6 cyclists came together just south of Norrköping. The coach arrived, 11 cyclists already onboard.
Bikes packed into the trailor we started our journey to Italy but first, stops in Husqvarna and Heslingborg before the Ferry over to Denmark and then again to Rostock.
Making good time we headed south through German. Two weeks prior a good friend and German teacher pointed out that the Autobahn was built for Germanys ‘expansion’ into Europe under the Third Reich. Flashbacks in black and white gave me images of those times. Images of tanks, Panzer divisions, rations, blood, gore, death. Now, a mere 70 years later, 24 cyclists were travelling these very same roads for a trip that would take them from Italys east coast, to west coast and back again,.
All in aid for the Swedish Childrens child cancer fund. How times have changed – Thank God!
Middle of the night, somewhere in Germany, the whole bus was awoken by a sudden judder.
A lorry had tried to overtake where the road was at its narrowest. The result of this was the back end of the bus was damaged from scraping against the barriers. Luckily, damage was minimal. On through Brenner and our breakfast stop at Mattrei. - Bacon and eggs, a roll and latte macchiato – 9 €.
Here the snow started to fall, temperatures dropped. I always comment on Ride of Hope trips that it shouldn’t be easy, it shouldn’t be a pleasure ride. It should hurt, it should challenge. It’s symbolic for the fight the children and their families have to make every hour of every day. For us, it’s one week.
But such a week. Anticipations are high. EPIC is a word I’m hoping will be quite appropriate at the end of this journey.
As usual .. Time will tell.
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