Auntie Helen
Ich bin Powerfrau!
- Location
- 47906 Kempen, Germany
So... Auntie Helen is off to Germany (on Sunday 24 May), to cycle along the Rhine and Moselle rivers and anywhere else that appeals at the time.
I'm going on the overnight ferry from Harwich on Sunday night to the Hook of Holland. On Monday morning, when I arrive in Holland, I'm taking the train to Cologne... and from then I will go south down the Rhine, probably to Mainz, then up the other side of the river to Koblenz, then along the Moselle to Trier and back again to Koblenz, then cycling all the way back to the Hook of Holland. I don't have my return ferry ticket yet and I have a maximum of three weeks.
This is my first ever cycle tour and I'm doing it on my own. I'll stay in B&Bs and hotels as I do like a bit of comfort and don't camp.
I've read lots on here about touring and what to take and have thought about what I personally feel I might need. Today I laid everything out on the spare bed to see how much stuff I have... and here it is (except I forgot to put my SPD sandals and deodorant in the photo, everything else is there). The trike has two reasonably sized panniers, plus the Trice Sidepods (at the top of the pic) and I'm pretty confident all that stuff will fit in OK.
So... does anyone have any comments about what I've got. Too much? Too little? Forgetting something vital?
In case you can't tell from the pic, this is what I'm taking:
Cycling tights
2 pairs cycling shorts
2 short-sleeved jerseys
2 vest tops
2 pairs knickers
2 bras
2 pairs socks
Armwarmers
Gloves
German phone & charger
English phone & charger
Garmin 205 & charger
Passport
Travel insurance
Money
Antibiotics (special ones I have to take if I get a deep cut)
Wash kit
Fluorescent vest
Cycle helmet
Buff
Sunglasses
German flag
British flag
Pyjamas
Waterproof coat (not cycling one)
Casual trousers (not cycling)
Top
Lightweight trainers
German dictionary
Bikeline books for Rhein and Mosel
Bett & Bike book (with cycle-friendly places to stay in NRW, Saarland and Rheinland-Pfalz)
Book on Rhine touring courtesy of ComedyPilot/theDoctor
Ferry tickets
80 teabags (the Germans have hopeless tea)
Abus Granit lock
Armoured wire to go with lock
Trice sidepods
I also have a waterproof covering for the two additional panniers.
Any thoughts/comments appreciated. I don't yet have handwashing liquid/powder/flakes. I'm wondering if I can use hotel shower gel for that.
I'm going on the overnight ferry from Harwich on Sunday night to the Hook of Holland. On Monday morning, when I arrive in Holland, I'm taking the train to Cologne... and from then I will go south down the Rhine, probably to Mainz, then up the other side of the river to Koblenz, then along the Moselle to Trier and back again to Koblenz, then cycling all the way back to the Hook of Holland. I don't have my return ferry ticket yet and I have a maximum of three weeks.
This is my first ever cycle tour and I'm doing it on my own. I'll stay in B&Bs and hotels as I do like a bit of comfort and don't camp.
I've read lots on here about touring and what to take and have thought about what I personally feel I might need. Today I laid everything out on the spare bed to see how much stuff I have... and here it is (except I forgot to put my SPD sandals and deodorant in the photo, everything else is there). The trike has two reasonably sized panniers, plus the Trice Sidepods (at the top of the pic) and I'm pretty confident all that stuff will fit in OK.
So... does anyone have any comments about what I've got. Too much? Too little? Forgetting something vital?
In case you can't tell from the pic, this is what I'm taking:
Cycling tights
2 pairs cycling shorts
2 short-sleeved jerseys
2 vest tops
2 pairs knickers
2 bras
2 pairs socks
Armwarmers
Gloves
German phone & charger
English phone & charger
Garmin 205 & charger
Passport
Travel insurance
Money
Antibiotics (special ones I have to take if I get a deep cut)
Wash kit
Fluorescent vest
Cycle helmet
Buff
Sunglasses
German flag
British flag
Pyjamas
Waterproof coat (not cycling one)
Casual trousers (not cycling)
Top
Lightweight trainers
German dictionary
Bikeline books for Rhein and Mosel
Bett & Bike book (with cycle-friendly places to stay in NRW, Saarland and Rheinland-Pfalz)
Book on Rhine touring courtesy of ComedyPilot/theDoctor
Ferry tickets
80 teabags (the Germans have hopeless tea)
Abus Granit lock
Armoured wire to go with lock
Trice sidepods
I also have a waterproof covering for the two additional panniers.
Any thoughts/comments appreciated. I don't yet have handwashing liquid/powder/flakes. I'm wondering if I can use hotel shower gel for that.