November 6, 2010

pictures #15 - #47

 

Wednesday November 3d - Red Magnetic Moon

Last hours of sleep in the house where I have leaved for almost two years... Despite waking up sort of early, at least earlier than my regular unemployed daily routine, many last minutes things get me out of home at 10 only. Direction Yoga Moves, to take a class with Kyra, who taught me my very first. Much in me as changed since that, and I feel grateful for it to all the wonderful yoga teachers I followed. After that creative Vinyasa class - Wild thing: hurray- some of my great yogi friends are there to say goodbye. I particularly appreciate Jan's eloquent apple pie! A couple of photos and then gone.

          "You're almost going on strike" commented Marjolein: taking off from Utrecht

          Near Bilthoven: Autumn colors on the path

First heading to Amersfoort through the woods and dunes.

          In the woods : Soestduinen.

I am going there to surprise Marleen, once singer in my band, at the time I was dreaming of perishing electrocuted by my guitar at the age of 27. Getting lost in that cute city before finding her house. A good chat and a tosti later, it's getting dark and definitely time to ride to my host Jacques. At 18.00, night has fallen and there is still distance to cover, besides the heavens announce me a great journey, believing a Kazakh proverb from Irina.. the rain is definitely present.

          Lost in Amersfoort is a delight. Notice the pink sky: I am still unused to that photo camera.

After ringing on the button bell, I am warmly welcomed by Jacques, a warm shower, a good meal,  relaxing time. He tells me about a monk who travelled to Mongolia around the XII century... compared to that, with modern means of communications... my travel is very safe and predictable.

 

Thursday November 4th - With Lunar Dog

In the morning after a short asana practice we have breakfast together. While he leaves to work, I rearrange my bags, load them and take off for Enschede, it's a long day stretch but I've done longer in the past. 

          Farm in Ede

Crossing Ede, entering the Veluwe. struggling against head wind to get stuck in Harskamp, where a military camp blocks my direction toward east. On a beautiful road, suddenly a group of deers crosses the road. Braking slowly, taking the photo camera .. and they're gone in the depth of the forest. I will lunch of a good warm meal, using my stove for the first time, while a soft and continuous vicious rain has started. Bad surprise in my bag : a bottle has open and spilled out, where I am storing books and paper bags. Lesson 1: no liquids and paper in the same bag. And going again, decided to reach Enschede anyway.

          ETEN ! EATING ! MANGER !

After taking wrong directions, lengthening the distance instead of shortening it, I reach Zutphen, a nice picture under the rain and go... Lesson 2: always stop to check the signs.

          Entering Zutphen, notice the rain

At 16.00 I decide to stop, the distance to Enschede is still long and I better take it easy for the start. It's time to camp before night falls. Taking a path in the woods, I plant the tent under pine trees. Well hidden from the road and practicing yin yoga in the tent. I am regularly trembling, imagining that some guard has spotted me or strange animals roam around the tent. Wild camping is illegal in The Netherlands !

          Camp 1

 

Friday November 5 - Blue Electric Monkey

Breakfasting of a good müesli in the tent packing everything takes time. I had the smart idea to dry my rain pants inside-out on top of the tent during the night, which result in having them completely wet. This morning, rain is serious. I remind the Kazakh saying and believe my journey will be great, definitely. After 10 minutes my trousers are soaked wet, after 15 minutes, I don't care at all. I even stop taking picture of the countryside.

          Channel in the woods between Lochem and Borculo

          Castle between Lochem and Borculo

I takes me hours to reach Borculo, where we stopped last year for a saving dinner with Thomas, on our way to Berlin. Now, it's also food that makes me stop, as I need veggies and bread. Getting out of the village is a mess, looking for a gas station -for the stove, I don't drink that!- that I can't find, turning around... At the next village there is gas station. As I'm starving I cook soon. It's still raining and my trousers won't dry. Still I can enjoy the road to Haaksbergen, which reveals being a satanic place. Check the pictures.

          Haaksbergen: blazon of the city showing a satanic star

           Haaksbergen: the devil himself looking out for strangers

And then Enschede. To welcome me, the rain is as hard as ever as I head to Haye's place, my host of the day. I'm extremely happy to see him, to shower and dry my clothes. He cooks a delicious sustaining meal and we enjoy the rest of the evening around a Grolsch, brewed in Enschede, with his cuddly cat mawling.

 

Saturday November 6th - Yellow Self-Existing Human

I wake up early, pack everything up, having breakfast with the cat Maxima, claiming for strokes. Althought I'm under a roof, I don't practice ashtanga because it's Saturday AND new moon. I promise I don't follow this tradition for its off days only! Some administrative documents to post, more groceries for the coming days and sightseeing in Enschede city center.

          Enschede: Uttanasana?

          Enschede: some of the statues ornamenting the city theater.

I am decided to extensively use the compass in order to avoid getting mislead through road signs. Today I'm going East. After 10km, I enter Germany, quite happy: it's a dry!! My last days in The Netherlands where heavily rainy.

           Goodbye Netherlands! May it rain less in Germany

Aah, Germany! Germany and its good organization, wide roads, clear indications ... and cycling paths that have been designed by brain needing people who never rode a bicycle. They make detours around a tree, have you pull off before a steep climb or cross to the other side of the road before changing again 200m further.. But it's generally good.

          On the way to Wentringen: countryside farm

Nothing much to say for that day, sun is shining, the landscape is gently hilly giving soft climbs and agreeable downhill stretches.

          On the way to Wentringen: leaves on the cycling path

At 16.00 I start looking for a wild camping spot and find it near swampy areas, behind sort of dikes, frightening two suedes when entering the field. Looking at the sky, threatening clouds have me accelerating setting up of the camp but it will not rain. The only annoyance is through noisy wild gooses flights.

          Camp 2: Dark cloud over the swamp while setting camp

I prepare the food inside the tent , ready for an outside commando operation to make it warm. I am pumping the gas with no resistance, no pressure. I need to repair the pump, after 4 uses only! Bad luck. Besides it's cold and the dampness of the swamp is catching me. Annoyed and HUNGRY , I have to read the maintenance guide to fix the gas bottle pump. The pump cup is the origin of the problem. I pull it back in its tube, but it breaks there and I break the gas conduct tube as well. Gasoline is leaking, I can't use the stove: too dangerous. At a safe distance away from the tent, I light the pure gasoline and use its huge flame to boil water and bulgur, leaving the green beans crunchy. No danger of burning the forest as it's damp all around. Needless to say I am very unsatisfied about MSR new pump. 4 uses and crack! It's reducing my autonomy in forcing me to ask for help if I want a warm meal. Back in the tent, I see this small Ganesha picture and think it's one of the obstacles he's putting on the road to test me.