GLME Soesterberg 2025 - Day 2

Breakfast was very nice.  They had a few hot things for the British, then the typical German, French and of course Dutch selection.  

My gear were still wet from yesterday, but since the forecast was good, I was sure it would dry up shortly.

I went onto the scenic ride to Amsterdam for the boat trip.  The scenic ride involved riding on a lot of dikes.  Only now I know the dikes mean the bank, not the ditch!

It was good to see Amsterdam from the boat.  I did do a lot of walking around the canals when I was there, but it was a different prospective.

Before dinner, I was chasing down the ride leader for tomorrow, to ask if we can buy flour.  The Dutch think I was crazy...

Dinner was equally nice and equally messed with.  I checked with Sarah, she also had the misunderstanding of the word dike.

GLME Soesterberg 2025 - Day 1

I was still stuffed from dinner, so I only had a modest breakfast.  The immigration officer actually asked everyone where they were going, so the queue was long.

It was only some 50 miles to the venue, so I thought I would check out the other bit of the Netherlands before getting to Soesterberg.  Where I went, Friesland, was actually quite far, and the weather was pretty bad.

I did make it to Leeuwarden, used some Dutch, had a coffee, took a few pictures.  Then I went onto Amersfoort, then onto Soesterberg.  I was drenched...

It was a very nice hotel, coffee and cookies were flowing.  I got into the room, got the wet gear off me, then I did a little socialising before dinner.  The dinner was too nice, too messed with...

GLME Soesterberg 2025 - Day 0

I took non-motorway route to Hull, fuel up and boarded the ferry.  I went for the dinner buffet, which was fine.  I have not been this stuffed for so long.  The free wifi is only for one hour, so a lot of offline chess for me.

Summer Skiing

It has been 7 years since I last skiied.  We took advantage of the summer discount, and went to do a bit of skiing.  I tried a big hump, it was quite scary.  I did that 3 times. And I did the small hump once.  Good fun.

Contaminated Plants

There are reasons why I like to keep my indoor plants indoors, and outdoors / contaminated plants out.  Some green flies had flew in when we had the windows open, and now some plants have to live outside.  We should keep the windows shut too...

Windermere Ferry

I have not been on the Windermere Ferry for some 16 years!  Great fun, good experience.

Barber Trainee II

As usual, I went to my hair cut.  This time the trainee needed to take off scissor cut element, so I let them, basically they cut my hair once with scissors, and clipper and blend in again, it took a while!

When the Patch Don't Work

I have tried different patched on this flat tyre. I tried newer glue and patch, just when I thought it was working, it has not held.  It is time to get a new tube...

Refrigerator Temperature Study

So we used my datalogger in the different areas of the refrigerator.  It is less dire and initially thought.  The refrigerator seal is more squashed than the freezer's, which is understandable.  Temperature map does help us to understand where is the best place for what.  Also we just remember not to overload them.

Diamond League II

I had not finish top three in my first week of diamond league, but I stayed on.  On the second week, I finish 1st, so as far as I am concerned, I have won it.  On the third week, I finished 4th or 5th.  This week, I am leading ahead, the occasion Super Duolingo preview has helped.  Let hope I have built a big lead for this cohort to catch up.  Only 1 more week before I will will speak Dutch to a Dutch person!

Leggings

I have grown up with a concept of cycling shorts, ie lycra-type short, and actual cycling shorts (the one with pads).  I almost always cycling in warm weather, so it did not occurred to me to have to get cycling trousers, but since I picked up some leggings from the charity shop, I gave them a try.  They worked well, and we totally see why cycling pants have pads!  We were also grateful we wore trousers because of the nettles!  

Car Noises II

Without missing a beat, the car went to see the mechanic, and he did find the water pump leaking.  It was an aftermarket water pump from the timing belt replacement only 3 years ago.  Let's hope it resolved it.  If we let the water pump deteriorate, the engine could overheat, even if you keep topping the coolant up, it could still catastrophically fail and the result could be bad.  So it is good to have found it early.

Folding Bikes Advantures - Leicester

We have been meaning to cycle around Watermead, but last time we went, I just put a wrong chain on the Brompton, and had failed on our expedition. 

We parked up with a picnic, I checked the map, and it was showing how tiny it also is.  So we had a little loop for a warm up, a quick snack, then proceeded into cycle all the way around.  We came back to have lunch on a picnic bench in good time.  I think we did shy of 10 miles...  We managed not to get too lost.  They have painted some areas to indicate tree roots, I wonder if they are actually going to do something about that....

Folding Bikes Advantures - Leicestershire

We went to Glenfield to pick up Ivanhoe Trail, I had no idea how really short it was.  So we tagged in a Kirby Muxloe and back.  I don't think we have done more than 8 miles...  It was a fun day out tho.

Car Noises

I am more decerning with motorcycle noises than a car noise.  Sarah managed to hear a tiny noise from the car.  I usually just wait for the warning light to come on, and staying on...

Sundew

We got given a sundew plant.  We only just learnt that it is actually native.  And it is actually flowering.

It is catching some flies, but it is not catching fast enough!

Puncture Saga III

As promised, Bike Tyres Leeds called in the morning and I picked up the tyre and drove straight to the station.  By midmorning, there was not a single space left in the station!  I parked a little way away, walked to the station, up and over the stairs with a tyre.  My hands by were covered with the black wax!

I took the bus, then walked some more to Gary's.  And they put the tyre on.  It was cooler today than yesterday, I wore the same airflow jacket, and it was very cool!  I rode home and continue with my day.

Puncture Saga II

I thought I would need a new tyre, but I thought no harm asking Gary to see if he thinks it is patchable.  So I emailed Gary the picture and he said they could probably patch it.

So I got there, they pulled the plug out, and found an allen key inside the tyre.  They were not happy how big the hole was, ie not patchable, so I was stuck in York!  Shouldn't have bothered thinking about patching it...  We rang around and I booked to get a tyre from Bike Tyres Leeds.  So got a lift to York station and I went home on a train.

To be continued...

Bicycle Tyre Patch

After trying Rachel's very old patch kit and failed to fix this puncture, I was planning for the worst, to having to get a new tube.  My gave a shout to the fellow fixers to see if they have fresher patch kit, and it seemed to have held up!  Fingers crossed.  

Puncture Saga I

I picked up a puncture in the Peak District.  When I pulled up to check, it was conveniently around the corner from a pub.  And it only took RAC 30 minutes to show up.  He patched me up and I started rolling.  I took the long slow way home and I got home shiny side up.

Fresh Rainbow Trouts II

I was driving home from work and drive past Farnley Fish Farm.  I gave them a call to see if they were in and they were. 

I picked up two trouts again, they were still jumping when I got them.  They were very nice and fresh.

Octopus Home Mini

I have been signing up for the Octopus Home Mini since it came out, twice.  Nothing happened.  When we saw the Octopus stand at Meadowhall, I asked and they said I should just call.  

So I emailed.  After a few days, they finally came back to say they fixed something on the back end and one Home Mini should be on its way, and it has landed!

The live data is pretty good, it is like 10s late, but it is pretty good. Totally don't need to get a inverter dongle.

Belgian Waffles

I bought some marked down Warburton Belgian waffles.  They are actually quite nice, but I would most definitely not buy them at full price.

Three Cornered Leeks II

Sarah decided she no longer want to eat any of the three cornered leeks, so as they are coming through again, I keep pulling out for the compost bin.  They do smell very nice.

First Lettuce Harvesting

We got a lot of free lettuce seeds this year and after a few weeks, it is finally time to harvest.  They wilted into nothing.

One of them was invested by green flies, so I kicked it out to live outside. The chard and bak choi are all coming along!  The chives and basils are disappointingly slow!

GBMCC in Northumberland - Day 4

Breakfast has the added bonus of the mushrooms from the pizza.

Final day of the trip, I never understand why people leave earlier than check out time...  I waved everyone goodbye, did my Duolingo.  By the time I left, it was only me and Iain and Don left.  

It was a fresh morning and rained overnight, so I put all my clothes on. Unthank started right the way, and I rode straight home.  It was a nice trip.  Now I have to buy a new starter motor relay.

GBMCC in Northumberland - Day 3

I walked over to pick up the Bonneville T100, fueled her up and went on a ride.  We rode to Jedburgh, went into the Mary Queen of Scots museum, which was a right laugh. Then we rode onto Craster for lunch.  Lastly we rode home via Otterburn Mill, they had a closing down sale, which I resisted buying more things I already have.

I fueled the bike up again before returning it as a thank you.  Some people already shot off.

We sat in a committee meeting for a bit.  Dinner was pizza, which was fine.  Some people were complaining about the temperature, being fooled by the heatwave, and forgetting Northumberland is practically Scotland, they were not very prepared.

GBMCC in Northumberland - Day 2

The bed was very nice.  I hid away to do the Duolingo. The breakfast was also a little disappointing.  

We went on a ride via Corbridge, which has a posh bakery, everything looks very pretty, but they are prettier than they taste.

When we stopped at Alston, Unthank's intermittent fault was not self remedied in a few minutes, so I decided to ask RAC to earn their keep.  Whilst I wait, I looked up what to do in Alston, and their repair cafe was on, so I had a noisy.

After 4 hours, the rescue was finally here.  The fault was still ongoing, but we have narrowed it down being starter motor relay, and it was a easy jump to get me started.  Once she was started, she started on her own steam again.  The most annoying fault, intermittent...

I went home catching most of the AGM.  Then we walked down for a dinner at a pub clearly not used to catering large group.  Gwilim and I caught a lift back to base.

Just when I thought I was going to rest because Unthank was being temperamental, I thought there was no harm asking if I can borrow Tony's bike, which he said yes!

GBMCC in Northumberland - Day 1

So I rode up to Bellingham via Harrogate.  It was the back end of the heat wave, so it was nice riding temperature.

The dinner was not very exciting.

Slow Puncture

I only just noticed the front tyre on the folding bike is flat.  I already think it would b a puncture.  I pumped it up hoping for the best, but it definitely has a flow puncture.

So I took the tyre off and found a small nip in the inner side of the tube.  Now I have to wait for a patch...  Let see if I can patch it first.

Free Oregano

We got a free Oregano from the garden centre.  It doesn't smell like Oregano when fresh, so we have to wait and see.

Then it has a growth spurt in the warm weather, so I am looking forward in harvesting.