#389 . . . . . to Leysin in Switzerland

Stage 1 Amsterdam to Overberg 85km
Lots of flat and boring roads out of Amsterdam but as I got closer to Overberg managed to find some nice forest tracks. Stayed with Cora and Rob Barrel. Rob came and stayed at our house many years ago and so this time returned the favour :-)




















Stage 2 Overberg to Orsoy 137km
Rob rode out with me on a day of intermitent showers - what the Irish might call a soft day. Left Rob and crossed into Germany arrived in good time at the hotel Hof Rhineau. The waiter there asked my why I hadn't finished my huge evening meal. I was able to reply, in German, Genug! - Enough!





















Stage 3 Orsoy to Cologne 126km
Took a ferry across the Rhine and immediately got lost. now on first name terms with every sunday morning drunk in Duisberg. Definitely need a sat-nav.



















Stage 4 Cologne to Kaisersesch 140km
Pulled a big thorn out of the back tyre, changed tube and set off down the Rhine bike path. Stopped once for Kafe und Kuchen, strange how little I'm eating.



















Stage 5 Kaisersech to Birkenfeld 122km
Turned right and left the Rhine and went over to follow the Mosel. Nice riversidde path, less congested! My German is sufficient to find a room and order a meal. Prima!



































Stage 6 Birkenfeld to Bitche 108km
Regen, Regen immer Regen. Wet, dryish then torrential rain. Crossed into France - it's Bastille Day. A la barricades, Citoyens! Arrived in Bitche looking like a drowned rat. Actually, life's not a bitche, it's a beach :-)

























Stage 7 Bitche to Marckolsheim 137km
Downhill to Strasbourg then zoomed along beside the Canal Rhone au Rhin. Couldn't find a hotel but came up trumps with this nice B&B and a steakhouse next door.





















Stage 8 Marckholsheim to Basle & Berne to Laupens 107km
To Basle along the flatest, straightest road known to man. Then by train to Bern. Got slightly lost coming out of Bern and noticed a Holiday Inn but taking my German phrase book out I telephoned a hotel in Laupen some 20k further down the road. Result! They understood me, I made the booking and a very nice hotel it turned out to be.



















9 Laupens to Leysin 107km
Last stage and a pleasant ride with an excellent descent into Vervey, then through Montreux to Aigle. Stopped to help a cyclist who couldn't get his back wheel in. "eet iz zee first time in ten years this happened has" he told me. In Aigle caught the mountain train up to Leysin. I could have ridden up - but I didn't. Now four nights R&R in this Swiss house

#388 Amsterdam to . . . . .

My bike loaded with only a handlebar bag and very small saddle pack.

Jin bought me a mini tube of toothpaste to save weight!

#387 Amsterdam Dinner

I cooked Chicken Tarragon for Jay & Jin.

#386 Mejillones

Jenny wonders "does it bite . . . . . ?"

#385 To London

On my way through Alicante's new airport terminal I spotted this shop called Superskunk. Get high before you take off :-)

Of course if it was in Amsterdam's airport you wouldn't be surprised at all.













London's bike system (they're called Boris Bikes after London's Mayor, Boris Johnson) looks interesting, but from what I saw not many were being used, which is a pity. The problem is docking your bike once you've finished with it - if the terminal is full (like this one) you have to search around for another with an empty space.













I used my Oyster Card (very cheap and efficient way to pay for buses and tube trains) to take the bus to Condor Cycles in Grays Inn Road. I bought a saddle bag, I previously bought one of their special Condor Butchered Brooks Saddles, but that was some time ago - in 1960.


















On my way to Gatwick I dropped in at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea; this month's 'Art' was all Sculptures and Installations - not a picture to be viewed, Tut.
























Then on my way through Sloane Square I espied this warning notice that showed what a multi cultural country the UK has become. I'm guessing at English, Lithuanian? French, Polish and Romanian . . . . . .?

#384 July Ride

#383 My Mayo

Home Made Mayo:
Free-range Egg Yolks, Cider Vinegar, English Mustard, Walnut Oil
(and a few drops of Tabasco!).
























and then I cooked some Salmon wrapped in Ham (with a bit of Dill).














while at the same time - roasting some Peppers :-)

#382

#381 Ginger Dinner

#380 Stamps

I received a birthday card the other day and the postage stamp caught my eye. Looking a bit further I found that the Royal Mail in the UK has a selection of stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the Royal Shakespeare Company, designed by Marion Deuchars.

Excellent designs, in my opinion, the stamp inspired me to take an interest and *maybe* even reread Henry 5th (part 2) which I last looked at back in school in the English Lit. class.

But are postage stamps going the way of vinyl LP covers - small pieces of art that have been overtaken by the progress of pixels?

#379 Route 66

I'm now on Route 66 and to celebrate we went to my friend Chelo's for lunch.

She served her signature dish of Paella Bacalao and also a birthday cake with 66 candles! Al and Chelo are in this picture and Sally and Denise are just round the corner :-)

#378 Tri4Japan

My friend, Mike Trees, is promoting a charity to help those in need in Japan:

"Tri4japan is the charity established to help the people of Kamaishi, a town in Japan devastated by the recent earthquake and tsunami. All funds raised will be put to work to make a real difference to people’s lives".

He's a good man and will not let any donations be diverted to "overheads" - it's a worthy cause, more information here: http://www.tri4japan.com/

You can support Mike's work by buying this nice jersey or just making a donation.

#377 Dîner à la Française

The next morning, breakfast was :

#376 L'Era again

Doesn't time fly! We were last at the L'Era restaurant in Parcent with my friend Chello and her friends in April 2007 (#170) - and here we are again, enjoying another paella cooked on a wood burning fire together with Chello and her friends, four years later.

#375 Alpens to L'Avenc de Tavertet

We are back in Catalunya, this time for a week. The first day I rode 120km from Sabadell (nr Barcelona) to Alpens, it took seven and a half hours (a bit more than I planned). Met up with Sally, Carrie and Tom and on Sunday we had lunch in what looked to be a tiny local bar but had a big dining room hidden at the back. It was full with locals who must have known about the huge portions they serve.
















Alpens is a bit like the Alps, quite hilly with herds of cows carrying tinkling Swiss cow bells. The local blacksmith has a passion for dragons and nearly every house in the village has a dragon door handle - no reason, he just likes dragons and so does everyone else in Alpens it appears.

































On Tuesday Tom and I rode 58km over to L'Avenc de Tavertet where we stayed for the next four days in another casa rural (or gîte). This one had an amazing 25 metre indoor swimming pool, which I used frequently.














































Each day at L'Avenc we either rode rough-stuff biking or hiked round the rocky terrain with the house dog called Toffee . We didn't have to fear getting lost 'cos being a local dog - Toffee nose!

#374 Castle in Spain

We enjoyed our weekend cycling in Catalunya (#368) so much that I booked us a week up there. We will stay in two 'casa rurals', one in Alpens for three days then to L'avenc de Tavertet for four. The cycling in the area looks to be very nice with tiny asphalt roads and lots and lots of off-road routes.

Quite by chance it seems that L'avenc de Tavertet is quite famous for being bought and refurbished by a well know English chap called Mathew Parris. He is a political commentator and journalist and has written about L'avenc in The Times and even written a book about the project.

I found a secondhand copy of his book on Amazon UK (for 1 penny + £4.03 postage :-) and spent the day after it arrived speed reading to find out what I had let us in for - all good I hope.

#373 Granola

I have been making this same Granola recipe for the last 40 years!

Set the oven to 160 centigrade. Baste a big baking tray with a little sesame oil. Mix 6 big scoops of Jumbo Oats with an equal amount of nuts & seeds.

Such as:
Hazelnuts in bits, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower seeds, Dried coconut, Cashew nuts, Pumpkin seeds.

Stir in half a jar of Barley Malt syrup. Pinch of salt.
Spread thinly (about 1cm) Bake for 20 - 30 minutes till golden looking.

Take out of the oven and add a scoop or two of sultanas. I sometimes add different nuts or seeds or dried fruit but I always use Hazels and Sesame seeds. Don't use any other sweetener, only Barley Malt, it is absolutely essential in this recipe.

I serve mixed with Greek yogurt (diluted with a little milk).

#372 Beach Cruiser

Here is a pic of José our (ex) next door neighbour as he passed by on his mean machine. I used to have a mountain bike in the shape of a beach cruiser. I imagine his is a bit heavier than my old titanium Merlin Newsboy.

#371 London Books

Grayson Perry by Jacky Klein.
New Oxford Book of Food Plants.
John Water's Role Models.
London Calling by Barry Miles
and also by Barry Mikes, Frank Zappa.

#370 Fallas

Our local district, Baix El Mar, won this year's Fallas.
I didn't mean to, but woke up at 2:30 and was wide awake.
(must be my subliminal alarm clock).
So we got up and watched the fireworks and the burning.
The firemen are there to keep the buildings wet - it wouldn't do to set the neighbourhood on fire.

#369 African(ish) music

Fire up your Spotify and enjoy these two double recordings. 10/10.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends.
Orchestra Baobab - La Belle Epoque.

Then may I recommend a Brazilian film:
Estômago (A Gastronomic Story). Tasty.

And a very old, classic American film:
Jazz on a Summer's Day. Cool.