IN ONE GO — I’ve been doing the
#festive500 since 2011. Couldn’t in 2010 but my friend Howard did & contributed hand drawn comics to
@twotoneams when it was a blog a decade ago. (Peek em
here)
Ever since, I found a way to do it most years, I link to my efforts up to 2016
here. Relevant note: I first did it at once in 2015 with
@wit_industries ; )
2016’s highlight was a 290km IJsselmeer Monster Jam with
@the_windjammers &
@nikiterpstra. It was a special edition as it was Tim Krabbé’s last time tackling such big distances.
2017 was tough. A rough year for a host of reasons but I still made the 500 happen. Dropped on the Monster Jam, I finished it alone. All other rides done alone, cold & wet.
2018 was the 1st year that I just couldn’t. Otto & Mira had been taken away months before and it was their first time back for the holidays. No chance that I’d miss a moment to be out riding in the darkness and cold.
Well 2019 was about taking control. Less wallowing in sorrow and more radness beating the sadness. Otto & Mira were back again for Christmas but not New Year’s. So I missed most days to ride by choosing to focus on the kids.
I had to take them to back to Schiphol Monday & had resolved myself to another 500km
#inonego effort. I figured if saying goodbye ripped my heart out each time… Then why not rip my legs off instead and actually enjoy the pain? 🤷🏻♂️
So two days ago, I departed directly from the airport & rode thru the
#Veluwe towards Germany. Took some detours due to missing ferry deadlines & rode thru Zwolle (lucky to catch a snackbar at midnight)
I rode nonstop thru the night. It was sublime. No music. Just my thoughts, me & crisp frozen ground.
At 300km, I made it to Groningen. I’d never been. I sliced my rear tire on glass in the fish market and sealant did it’s job to get me to
@spaakgroningen to meet
@3_inch_cuff.
We rode south a bit & I carried on towards Lelystad on my own. The last 100km were surreal. What a sunset!
I arrived to
@kristyspark’s arms, a wonderful meal & New Year’s fireworks on the roof!
Thanks everyone for the support!
Overview also on Strava
here.
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