MrKiwi's Road to and from VIM 19

[Jyrays]

David, you can always buy stuff you missed, you are coming to old continental

Welcome and see you in 10 days...

[MrKiwi]

So it is goodbye to my wife and family for seven weeks.  See you all soon...

Thought your wife come with you this year ?... Nice and safe ride David 

My wife has a busy time with work in June. So June is not a good time for her to be away.

[MrKiwi]

The first part of my journey has been completed. On Thursday midday, NZ time, I departed via Auckland international airport for my flight to the Netherlands. I arrived at the airport in time to relax with a good kiwi coffee, a flat white.

Then it was time to grab the passport, fill put out the departure card and head to the plane.



It is a long flight from NZ to the Netherlands. This year I flew with Singapore airlines, 10.5 hours form NZ to Singapore, 5 hour stop over and 12.5 hours to the Netherlands. Flying west has its advantages, I left midday Thursday NZ time and arrived in the Netherlands 8:00am Friday having spent 30 hours travelling.

Then it was time to catch a train to Assen. I managed to negotiate my way around an altered train time table due to maintenance work and finally arrived in Assen late morning Friday.

After such a long trip, it was a relief to be met by the ever smiling Two Plugs and we have now retreated to his place to complete final preparations for our ride.

But first time to orient myself to fabulous summer weather and relaxation.


No afternoon and evening is complete without a Dutch treat.


Thus the beginning has ended, the next chapter of my 2017 European adventure begins.

[Jyrays]

I also found out 30h is the shortest you can find and Singapore airlines is not that bad

[MrKiwi]

We've arrived and settled in

[Jyrays]

[zebulon]

Thank you friends, happy to see Bogdan too  A pity not to have been able to ride with you
 

[MrKiwi]

I have not been very good at keeping this thread up to date. So I will attempt to do some of this now.
I need to write up the trip to Gotland first.

[MrKiwi]

The first day ride out from The Netherlands, we gathered at Bernard's to ready ourselves.



The route took us through Germany, over a river on a ferry to Oldenburg Holstien to a lovely old Hotel.

[MrKiwi]

Monday 29 May - From Oldenburg Holstein to Gleemingebro in Sweden through Denmark.


We stayed at a quaint Bed and Breakfast. The only food that night was from a Chinese take away. I came all this way from NZ just to eat chicken friend rice!








The church in Glemmingebro


We settled into a night of relaxation and fun.

[MrKiwi]

Tuesday 30 May - Frm Glemmingebro to Hultsfred, Sweden, staying in Cabins in the woods. Had excellent Wifi here too.


A great evening BBQ.


But first a detour to look at the the Ales Stenar stones









We encountered our first rain of the trip on this day. A stop along the way



Arriving



Getting into the swing of things for the night

[MrKiwi]

Wednesday 31 May - Hultsfred to Sodertalje


We stopped to look at the Gota Kanal









Then the Gripsholm Slott Castle, an impressive building. One wonders how many bricks were used to build it!











And our night's accommodation



The owner of the B&B we stayed in owned this house, which had on thew grouinds about a 300 year old oak tree.










Then it was catching the ferry to Gotland

[zebulon]

Thx David for the update 
 

[MrKiwi]

We arrived in Gotland on Thursday evening 1 June.

The ferry crossing was straight forward and the ride to Faro was nice, although a little chilly.

We settled into our cabin for the next four days

[MrKiwi]

Friday 2 June, a lazy start to the day. Some domestic duties was the first order of the day, a pile of clothes that needed washing.

Then a ride around north Faro to visit some rocks.  Enjoyed an initial blast on some gravel roads.
















Then back to the cabin for more relaxing