2013-05-04/05 Ardennes Liberator Tour

okay I AM EXCITE now.. four days no work.. heading to the hills with bikes and the best crew on the planet.. haz win written all over it x

hella EXCITE! I'm in Costa if anyone gets here early

^^five days. In a moment of rare inspired genius I booked Tuesday off work.

\oneofthegreatmindsofourtimes

Van crew just about to board the ferry, with a shockingly low number of incedents so far.
Time to carb load at burger king.

Van crew just about to board the ferry, with a shockingly low number of incedents so far.

Shockingly low number of passports in the van though...

Shockingly low number of passports in the van though...

So true. But two Celts, one passport and a van load of bikes.

What could possibly go wrong?

Eurostar crew haz arrived at Ffaulty Towers... Epic location, waiting for the van crew to make an appearance, see you in the bar.

You doing the people-trafficking thing already?

Eurostar to Brussels, train to Verviers, bus to Malmedy all went like clckwork. even had time for beer in the warm sunshine, before hiking several clicks to route de hottlick_chicks..

We have a sweepstake for van arrival and warming up our voices for the karaoke tonight...

Eurostar to Brussels, train to Verviers, bus to Malmedy all went like clckwork. even had time for beer in the warm sunshine, before hiking several clicks to route de hottlick_chicks..

We have a sweepstake for van arrival and warming up our voices for the karaoke tonight...

"Don't be cruel to a heart that's true."

Kareoke supper with excellent, hearty pasta

Orange sunset nestling in the Ardennes hills.

Refreshing local Blonde (beer) to raise the spirits.

Hum, pretty marginal, really..

10 hours in the saddle yesterday, magnificent scenery, the squad were epic with 117 km on the clock, 2400 metres of climbing and wall to wall sunshine

7 hours in the saddle today and 100 km.. Climbs everywhere, sun tans and smiles galore.. This Ardennes trip has been an incredible adventure, filled with local knowledge and surprises at every corner. As we stopped in Stavelot for ice cream on our way back, a vintage car rally rolled through heading to the Med.

10 hours in the saddle yesterday, magnificent scenery, the squad were epic with 117 km on the clock, 2400 metres of climbing and wall to wall sunshine

Day one:

http://app.strava.com/activities/52330215

Day two

http://app.strava.com/activities/52549985

Miller time.................

Silly whinge of green envy: you were at the bottom of Redoute and did not climb it?

^ blame me for that. As the weakest cyclist I was the limitation on the entire ride. I was kneeling by the side of the road, alone and almost in tears at one point, so the boys frankly did well in scaling back their own ambitions to give a bit of support to someone who was seriously struggling with the route. If it weren't for me then things would likely have been very different.

Not true bothwell. Remember after lunch we headed west and made a group decision to go further up, then a spot of off road cycling to liven things up a bit.
Fussballclub we did the descent into Trois Pont, was very fast with loads of twists and turns.. Amazing.

Ha! You guys made the group decision because I was a fucking mess very early on and I was in no position to argue with you. Maybe one day we can come back and do properly.

Basically our fearless leader drank too much beer and limoncello at lunch time, and decided to lead us around redoute and through a field of gravel, dust and cow pooooo instead.

Just sayin'

Cycling in the Ardennes, has been a real eye opener. Shit hard in places like the climb out of Spa, rewarded with some of the best ridge top rides and fast descents have ever been on for a while. It was as close to being in the alps one could have wished for, especially those hidden roads away from the traffic and the motor car fans going to the circuit de spa francorchamps

Stu I miss the 29er action.. The farm road was a giggle, no?

Cycling in the Ardennes, has been a real eye opener. Shit hard in places like the climb out of Spa, rewarded with some of the best ridge top rides and fast descents have ever been on for a while. It was as close to being in the alps one could have wished for, especially those hidden roads away from the traffic and the motor car fans going to the circuit de spa francorchamps

Stu I miss the 29er action.. The farm road was a giggle, no?

Basically our fearless leader drank too much beer and limoncello at lunch time, and decided to lead us around redoute and through a field of gravel, dust and cow pooooo instead.

Just sayin'

The Liberators left three days ago. Most of this year's class know them. A select few us had travelled to B- with them last spring, and those of us who went report have their memories clouded by events the months afterwards. Many of us travelled on to other locations since which muddled that first itinerary. For the rest, drink and a generally immoderate approach to life wiped most of the lingering details and memories away. Still, a few of us remember what happened - or maybe just that time allowed us to make sense of it even if we cannot recall the particulars.

Now we sit, talking of what they have seen, where they are going, what tested them and of what they may or may not still have ahead of them. We feel that most, not us here, will say that the success of their missions that defines them to the class. 'The world is watching! It is only the faces of the conquered and the mark of their wheels on the foreigners land that can verify the success.' But we disagree. The numbers and the miles and the energy, this is watching the shadows on the wall instead of the bodies moving in the light. For those of us who were there in B- we understand the missions, possibly even only 'mission' for really they may have only had one, will happen without us or the eyes of the world but be set in motion by their own hands and feet. In these times simply going there and attempting what they are is enough to be quantified as success - more than enough for them to take pride, anyhow. Who else is risking this amount in the land they have been sent to? How can so many criticise from their living rooms and office buildings what the Liberators undertake as we speak? It seems that only a few have remembered and have left their condescension and judgement where it belongs: away from this time.

In three days what can change? What can be conquered? Change usually requires time and the courage recognise that time passes with ever increasing speed. Three days is often nothing, like a 'still' time which exists and passes without regard. We look back on our lives and see still time which has simply washed away. Later, when nothing in us has changed in some time, we look back again and that this still time looks like weeks, seasons and years. But the Liberators know that their missions are set forth selflessly, day by day. They ride together - not for themselves but for their homelands and the Liberators as a whole. They understand the moments they live as they live them - and that is the definition of success. They may be gone for months or years even, and they might never come back. But if they were to come back tomorrow we should receive them as heroes. For they have showed us courage, restlessness and that change comes not from ourselves, but that it is created in the hearts of others. Them. Us.

That's beautiful Dan. You were, or rather you are much missed by the B- veterans. Our HQ has been a solid foundation for some unforgettable missions this weekend. And there is plenty of photographic evidence being compiled. The Ardennes region has so much history.. But if you ask me the best bit has been the local blond from Bellevaux. A stunning beer that comes bottled at 7%..

@ Bothwell - don't be so hard on yourself. You made the trip and completed it. The next one will be better. Besides you were with some of the best guys to be on a ride with. No?

Oh, yeah, definitely. Braker towed me through some hideous headwinds and made me laugh till my face hurt, Bernie tried to tow me up hills with a stick and a bit of rope which was of no physical help whatsoever but did help take my mind off things. Al is perennially reliable as leader and supportive to boot. Branwen and estee, elegant rouleurs both made me epically jealous of their steez and OLC was amazingly and unrelentingly positive at all times. Could not have asked for a better crew.

It was still fucking hard, though.