Hello...

After the success of our family bike ride from London to Paris over Easter last year, the family (although not the full set this year - Matt tripped over a football, Laura nursing Matt and Anita letting the train take the strain) decided (well Simon did) our destination for 2019 would be Brussels. Given the complete clusterfuck that is called Brexit, it now seems an apt choice for a group of ardent Europhile cyclists.

So that was it - an Easter trip from London to Brussels, meeting up with the Paris contingent somewhere near Dunkirque; simps. Except it wasn't..... Simon then mentioned that those on Gap Years, could travel onto Venice - something about meeting a boat at the end of May? So that was how our relatively short Easter trip became a 1000 mile adventure with 4 Venetian ‘Gap Yar' Cowboys!

The route:

Day 1 - our own pilgrims way to Canterbury

We are pilgrims on a journey,
we're companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

Day 2 - Ypres via Dover-Dunkirk. Hopefully there in time for the Last Post and beer

Day 3 - Ghent, for the history and beer

Day 4/5 - Brussels, to pay (hopefully not our last) respects to the EU HQ, Donald Tusk et al, and beer*

Day 6 nr Maastricht

Day 7 cross into Germany

Day 8 onwards - loosely Rhine cycle way to Heidelberg, then across Germany to the via Claudia Augustus a Roman route across the alps to Italy and Venice

* other beverages are available -Ed

The Riders

Stage 1: London to Brussels

The cyclists:

• Simon Logistics Higgins
• Dave Chippy / sundry-king Rickett
• Melinda Action Woman Rickett
• Lucy ‘Deputy' Action Woman & French Specialist Rickett
• Robbie Marathon-Man / team nutritionist Puddick

Guest cyclists day 1 London to Canterbury (the cool non-pannier set):

• Chris Maverick Higgins
• Jamie Cervelo Rickett
• Ben Team Crawley Chapman
• Stevie Amateur Dennis (surprise guest)

Parisian team joining at Dunkirque and cycling to Brussels:

• Julia Linguist Bromhead (and best panniers)
• Gotzon Basque Zaratiegu (sans chapeau)
• Emma duolingual Goble
• Charlie Ironman Rickett

The supporters

• Anita 'in search of Simon' Higgins
• John Food and beer logistics Houston
• Val chief vetter of John's food and drink suggestions

Stage 2 Brussels to Venice

The gap year cyclists:

• Matt who is having a late mid life crisis has decided to spend a retirement ‘gap ya' cycling and sailing. The plan was to cycle to Venice to meet his friend on a boat, only the boat is apparently now in Greece - but what the hell, cycling over the Alps sounds fun he says! Matt has been practicing cycling round Lincoln with lemonade bottles in his panniers
  
  
• Dave (still thinks we're cycling ‘just to Amsterdam', I'll tell him about the change of plan when we set off from Brussels - Melinda) and he doesn't have the log in details so he can't change this blurb!!
  
  
• Melinda - when Charlie and Emma announced they were getting married in Cornwall in July this year - I imagined that after selling the business the previous year we would have so much time to help them with the Arrangements, but not to worry we'll be back by June!
  
  
• Chief worry - how we'll cross the alps with luggage and road bikes, when all the blogs say it can't be done but Simon, one of life's eternal optimists, seems to think it will be fine!