Preparing for the holidays

Next week, we’re going to cycle in Denmark, for two weeks. Before Pelle was born, Mark and I always spent our summerholidays biking. We made wonderful trips to Ireland, England, France, Spain, Greece and even New Zealand, but the most wonderful of all were our rides in Utah and Canada. I was so deeply impressed by the landscape and filled with awe. Our planet is so beautiful. Can you imagine riding on the Icefields Parkway, surrounded by mountains and being part of it all? Because that’s the beauty of cycling. You’re part of it all. Far more so than when you’re in a car. You feel the land in your muscles, climbing and descending, or just peddling around on flat roads, the wind in your face. And it gives you such a taste of freedom.
Until now, Pelle was a bit too young to spend a long time on the saddle, but now we feel it’s time to pick up our old routine. We won’t be making long trips, 40 km. at the most, per day, and want to camp and stay a bit longer at one place if we like it there.


huge tent, but not too heavy



So we’re preparing. We bought a huge tent, borrowed a trolley, and did some test-drives. On the picture you can see Pelles bike attached to mine, so he won't have to ride that much himself.
Since we’re taking along the tent and stuff like sleepingbags, pots, a stove etc., there’s not much space left for clothes. I don’t mind. We’re not up for glamour, but for adventure. Still, a short would be nice to wear if the weather is warm and it’s practical to stuff into the bikebag. Since I didn’t have one anymore, I made one myself. I used a pattern from Ottobre 2/2008, the jogapants, using knit from my stash. (I also used it for PJ's for Pelle).



I shortened it too much, so I added a strip of fabric. I also had to do that to the sides, because although I traced size 40, my regular fit, it was a bit to tight. ( I gained some weight the last months. That hasn’t happened to me for the last 25 years).
I’m rather pleased with the outlook. The blue makes it look like a sportpant. So I might use it when I start running, too.
For more preparations this week, stay tuned.