24-31.07.2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics (Part 2 of 3)
So the first 'big' day arrived with wednesday and the need to register in Hamburg for the race, and collect our starter packs. The weather was good, sunny warm(ish with 32 degC) outside, hardly any wind. Rufus and Claudia arrived early so that we could all (Rufus, Claudia, Jessie, Bex, Holger and I) cycle (!!!) the 40 or so kilometers into Hamburg. The journey took us out to the Elbe, along the Deich into Harburg, then through skimming past the Refinery onto the old Elbe Tunnel with its car & passenger lift, a refreshing ride through the tunnel (nice and cool down there), lift up on 't'other side and onto the Binnen Alster (the smaller inner 'lake' in Hamburg, to sign on and collect the packs. We also met up with Gerda and Debs who were taking the yellowish bags with paraphenalia back home in the car. After a cold McDeee and a quick bite (Cheesburger pleeeeease) the cyclists ventured back out through Hamburg along the northern side of the Elbe. It was a long haul, in the heat (remember it was 32 degC out there) the road just went on and on and on, despite a few sprints ... But we all made it to the Hoopter crossing where a boat took us over to the south side. We then cycled into Winsen and out to Pattensen with just one accident when Jessie came off her bike on the country lane, as the asphalt had a sharp drop into the sand along the edge somewhat. A doctor on a motorbike just happend to come along and kindly offered help, but fortunatley it was jsut a bit of a shock, so that we walked half a kilometer before Jessie ventured back onto her bike and with Bex alongside we reached 'home' having done nearly 87 km in total. CRAZY some would say, MAD others, but what are you doing about staying FIT?
Thursday was a "visit the old house in Pattensen" day. Had to be there as some 2,000 litres of heating oil were being delivered. Whilst waiting we loaded the van up with the lawn mower, milk urn letter box, and some shelves left in the cellar, as well as a dwarf and ceramic dog found in the garden. Bex and Jessie visited Bex's old scholl friend Britta but only for an hour, Ruth popped into Garstedt to find that the Buchfinks had moved (and left us a forwarding address). The oilman turned up in the last minute, ie midday so we had little time to do some shopping in Winsen. After popping into the Dannish Bettenlager to look for some mor echairs for our kitfhen table (without success though) parked in the car park by Familia. Bex, Jessie and Debs then walked to the High Street to meet up with Bex's friend Melanie from the Realschule, whilst Ruth and I went through mum's shopping list. Did I already mention the heat wave was still going on and yet again the temperature was in the early thrities ? Well now I have.
In the afternoon clouds started forming over northern Germany, and Holger and I met up with nine colleagues from the refinery to do a final run round the southern loop of the 100 km stretch we would be doing on sunday. The 57 km went quite well actually, despite the short refreshing rain/drizzle, helping in moving the recently put down gritt on the road. We all finished off with a very refreshig, cool milkshake (!!! YES, milkshake, not beer or any other alcoholic drink, but milkshake yummy) at the Burger King, having averaged 28 km/h weeeee, and max being 54 km/h wwoooowwww
Friday was a bit of a rest day (hmm is there such a thing in our family?) in as much as Jessie was taken into Hambrug for some site-seeing including a ride on the river, and we the Stoneys did some visitng, having lunch and tea in Ehestorf with our old friends and first neighbours Kurt and Brigitte and their very very tall son Hendrick, this was followed by a meandering journey to Reppenstedt for a quick bbq with Evelynn and Michael and their sons Jannick and Henrik, as well as Harm and Renate popping over froom Salzhausen. In the late evening (got my timing slightly wrong) Holger and I helped bring Ruth and Claudia's bikes into Hamburg to Claudia's flat. It was very warm in the falt a yet again it had been a veryw arm day outside too.
Saturday was the last chance to complete the shopping list. Lil' sis' Barbie popped over too with some bags and stuff for us to bring back to the UK for her and we had a bbq of sorts on the terrace. For Holger it was final bike tuning time with cleaning and setting the bike up for the race. In the afternoon, Ruth and Claudia having returned to C's flat, we all met up in Hamburg for the regular 'pasta-party' along the Moenckeberg Strasse and the atmosphere was beginning to rise, the temperatures still being very warm too. Wandered round the various bike accessory stands too and bought a new pair of bike gloves. But by nine we were on our way home. An early night was on the agenda as tomorrow was the big race.
Thursday was a "visit the old house in Pattensen" day. Had to be there as some 2,000 litres of heating oil were being delivered. Whilst waiting we loaded the van up with the lawn mower, milk urn letter box, and some shelves left in the cellar, as well as a dwarf and ceramic dog found in the garden. Bex and Jessie visited Bex's old scholl friend Britta but only for an hour, Ruth popped into Garstedt to find that the Buchfinks had moved (and left us a forwarding address). The oilman turned up in the last minute, ie midday so we had little time to do some shopping in Winsen. After popping into the Dannish Bettenlager to look for some mor echairs for our kitfhen table (without success though) parked in the car park by Familia. Bex, Jessie and Debs then walked to the High Street to meet up with Bex's friend Melanie from the Realschule, whilst Ruth and I went through mum's shopping list. Did I already mention the heat wave was still going on and yet again the temperature was in the early thrities ? Well now I have.
In the afternoon clouds started forming over northern Germany, and Holger and I met up with nine colleagues from the refinery to do a final run round the southern loop of the 100 km stretch we would be doing on sunday. The 57 km went quite well actually, despite the short refreshing rain/drizzle, helping in moving the recently put down gritt on the road. We all finished off with a very refreshig, cool milkshake (!!! YES, milkshake, not beer or any other alcoholic drink, but milkshake yummy) at the Burger King, having averaged 28 km/h weeeee, and max being 54 km/h wwoooowwww
Friday was a bit of a rest day (hmm is there such a thing in our family?) in as much as Jessie was taken into Hambrug for some site-seeing including a ride on the river, and we the Stoneys did some visitng, having lunch and tea in Ehestorf with our old friends and first neighbours Kurt and Brigitte and their very very tall son Hendrick, this was followed by a meandering journey to Reppenstedt for a quick bbq with Evelynn and Michael and their sons Jannick and Henrik, as well as Harm and Renate popping over froom Salzhausen. In the late evening (got my timing slightly wrong) Holger and I helped bring Ruth and Claudia's bikes into Hamburg to Claudia's flat. It was very warm in the falt a yet again it had been a veryw arm day outside too.
Saturday was the last chance to complete the shopping list. Lil' sis' Barbie popped over too with some bags and stuff for us to bring back to the UK for her and we had a bbq of sorts on the terrace. For Holger it was final bike tuning time with cleaning and setting the bike up for the race. In the afternoon, Ruth and Claudia having returned to C's flat, we all met up in Hamburg for the regular 'pasta-party' along the Moenckeberg Strasse and the atmosphere was beginning to rise, the temperatures still being very warm too. Wandered round the various bike accessory stands too and bought a new pair of bike gloves. But by nine we were on our way home. An early night was on the agenda as tomorrow was the big race.
posted by Daddy_Stony at 10:25
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