Cincsor

We finished putting together the tandem and baggage and headed off to see Bran castle. The centre of Bran village was given over to tourism, and despite the extremely tenuous link to Vlad Tepes, on whose character Dracula is said to be based, the souvenir shops were filled with Dracula merchandise.

Bran

We arrived in Bucharest not knowing what to expect. We'd contacted a couple through the Warm Showers List in order to have a place to leave the box which protected the tandem during the flight there and back. What we got was so much more.

Preparation for Romania

The trip to Romania is getting closer and closer. On Saturday I hauled home a huge cardboard bike box hoping it would fit the tandem.

Terracota Warriers

The whole World was impressed with the display at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing. Though personally I found the reports of the cost somewhat disturbing, if correct the national debt of many a country could have been paid off in a stroke. Of course the purpose of the event was to show the World that China had arrived as a power on the geopolitical stage.

Warm Showers List

In the last couple of months we've had quite a few guests. I'd been thinking of making a deposit or two to the karma bank after a long period of being in debt to it. I became a member of the warmshowers list a couple of years ago but only just lately ticked the box which said that people could stay. The warmshowers list or WSL is as it suggests a list of people who can offer a passing touring cyclist a warmshower and a place to sleep or who want one themselves. It must be wholey offered without fee. Within a short period we had requests coming in.

Easter in the Ardennes

During an early Easter Freddie and I took a spin on our Christmas purchase, a second-hand 20-year old Vittorio tandem. We'd been out with it on day trips from time to time. I was a bit nervous about it as most of the time we went out something broke on it, this trip was no exception but we got through nevertheless and had a great time too!

Back again!

After a very long time away from the blog I've decided to come back!

The last year and a bit has been very full of events.

After a brief period but very pleasant time in Geneva I am back in Amsterdam, back at UPC and have been so since the beginning of 2007.