles in total. Unsuprisingly he is experiencing some pain in his right knee which has been made worse by the many hills he has cycled over in the last few days.

Julien plans to have an early breakfast tomorrow before pushing onto Denmark, which he is really looking forward to visiting.

This is partly because of its reputation as a good place for cyclists but also because he wants an end to the poor campsites he has had to stay in in Germany!

Here is the Google Map for day ten. Please also visit the Child’s i Foundation and Julien’s Just Giving page by clicking the buttons on the right. Thanks very much!

Day 9: Brake to Dageling

| tom@Childsi

It’s day nine for Julien today and he started out from Brake early this morning catching the ferry across the Wesar river. Julien tells me he loves a ferry ride in the morning!

He then continued on to Beverstadt where he had a good German lunch and saw a number of schoolchildren disobeying their angry teacher!

Julien cycled over many hills today so he had a bit of a problem with both his knees. He also got a bit lost again (I am starting to sense a theme!) this time around Lambstedt. After a while he made it to a more major route to Wischaften and took another ferry along with a load of trucks and cars.

Julien then made a final 12 mile push to get to the campsite in Dageling where he is staying in for the night. Apparently the place is occupied by a few people who look like they have been there for too long!

Julien estimates one more full day in Germany heading towards the northeast around Schlesig and Flensburg.

Here is the Google Map for today and as always please visit the Child’s i Foundation and Julien’s Just Giving page. Thanks!

Day 8: Leer to Brake

| tom@Childsi

Julien has now been on his on his massive cycling trip for one week and I am glad to report that he had a much better day today.

Julien set off from Leer early this morning and as he cycled along was stopped by a German film crew who were keen to get his views on how German farmers were being affected by the closure of a nearby bridge!

Needless to say Julien had little opinion on this, but managed to give a short response in English. Whether the story will make the news in Germany tonight we will never know!

After leaving Leer Julien found himself on a zigzag route. So far he has found cycling in Germany to be quite different from in Holland. The cycle paths are much shorter in Germany than in Holland where he was riding along straight roads for miles at a time.

Julien stopped in for brunch at Westerstede and thankfully was able to order a hearty German breakfast despite the language barrier!

He then continued on to Wiefelstede and Rastede and cycled through a lovely forest before making it to Brake where he is camping for the night.

Tomorrow Julien plans to cycle around Hamburg and Bremen and hopes to reach Itzehoe.

Here is the Google Map for day eight and please take the time to visit the Child’s i Foundation and sponsor Julien on his Just Giving site. Thank you.

Day 7: Leeuwarden to Leer

| tom@Childsi

Julien had a bit of a crappy day today but still managed to cover a mammoth 92 miles!

Julien again got very lost, this time on a long 30 mile road on the way to Groningen. To get back on track he then tried to cycle along the highway but there were no road markings which made it very difficult to find the way to Germany!

Eventually Julien made it out of Holland arriving in Bunde but he only realised he had entered Germany when he suddenly noticed a significant increase in the number of German cars and number plates!

So far the cycle paths in Germany haven’t matched the Dutch standard and Julien spent alot of time cycling through a back country route.

Along the way he saw a German couple walking along with two massive horses one of which he somehow offended and it became rather enraged!

After Julien dismounted from his bike the horse became less angry and after a while he got back on the bike and continued on to Leez where he is camping for the night.

Let’s hope for better roads and fewer wild horses tomorrow! Here is today’s Google Map and please also visit the Child’s i Foundation and Julien’s Just Giving page. Thank you.

Day 6: De Koog to Leeuwarden

| tom@Childsi

Day six and Julien had a great day today, the best so far and is reporting fewer aches and pains as he has adjusted his bicycle seat!

He set off this morning and retraced his steps going from De Koog to Den Helder where he cycled through a massive dyke. With a slight tail wind and sunshine Julien was able to clock up a quick 25 miles.

He stopped in for lunch in Harlingen which Julien says was gorgeous and his favourite place on the trip so far. He then cycled onto Leeuwarden and found a great campsite just on the outskirts which is essentaily a 4-5 acre field by a river and an animal sanctuary that Julien is sharing with just one other traveller who is staying down the opposite end from him!

Julien hopes to make it to Germany tomorrow and if the cycle paths are as good as they have been in Holland then he expects to make it to Leez and Oldenburg and estimates that the journey through Germany should take him about the same time as travelling across Holland – around 4-5 days.

Here is the Google Map for today and as always Julien would appreciate it if you would please vist the Child’s i Foundation and his Just Giving page. Thanks!

Day 5: Katwijk to De Koog

| tom@Childsi

Just a quick update tonight as Julien has again stuggled to get a good phone signal.

Julien set off this morning at 9.30 and ended up doing a 5 mile loop due to some poor Dutch signposting. He then pushed on to Haarlem but could not find anywhere decent to stop for lunch!

Luckily the weather stayed sunny so he rode on to Alkmaar which had some gorgeous views. After speaking to some locals Julien was advised to travel to Texel so he cycled 30 miles north to Den Helder and then caught the ferry to Texel.

Julien then continued on to Da Koog where he found another campsite by the sea to pitch up in for the night.

Unfortunately he then found out that the onward ferry is not currently working so he will have to retrace the last 15 miles tomorrow – bit of a bummer!

To speed things up Julien has decided to cut through Holland tomorrow rather than continue cycling along the coast.

Julien has been having a problem getting email to work on his phone so I will be adding images to the site from the web until he is able to send his own pictures to me. As soon as Julien sends me his own pictures I will upload them to his Flickr page.

Here is the day’s Google Map and please also visit the Child’s i Foundation and Julien’s Just Giving page.