2008-08-30 52 8
| Sat 30 Aug 2008 in 52,8: 52.1190723, 8.4226173 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Plan
Arvid wanted to get the longest bicycle hash again. And with a fairly large lead too. 200km would be good, just a bit more would be better. Since Arvid hates headwind on the way back, and the wind was from the east, it would lead him to Germany again. Enschede-Bielefeld is around 120km, so that was perfect. While he was there he would check if Bielefeld really existed (20km bonus). Leaving around 9am should get him back the same day.
Achievements
- Virginity taken.
- cycled 198km. returned by train.
- Also crossed the border.
Expedition
Arvid did cycle 80km the day before, and that didn't go so well in the end. On saturday when he woke up, he still felt his legs. The doubting took a bit of time, but at 9:35 he was off. 120km headwind to go. Arvid usually rides around 25km/h average, but today the headwind (and some minor hills) kept him at 21-22km/h average. All the travel through nature reserve parks with bad non-paved roads also didn't help.
Even worse was that at crossings where Arvid wanted to turn right, there was no crossing, but a fly-over. And no way to get onto it. Disaster really struck at 92kms. Arvid went for a pee, and jumped over a ditch to get to a tree. And when he jumped back, he sprained his ankle. That hurt.
Now what? 92kms from home. No disaster plan. No idea where the nearest trainstation is. Only that Bielefeld has one. Arvid went on, since cycling wasn't nearly as painful as walking.
At 121km Arvid arrived at the planned destination. Somewhat east of the hash, which should be at the edge of a field. Bad news: stinging nettles, often as tall as me. Oh, and thistles too. Arvid didn't bring any other clothing that what he was wearing. And that didn't protect arms or legs. But! There may be another way to get to the hash, Arvid now approached the hash from the north, that went a lot better. The hash was really in the crop field, and when he was at 12m or so, standing between the crops (he was really eager to get it by now), he decided that this was Good Enough. He could've done those 12m through the crops, but that wouldn't be any more of an achievement then it was getting to his current spot.
Success! Now what? He planned on going to Bielefeld, but it was 16:45 or so already. Arvid expected to be at the hash at least one our earlier.
