summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Thanks for that ... I think that last train home idea was a good way to finish off the holiday ... as you said on a high.
Just got back from first family cycling tour - BIG thanks to you all!
- Thread starter TwoInTow
- Start date
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shirokazan
Veteran
Hey, I think I might have passed you on Day 2, if that was Tuesday 20th July? We said hello to each other as I went past you between Verney Junction and Winslow (probably around 1pm): my bike looks like this. Respect to your other half for the amount he was pulling: all those panniers and a child. And I think you were towing a trailer full of luggage, too? Glad you and your family enjoyed your first tour.
That was us!! I kept calling Rob my 'man mountain' because of what he was pulling... And yes, I had the trailer which had all the heavy stuff (but was still better than all the panniers and a lazy girl on the front!
). Fancy meeting you there!
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
That sounds great! And bits of it I know, being a former Leicesterite, although I wasn't a cyclist when I lived there. Which playground was it? Abbey Park? And Foxton is great, always a boat going through in the summer to watch.
You should put it up on Crazy Guy on a Bike - do you have photos?
It's funny, but thinking of you all in the big Travelodge bed watching The Incredibles (Yeah, I saw that last week too!) has brought a lump to my throat!
If I can have a cool holiday like that with my nephews one day, I'll be dead chuffed.
You should put it up on Crazy Guy on a Bike - do you have photos?
It's funny, but thinking of you all in the big Travelodge bed watching The Incredibles (Yeah, I saw that last week too!) has brought a lump to my throat!
If I can have a cool holiday like that with my nephews one day, I'll be dead chuffed.
shirokazan
Veteran
Fancy meeting you there!
Small world, eh?
It's been a couple of years since I last went through them, but I know what you mean about the Kelmarsh and Oxenden tunnels: after only 50m it's virtually pitch black (and the air temperature drops as well). Just have to aim for the light at the end of the tunnel. :-) I assume they haven't installed any lighting in it since? A few weeks ago I was in Devon and I encountered another tunnel, the Shaugh Tunnel, which thankfully had some lighting.
Definitely no lighting still in the Kelmarsh and Oxenden Tunnels. I had a pathetic front light which was blocked by my handlebar bag, but I thought it wouldn't matter much as my husband went first with a strong light, and Child 1 next with a reasonable light, so I figured I could follow them. But the darkness was so disorientating! I had real trouble maintaining my balance, with nothing to mark my own movement... Never felt anything quite like it! We met a guy on the outside who had a searchlight which must have been left over from the Blitz strapped to the front of his ancient bike. He had two jet black dogs that he would take through the tunnels for a walk every day, so he was really showing us how it was done!
Arch - you will be the aunty/uncle (??what are you??! ) from heaven when you get to the point where you can take your nephews away on tour. My sister is not the outdoorsy type and my brother-in-law is even worse (can't ride a bike himself, and barely allowed my nephew to learn because it was too dangerous!)... so my nephew loves coming to us! He's only 7 right now, but already he has done some longer rides with us on a tagalong, and now that we are into touring, no doubt that will come in the next few years. To give credit to my sister, she is really happy to have someone to do this kind of stuff with him because she would hate it, so she talks round my b-i-l. Your nephews will have a blast with you! (Don't know the name of the playground in Leicester, by the way. Will work on photos - am not so technical with that kind of thing...)
Arch - you will be the aunty/uncle (??what are you??!
) from heaven when you get to the point where you can take your nephews away on tour. My sister is not the outdoorsy type and my brother-in-law is even worse (can't ride a bike himself, and barely allowed my nephew to learn because it was too dangerous!)... so my nephew loves coming to us! He's only 7 right now, but already he has done some longer rides with us on a tagalong, and now that we are into touring, no doubt that will come in the next few years. To give credit to my sister, she is really happy to have someone to do this kind of stuff with him because she would hate it, so she talks round my b-i-l. Your nephews will have a blast with you! (Don't know the name of the playground in Leicester, by the way. Will work on photos - am not so technical with that kind of thing...)
shirokazan
Veteran
I think I actually got off and walked. I recall the surface being quite pot-holed (bit surprising for railway tunnels) so I was concerned about coming off and doing myself an injury - for the sake of a couple of minutes, I didn't think it worth the risk (especially as I was on my tod).
adds21
Rider of bikes
- Location
- North Somerset
Just wanted to add my congratulations for what sounds like an excellent holiday away! Fantastic.
betty swollocks
large member
Just love reading happy stories like this!!
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Arch - you will be the aunty/uncle (??what are you??!
Auntie.... My nephews are only 3 years and 6 months, so I've a while to wait. Their Dad cycles a bit, some commuting and did a sportive recently, but my sister doesn't. She does walk everywhere with them in town, and they did camp a couple of times before the kids came along. I'm very much the slightly bonkers Auntie Sue who cycles and does wacky stuff!
Oh, and I forgot. They live in Winchester!
Andy in Sig
Vice President in Exile
- Location
- Sigmaringen, Germany
That's great that it worked out and that your kids didn't end up disappointed. If you intend to do the Donaueschingen-Passau route next summer and need any help with info/planning etc. feel free to PM me.
Yes yes yes!! We really do want to do that route, and I think we will do it next year mid-July, as we tried to do it this year. I'll PM you!
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Winchester? Good grief! It really is a small world!
I had a feeling you were an aunty...
Yes, it is a small world. Plus my sister seems to know every other person in Winchester, having worked in a couple of High Street shops, and having the boys. Walking into town with her, virtually every woman pushing a buggy says hi!
