Blog

Dec

Updates, updates, updates...

Submitted by XL-Network on Sun, 2013-12-08 14:00

The last post on my website was more then two months ago, but I have some good news. I'm still alive! I just had little to say. So here is a short update about some stuff.

Sep

Another bit of running

Submitted by XL-Network on Tue, 2013-09-24 21:48

Als promised I went for a run last Saturday. During the Thaisner DörpsRun I could choose from 4 kilometers, 4 mile, 10 kilometers or a half marathon (21,1 km). As preparation for the 4 mile of Groningen which is being held Sunday Oktober 13th I choose the 4 mile distance. It was only a bit more, some 250 meters, but that didn't matter. I even finished in a very good time. After 38:08 minutes I crossed the finish line.

Sep

Running through the Veluwe

Submitted by XL-Network on Wed, 2013-09-18 08:17

After weeks of training (ahum) last Saturday it was finally time. My first real running race (not counting the 4 mile of Groningen), the Veluweloop. The race consisted of 12 stages which in total covered 87 kilometers. Each runner from our team had to run one stage. The distances varied from 4.4 to 11.2 kilometers and four of the stages were woman only. I started at 12:40 PM in the fifth stage from Vredenburg (Arnhem) to Beerenberg. The second longest distance of 9.1 kilometer. Last Tuesday I practiced it by running home from work, but Saturday it was finally time... 9.1 kilometer.

Aug

Replaced defective coathanger

Submitted by XL-Network on Sun, 2013-08-18 19:48

During the Euro Tour the coathanger of my velomobile broke in two places. On day 9 I discovered that it broke on the side and on day 13 the top was broken. This afternoon I went to Anton L. to replace the part. It's a two-man-job and Anton is a genius when it comes to bikes. As a 'compensation' I helped him setup his iPad and iPod Touch so he could synchronize his e-mail, contacts et cetera on both devices.

Aug

Waddentour Engelsmanplaat-Schiermonnikoog

Submitted by XL-Network on Sat, 2013-08-17 11:26

Last September a had organized a 'small party' with the title Feestboek. The party was a great succes and one of the gifts I received was a Smartbox (Bongo-bon in Dutch). This gives you a activity of your choice. Yesterday I used this gift together with a close friend of mine to drive to Lauwersoog where we would board the ship Boschwad and first go to Engelsmanplaat to experience nature.

Aug

Euro Tour 2013 (photos and movies)

Submitted by XL-Network on Tue, 2013-08-06 12:06

Below you will find my photos and a couple of movies of the Euro Tour 2013. Enjoy!

Aug

Going home

Submitted by XL-Network on Tue, 2013-08-06 11:02

The last time I slept in a tent, well... for the next few months anyway. Matthias already left at 5:13 AM. He took his bus which was parked in Leer, loaded the bike and left. I myself got up at 7 AM and prepared myself for the final journey home. John would join me until Groningen. He planned to stay on the city campground and then continue to Dronten. When I was almost finished packing it started to rain lightly, but it wasn't that bad. John had some more packing to do.

Aug

Day 13: Almelo-Leer

Submitted by XL-Network on Tue, 2013-08-06 10:55

Woke up relaxed without having to worry about making breakfast and packing my tent. I left at 8 AM for Lingen some 55 kilometers away where I was supposed to meet up with the rest at the group at an agreed point. One hour before the agreed time I received a text message from Matthias if I could meet him at the nearby bakeshop. He had to get some things for his Flevobike. The road to Lingen was, for the Dutch part anyway, largely next to a beautiful small canal. In Germany I cycled next to the Bundesstraße (main road), which was also fine.

Aug

Day 12: Xanten-Almelo

Submitted by XL-Network on Tue, 2013-08-06 10:44

Since the five start campground had no decent internet connection it wasn't possible to post this and following messages online, but here they are.

After we all enjoyed a big dish with sandwiches it was time to leave. The next stop would be a camp ground near Bad Bentheim. For the rest of the group that is. I phoned a friend in Almelo where I stayed on my way to Wuppertal and stayed there for the night. That gave me the chance to a. sleep in a normal bed and b. clean all my stuff and get them dry. But it wasn't that time yet. First some cycling had to be done.

Aug

Day 11: Cologne-Xanten

Submitted by XL-Network on Thu, 2013-08-01 19:25

Today the trip started just before Cologne and the idea was to get breakfast near the Dome. You could see the city from far away.

Switch language