Best moment on a tour.

[Telemark]

lots of "best moments", every tour has one or a few!

... a big rainbow spanning the horizon, with bits of turquoise sea and yellow sands being lit up by the sun after an almighty rain storm on the Outer Hebrides (we and the bikes found a bus shelter just in time and stayed dry)

... being able to take apart, sort out and put back together the bottom bracket all by myself , after being told how to go about it in theory a few months earlier. The bike mechanic in Portree (Isle of Skye) was away at a funeral for a few days, but his friend, who was looking after the bike rental side of the business, gave me the run of the workshop.

... sharing a steamed sticky toffee pudding in the evening, after an epic day battling the gales

... the amazing breakfast we got at a B&B on Arran (we haven't been able to get a room in the same place again on repeat visits, too popular!), it was a struggle lugging our bulging stomachs up the String Road afterwards .

... waking up early, listening to the birds singing outside and being utterly happy to just lie there for a little while ... and looking forward to the day's adventures

I could go on ...

T

 

[Anthony]

Like a lot of people have said it is hard to pick one 'best moment.' But here are a few of my favorite moments I can think of:

... sitting around a fire, gazing at the stars, on the shore of Loch Ness after a long day in the saddle.

... reaching the summit of Mont Ventoux the day before the Tour De France stage and getting cheered on by the hundreds of people in their camper vans. There was me and my friend on our heavy laden tourers and around 1000 lycra clad locals on their carbon racers.

... the first few minutes of cycling on the Spanish plataeu: the scale of the landscape was immense.

I can think of more but that will do for now.

 

[shirokazan]

... the first few minutes of cycling on the Spanish plataeu: the scale of the landscape was immense.

Whereabouts was that, Anthony? I'm quite intrigued.

As for me, not quite sure what my favourite moments are/were. I guess just the simple feeling of freedom as I bowl along a quiet road on a warm day with the wind behind me rates highly...

 

[ComedyPilot]

Best moment, climbing Chimney Bank out of Rosedale and getting a bloke in a car to take my picture.

No great shakes, I can hear you say......?

It was the best bit because it was hilarious. He had to hurriedly zip his 'old man' back in the garage after being 'kissed down there' by the lady in the front passenger seat.

I laughed all the way to Helmsley.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Rolling down the ramp of a ferry (on the outward journey).

I always get a much greater sense of 'arrival' by boat than I ever do by plane. When they lower the ramp, your trip seems to unfold before you.

 

[Kirstie]

Rolling down the ramp of a ferry (on the outward journey).

I always get a much greater sense of 'arrival' by boat than I ever do by plane. When they lower the ramp, your trip seems to unfold before you.

Ferry really is the most civilised way to travel...

 

[Anthony]

Whereabouts was that, Anthony? I'm quite intrigued.

As for me, not quite sure what my favourite moments are/were. I guess just the simple feeling of freedom as I bowl along a quiet road on a warm day with the wind behind me rates highly...

The Spanish plateau covers most of central Spain. I climbed onto it from about 50 miles west of Zaragoza.

 

[onlineamiga]

Whereabouts was that, Anthony? I'm quite intrigued.

Yeah where abouts is it ? I want to make sure i hit it too when I cycle from Gibraltar up to Yorkshire.

 

[old donald]

Some fabulous experiences that far outweigh anything negative - at 18 with a mate being lost in an industrial estate in Koln and being stopped by a German White van man who took us to where we wanted to go. Same tour Belgian bloke lead the way to the campsite for us. Bloke start his car in Belgium to put his lights on so we could put our tent up in the dark.

20 years later Dutch family escorted me to the next village on my way. French cafe ower went across the road to his house to make a coffee for me because he didn't sell coffee. Drenched after 6 miserable hours in cycling in the rain went into a french Cafe and they could do enough for me. People desparate to help you find your route where ever you are. People on campsite giving you food and beer when you arrive knackered at the end of a 12 hour cycle - especially when you tell them the distance in miles....

Too many random conversations with people genuinely interested in your exploits and the departing Bon Courage!!

why would you not want to do this.....

Bon courage

 

[Brains]

During an October camping tour in Holland, at 9pm a sudden snow blizzard dumped 6" of snow and hail in an hour.

Locals opened up a hotel,closed for the season, just for us

 

[Anthony]

Whereabouts was that, Anthony? I'm quite intrigued.

Yeah where abouts is it ? I want to make sure i hit it too when I cycle from Gibraltar up to Yorkshire.[/QUOTE]

If your leaving from Gibraltar, head to Montoro (fairly near Cordoba) then head north on the N420. By the time you reach Puertollano you'll be well onto the plateau. If you want to see my route through Spain check out my crazyguyonabike journal.

 

[dragon72]

Under glorious blue skies, reaching the top of the Cime de la Bonnette, at 2,800m above sea level, with a full camping tour load.
And then being able to knock up a cup of freshly brewed proper coffee at the top because I had all the kit with me,
and then enjoying the spectacular hard-earned view, happy as a dog with two tails, while sitting on my thermarest with my coffee and a packet of biscuits!

 

[Kirstie]

Under glorious blue skies, reaching the top of the Cime de la Bonnette, at 2,800m above sea level, with a full camping tour load.
And then being able to knock up a cup of freshly brewed proper coffee at the top because I had all the kit with me,
and then enjoying the spectacular hard-earned view, happy as a dog with two tails, while sitting on my thermarest with my coffee and a packet of biscuits!

That sounds absolutely awesome dragon72

 

[jags]

sounds like heaven dragon 72,well done .

 

[ufkacbln]

Too many to mention, and it is not only the big things, sometimes it is the simple quiet moments

Last week in Wales, I stopped off at Solva for lunch and was joined by a Welsh Bird.....