Bike EU

Route from Athens, Greece to London, England

2009-09-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

View Open Route Map in a larger window

Why we did this

2009-09-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

4 reasons why we rode across Europe;

1. To make ourselves and others aware of the beauty of the continent.

2. To engage others to experience this travel through this blog.

3. To encourage others to live a communal life with the environment without the impact of an automobile.

4. To inspire others to follow their dreams and discover that an adventure motivated by self will yields unparalleled satisfaction.

The Bike-EU Presentation, This Friday

2009-09-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Two weeks have passed since we have returned home to Alexandria, VA, and it is with great anticipation that we invite you behind the scenes to the full story of our 2 month summer travel across Europe. Join us for the presentation this Friday as we share the maps, videos, blog entries and stories about the people and places we encountered on this extraordinary adventure.

When: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Where: Virginia Tech's WAAC, 1001 Prince St., Alexandria VA (map)

Trip is through : Home in Alexandria

2009-08-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

We're home and fairly fresh on arrival to Washington, DC. I remember when I was young my father would say, ‘Coming home is the best part of travel’. At home we take account of the travel by reflecting on the higher sense of purpose realized by the journey. Looking around me I find that I return home a person inspired by the experiences of Bike-EU. John and I agree we feel like we've been out for a long weekend ride, but this can’t be true. The line between Athens and London has enriched our hearts immeasurably like a pleasant dream. This website was created in a way of intimately sharing this experience. We hope this will inspire others to join with a desire and demand to see and do things in a way only an individual can; your way, your road, for yourself and others. I got a good start by learning how to say the word, 'NOW'. It'll save me a few years down the road from wondering where all the time has gone and questioning why I hadn't chosen to do the things I could have.

Day52, 3500km: London's calling, John's End.

2009-08-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

Friends and family, We are wearily content with what we accomplished so far- 3500 kilometers, which raised $2700.00. This does not include the contributions that were sent to us in the mail, which we will recognize on our blog when we return home. In that light, we both want to deeply thank all of you who helped us get here. You all helped, whether it was donating money or donating time, to make this unique experience possible. In the end we want to accurately convey to you all, in some way, shape or form, how this experience for us was.
Homeward bound. I suppose that this was the idea the day that both George and I landed in Athens. It is beginning to settle in a little bit- this last day of MY bicycle ride- George is leaving Friday. The ferry from Calais in France to the white cliffs of Dover on England's shore was not anticlimactic at all by any means, but George and I just gave each other an enthusiastic high five and a pat on the back, and we were off. I find my time here in London, having spent just some of it with longtime friend Amanda Jones, already short and busy. Wanting to see the historical center, which is all of the city I can afford the time to see with this visit, should prove to be a whirlwind experience. London is huge and interesting, however, so this cannot be my last time here. The European continent is already calling again as well. There is lots to do when I return. With tasks at hand, we all sustain ourselves with thoughts of faraway places. To what end they lead us is anyone's guess. But for me in particular, this was an incredible end to which I have been lead. Warmest regards to all, John

Planned (L) and Final (R) Routes

2009-08-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

DAY51, 3480km. LONDON, ENGLAND

2009-08-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

ROAD BEHIND AND AHEAD. Ahead of us to the West the sun sets over London. I look South East and Europe as I remember it two months ago suddenly feels much smaller. We've left the European mainland crossing the English Channel at Calais, France and now pedal on the left hand side of the road through Dover, England. Somewhere behind us over the Alps we have traced a two month memory from the Mediterranean to the North Sea. Beginning with my sister's wedding in Greece, the tour continued through nine countries and seven languages. In one week, I'll be out of the familiar bicycle saddle I have come to know for so long. The effort to cross Europe has prooved to be a summer of suprises and risk taking. We're here in London, we've made it safely. I remember the past two months and give thanks to those who made it possible.

Day45, 3016km: Brussels, Belgium.

2009-08-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

AN APPRECIATION OF SCALE : Sizes of countries matters. It is a fact. It is not because of wars, not because of ethnic histories, not because of economies or even because of population sizes. The size of a country matters because of scale. We crossed into Belgium on a Thursday afternoon, having learned that Dutch is spoken in the north- the Belgians prefer to call it Flanders- and that French is spoken in the south. In a small town north of Antwerp, as we set up our tents we had been encountering the Dutch language. The next evening in Brussels with Jean Francois Kalka, an old friend from Alexandria who lives here now with another friend and wife Jaycee, French was what our ears heard most. As we were treated to a dinner of North Sea mussels Friday night and ventured Saturday morning to one of the city's morning markets for 1 Euro coffees and equally inexpensive [Belgian] waffles, it has been the predominant language heard today in the de jur capital of Europe. We are here for the experience, and with 370 kilometers to London, we have a week to travel through a few more urban centers and along some beaches where, in the greatest cataclysm of modern war, the fate of the world once hung in the balance. We are surrounded by history, and it makes us yearn to see it back home as such a typical aspect of the daily lives by whose routines we are merely passing. The Hague in the Netherlands was a wonderful visit with John's friend Irold and family and allowed for a day of sightseeing and rest, but Brussels here has allowed us to stop and to follow one of its own on his routine through the weekend. We have therefore become citizens for a moment of this city. For all of the political and legislative importance that this capital of Europe possesses, Belgium, like its Dutch neighbor to its north and Luxembourg and Lichtenstein to the southeast, is almost provincial in size. We can cross it in just two days; and that we can do so would be just another anecdotal fact if we did not simply come from the United States. It is because of our own country’s immensity through which we find Europe so wonderful to travel. More specifically, it is the number of different cultures that we have encountered over this land mass in such close proximity to one another. For example, there are many different subcultures in the United States and its major cities; but the first language encountered anywhere in our own country will always be English, and a Little Italy in anywhere, USA is still not Italy of Europe. In America, other than the occasional historical building or even a particular town’s neighborhood, we will not find the millennia of history that have influenced European cities and towns, most established uncountable generations ago as ancient hubs of trade. We will not find the endless tapestry of dense urbanity or country towns that are many centuries old; and we will not be able to travel slowly among all of it and to see it all in one continuous line, one near nation after the other. The fact that this has been a realization for us has been an immense education and a great gift, both of and from our shrinking world.

Day45, 3016km: Brussels, Belgium.

2009-08-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

VISIT WITH JEAN-FRANCOIS: We're sitting on cushy seats and wearing ripped jeans after riding 75km today. I just heard a champagne bottle open in the kitchen. We're showered and ready to hit the town. It's nice to be in Brussels, Belgium, the de facto capital of the European Union (EU). Outside, happy hour is brewing among the young professionals. This is the 7th country on our ride from Greece to England and we're here with good friend Jean-Francois (regrettably wife JC is back in the US). While we're here, John and I have promised not to use her 'gray bottle shampoo'. There is a pile of Ikea furniture in the living room, evidence of their moving in from Alexandria, VA earlier this summer. Earlier today, we crossed the 3,000km mark from Athens. We'll probably pedal another 1000km before arriving in London for the flight out on August 21.

Video 04, The Netherlands

2009-08-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

Day40, 2726km: The Hague, The Netherlands

2009-08-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

THE UBIQUITOUS DUTCH BIKE : The bicycle type we have encountered throughout northern Europe between Germany and the Netherlands has not changed much since the turn of the 20th century. This two-wheeled utilitarian rambler comes in a one-design-fits-all type. This is typically a single gear drivetrain with a sealed chaincase to reduce long-term maintenance; and fenders and mud flaps keep clothes clean. The rear wheel hub is a drum brake that will last longer than its cable and brake pad counterparts. The front wheel, which includes a micro-generator, converts electricity to light the front headlight and rear tail light, while the battery stores power from the generator in order to continue to provide electricity when the bicycle stops. The bell warns fellow riders and pedestrians that you are approaching and is mandatory in The Netherlands. The rear rack carries cargo with bungee straps, pannier bags, or both. The center stand allows for stable parking with a proper and, again because of its shape, a low center of gravity. An integrated lock engages the rear wheel for security after the rider has dismounted. The geometry of the frame leaves the rider upright for good visibility and relaxed orientation, and the handlebars curve back and long to allow the rider a straight spine and relief of pressure on the hands. Tires are typically a 28" diameter and 1.5" width for a smooth ride and puncture resistance. Finally, stainless steel fasteners make the bike highly rust resistant, and a powder coated paint job is highly rust and scratch resistant and is simply more environmentally friendly than paint.
Why the grocery list of positive attributes that keep this simple wonder of locomotion held in such high esteem among our European cousins? Because we feel that the Dutch people are the happiest in Europe. This is based neither on a continent-wide study of criteria among cultures, nor is it because the Dutch are all walking around in a marijuana-induced haze of ignorant bliss. It is the ubiquitous bicycle. A recent and official study conducted from within Europe has concluded that the Danish are the happiest people on that continent across which we have recently been riding our own bicycles. This was found to be because the Danish, who evidently have low expectations about everything, always have their expectations exceeded. However, we cannot refute any official studies, so we'll just say that outside of Scandinavia, the Dutch are the happiest. This is admittedly a small comparison- we have seen just the Dutch and the Germans on these bikes. We'll of course find them in France; but the French, and I write this in jest, are certainly too proud to be included in a study among anyone but themselves. In Germany, and we have German friends for whom we have the fondest regard, the country overall has yet to gain a proper sense of humor. But the Dutch are just happy. They have an appropriate sense of humor in that they understand sarcasm. They are not rigidly reserved, and their social system is designed so that there is not a large or growing disparity between wealthy and poor. And they have the cushiest bikes- one of which John had the pleasure to ride through the Hague to inspire this blog entry.

Day39, 2708km: Katwijk Aan Zee, The Netherlands

2009-08-03T04:01:00.000-07:00

MANAGING MONEY : Taking a two month leave from work requires us to ration cash and spend responsibly. Our allowance of 1 Euro per kilometer is a reasonable approximation of what this trip has cost. This golden rule rewards our hard work with enjoyable concessions throughout the day. On a typical day, if we ride 80km for example, we can expect the following spending: 10EU breakfast, 40EU lunch/dinner groceries, 15EU campsite, and 15EU other. In our favor, travel by bicycle and camping can be inexpensive but against us is the conversion from US$ to EU$ which has fallen to 1/1.4 today. Here is an image of EU banknotes.

Day37, 2548km: Schagen, The Netherlands

2009-07-30T04:11:00.000-07:00

Publicity about the trip: Virginia Tech, the University where we completed our studies in architecture and where George is currently employed as a faculty member for computer applications, has recognized our story and helped spread awareness on its webpage at the following internet address: http://www.ncr.vt.edu/Highlights/EuropeBike.html

Day36, 2468km: Afsluitdijk, The Netherlands

2009-07-29T04:10:00.000-07:00

WATER COUNTRY: There is never a moment when the weight and the tempestuous nature of the sea surrounding the Netherlands is not felt. One quarter of this geographically low-lying country lies below sea level. 60% of its population resides in these regions. To add to this water challenge, the Netherlands is basically a vast river delta formed by such European watersheds as the Rhine, Maas and Scheldt rivers. Over the centuries the Dutch coastline has changed considerably as the result of natural disasters and human intervention. To date, the relationship between land and sea has been preserved through an elaborate systems of integrated canals and dikes which are closely supervised by an elected government organization charged with overseeing this infrastructure.
We were most impressed by our 30km ride across the Afsluitdijk, which separates Ijseel Lake from the North Sea. Completed in 1933, it protects 2,500 square kilometers of reclaimed land from the sea. It is illustrated here alongside the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel in Virginia, USA, near John's home. Tomorrow we will touch the North Sea and our crossing from the Mediterranean will be complete.

Day33, 2211km: Utrecht, The Netherlands

2009-07-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

CYCLING IN THE NETHERLANDS : Bicycling is a way of life in the Netherlands. The following 8 points are what we have observed that make this primary mode of transportation such a pleasant experience: 1, Dedicated bicycle trail networks are separate from motorized traffic. 2, Traffic laws favor bikes over cars, which results in the automobile’s yielding to the cyclist’s right of way. 3, Trail signage, maps and dedicated direction lighting are well coordinated. 4, Bicycling is often the simplest and quickest way from point A to point B. 5, Flat terrain and well maintained trail surfaces make cycling easy. 6, The temperate climate makes riding possible year round. 7, Diverse facilities include bicycle rental points, repair shops and securely guarded parking. 8, Bicycling is good for one’s health and the environment. In short, we have discovered a cyclist’s paradise. We intend to spend the next week here, circling the country in a counter-clockwise direction. Having entered the southeastern portion of the country from Germany, we will exit into Belgium along the coast south of Rotterdam.

Day32, 2106km: Nijmegen, The Netherlands

2009-07-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

DUTCH COMMUNAL HOUSING : This Sunday afternoon as we pulled in to Nijmengan and began looking for a watering hole with internet access, George saw Sasha reading out in front of The Klinker. We approached chatting as she gazed curiously through her spunky thin black frame glasses. Inside the shared residence where she lives, a young generation was rotating around the responsibilities of the home they are sharing. Cooking, cleaning, construction- all are the daily regimen here. We caught them glimpsing every so often at us, the two weary travelers. Upstairs, bedrooms fill an old warehouse attic below the pitched timber frame roof. Young residents bustled up and down dark narrow hallways. A line of evening sunlight streaked through the kind green stained glass windows. Down half a flight of stairs, the kitchen was filled with reggae music as a young lady with long burly dreadlocks baked cookies for dinner this evening. It was a delight to peer into Sasha’s eyes as our Dutch hostess answered with calm to the incessant requests and questions of the two bikers. ‘We have come from Athens, this is our 2200km mark and it is time to rest’. First a cold beer, then an offer to clean laundry followed by a bed in the guest room. Dinnertime fast approaches for the Sunday evening public supper, and the large meeting room, filled with neighborhood guests who filed past the two bicycles parked outside. Below the saddle of George’s bike, an American flag waved in a gentle Dutch breeze.

Day31, 2025km: Baarlo, The Netherlands

2009-07-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

A WONDERFUL COINCIDENCE : 1500km and 15 days ago in northern Italy, we met a Dutch fellow en route from Rome to his home in The Netherlands. He was stopped along the trail when George asked for a pump to repair John's flat tire. Charles was a memorable man with a kind demeanor who showed off his impressive Dutch gear with pride. The short meeting lasted 10 minutes before bidding farewell on a route that would separate us in two very different directions through the Alps. You can imagine the feeling then when George spotted Charles again 2 days south of his home in the Netherlands! It reminds us, as he did, that coincidence is a wonderful recognition of events and circumstances between two like-minded people.

Day34, 2288km: Zeewolde, The Netherlands

2009-07-24T04:35:00.000-07:00

Dutch Hospitality : It should be noted that the first 3 out of 5 nights in The Netherlands were hosted by complete strangers and that hospitality continued to manifest itself into the following days in the form of Chinese buffet dinners, bottles of red wine or beer and German bread rolls. While riding, every hour we seemingly bump into a fellow bicyclist or pedestrian who enthusiastically helps give direction. Perhaps the most amusing suprise of Dutch hospitality came in the mornings while wrapping up our campsites and discussing the prospect of warm coffee. On two occassions just as the words 'Oh man, I cant wait to have a coffee', left our mouth, a Dutchman appeared from an ajoining campsite asking, 'Would you guys like a coffee?!' The offering was a form of engagement between the curious Dutchman and two weary travelers. We are drawn into conversation, entering each other's lives for a moment in a way that would not be possible without both sides making the effort to be there that moment. Pictured here with us is Camiel, who after seeing us take a wrong turn down her dead-end street in Zeewolde, invited us to join her and cat Bengi (nicknamed Benign Ginger) for the evening.

Day25, 1589km: Rothenburg, Germany.

2009-07-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Towns here are marked by fortified walls which once kept intruders at bay. Today the gate doors are gone as life carries on peacefully. We wander from town to town admirring their timelessness. Clean water continues to flow from the through the ancient town square fountains. Beyond the walls, rolling hill valleys are framed in majesty. German, Italian and English languages crisscross the central square. A tourist snaps photos. We delight in the experience and opportunity to taste life here. There is an angel on our right shoulder. We laugh to pass the time. Sipping beer at the end of the day while resting, we allow space of mind to consider perspectives and take the route best of choice tomorrow. We are heading north-west at a steady pace through Bavaria.

Day22, 1316km: Munich, Germany.

2009-07-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Leaving behind the great game of the Alps, we pursue Germany as Austria and the Alps dip beyond the horizon to the south. There are only rolling hills of corn and wheat now and grey clouds fill the sky. The people and culture are not too different here; people walk and talk the same as they share the German language. While riding on Saturday we remarked that we had each seen about five or six pieces of trash on the side of the road. Here, we find a beautiful advanced society. We ride from one village to another; oftentimes on a bike trail paralleling the main road. Each town is marked by it’s central square and chapel, which can be seen from a distance as we approach. The ‘zentrum’ is like a stone mirage in a dessert of green fields. To find a town square, follow the tallest spire in the horizon or listen for the distant sound of a bell tower. You are nearing when the narrow paved streets soon turn to stone. The central cathedral you will find is a symbol of the town’s stature and a reflection of their effort to commune with the highest order. We stop for a brake in such towns every 20-40kms for food, water, and information. Oftentimes, arcaded sidewalks offer cover from the recent rain storms we have been having. Below the arcades, restaurants spill into the streets under umbrellas with comfortable chairs that never quite sit level on the cobbled stones.

Day20, 1100km: Innsbruck, Austria.

2009-07-19T08:21:00.001-07:00

Our visit to Austria began in a most auspicious way- we decided to cross the border from Italy, and therefore the Alps, in a final push that would mark the ending to a long, hot day and a well-traveled week through Italy and its charming countryside. What that meant for us was an evening ascent to and crossing over of the 4500’ Brenner’s Pass, the easiest we were told of the passes along our route that would allow us to the other side. Albania’s mind boggling ups and downs and northern Italy’s rising roads to the crossing prepared our legs well for the climb; and even as it was well into the evening along a road lit overhead only by the ambient glow of civilization, our descent was fast and very long and was one of many confirmations for us why touring on a bicycle is so simply rewarding. The endless ride down ended abruptly as we passed through two intersections at the bottom and suddenly found ourselves in the center of Innsbruck. A sizable city, it was even here that we did not have to pass through a myriad of suburban tract housing to reach its historic core. The smaller cousin to Vienna and Salzburg, Innsbruck is still a large and bohemian city with a thriving sidewalk culture. Its population is young and international due to its universities, its lunchtime crowds are thick with tourists from around the world and its location on the Inn River places it perfectly in the valley between two very high ridges that seem almost to lean out and over the city. It was the next day, after a night of urban guerilla camping- Oh the stares and looks of surprise in the morning!- and on our way out of the relaxed urbanity of Innsbruck, that we began to see the organization and efficiency of Austria and what we may find in its neighbor to the north. This is what we have expected to find in this part of Europe before our visit. We discovered in northern Italy, a most agricultural region of the country whose signage shares not only the Germanic language, but whose modernity, like Austria’s and Germany’s, is appropriately in tune with its natural surroundings, that the people enjoy lifestyles according to what they need, not what they want. There are the signs of consumerism that are to be expected, but it is not gratuitous by any means; and what is purchased as an eventual throw-away is appropriately disposed of in an ecologically responsible manner. It is the height of a modern society- one that enjoys the benefits of today’s advances but that also remembers that it has always been and always will be part of the land, the sky and the water upon which it depends. We stop often at grocery stores to save money, and it was at one particular store in a town east of Innsbruck that George walked out of with our lunch and dinner exclaiming “This is it, I’ve fallen in love with this place and would rather not leave!” A simple commentary on not just the beautiful women and the rich and advanced culture that we have been riding through, but in this case the simplicity with which they shop for groceries. For example, the insertion of a 1 Euro coin into a mechanism on the handle of a shopping cart will allow you use that cart. A return of the cart and reinsertion of the key attached to the chain, which in turn is attached to the cart in front, will return your 1 Euro coin. A simple process that eliminates the kid at the grocery store who has to take time to retrieve the carts scattered about the parking lot. Efficiency is simply the elimination of the middle man and the clutter. In the store itself, there is not the unnecessary restocking of the goods in an orderly manner along the shelves. In this case, the boxes with their goods in them are simply stocked along the shelves as they are loaded off of the truck. Shopping along these simplified aisles is made pleasant by the building that is not placed in a big-box “put it anywhere is OK” manner, but that is actually designed. I can imagine for George it was more of a pleasant, physiological connection among building, customer and task at hand than just a mind numbing stroll along aisles lit high overhead by the clinical glow of high pressure lighting. Even the occasional bird caught unwarily in our own big box stores does not make the experience any better. We shared a beer outside in the café area, which always solicits a remark from one of us about how it can be so easy here and so taboo in the States. Ah, the residual effects of our country’s puritanical origins. We reach Kufstein that day, from which we will reach Munich the next, and on this day we pass again through more countryside.

Day20, Italian - Austrian border

2009-07-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

Border crossings among the countries of the EU do not include border patrol. One can blink and sometimes miss the signage marking entry into an adjacent neighbor. We crossed the Italian border into Austria at Brennero Pass (Elevation 4500ft) dropping out of the Alps for almost 2 hours without pedaling. Our top speed reached 74km/hr as the bicycles took the descent in stride. We recall the long six day climb from Venice. It is humbling to think that the majestic river valleys behind us flow to the Mediterranean Sea, while ahead the dropping waters will lead us to the North Sea. Such is the simple fact of a mountainous region; in our particular case, the boundary between Italy and Austria as marked by this divide. At one instant we stradddled the physical boundary that fed the waters of both seas. Now as we travel north we have made it to Austria, the fourth country of our bike ride.

Foot of the Alps: Day17, 788km: Bassano, Italy.

2009-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

In an effort to save travel time and escape July's increasing heat we took an overnight train from Barletta to Venice. This trip has brought us to the safer roads and bike trails of North Italy. The greener and more temperate climate makes for a more pleasant ride. Designated bike paths often parallel the smooth paved roads between the villages. Stone paving patterns layed by medieval masons line downtown village streets. We find ourselves in Architect Palladio's hometown of Bassano right now heading NNW at the foot of some mountains. I suppose that we'll be feeling inclined to look at the sky more.

Week 2 : Ferry from Vlore, Albania to Brindisi, Italy

2009-07-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

Southern Italy has been a welcomed change for us. The hot sun here competes with a consistent south wind at our backs. Straight west across the Adriatic Sea from Vlore, we arrived after a six hour ferry ride to the small Italian port city of Brindisi. By seven o'clock, we were sitting on a bench in a circular fountain square along a bustling pedestrian axis between the port and the train station. We enjoyed a baguette, sliced cheese and prociutto with pesto sauce as a spread. It was an abrupt change from the very friendly but nationally immodern Albania, and we had discussed what this change in route was going to bring us. With the mountains of Albania as a measure, and the European Alps well in our minds, we rode 384 miles over four days to take the train from Barletta, near Foggia to Venice.

Bike-EU_Albania_Video03

2009-07-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

Week 2 : Albania, from Sarande to Vlore

2009-07-10T07:35:00.001-07:00

Albania exceeded our expectations through its people's generosity toward strangers, its natural beauty and a peaceful but mysterious isolation from its neighboring countries. We rode the brand new road along the Adriatic coast between the first city of Sarande across its southern border from Greece with its booming southern port city of Vlore. For a bicyclist, the utterly daunting grades with which the roads climb and drop along this rocky west coast had nearly brought our legs to a state of disfunction. In the North near Vlore our lungs began to suffer as road conditions worsened on dusty city streets stirred up constantly by traffic with little or no vehicle emissions control. Alas, after 3 days and 200km of Albania, we were left with no choice but to abandon the East Adriatic course intent (next trip perhaps) to ride the more developed shores of Italy.

Week 1 : Ferry to the Mainland, Hyoumenitsa

2009-07-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

We hop on a ferry back to the mainland from where we write to you now. Stopping here, in Grandma's hometown, we spend a day making updates to the blog, cleaning laundry and taking care of a few last minute matters before entering Albania. In Greece we will leave behind our language fluency, the Euro currency and the family which has sheltered us this week. We leave Greece with many blessings for the unfamiliar road ahead. If you want to find us, we’ll be heading north along the eastern Adriatic Sea, following the coastline. We are expecting our next entries to be from Monte Negro or Bosnia by July 8^th.

Week 1 : Happy 30th Birthday, George

2009-07-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

For two days we stayed in the beach bungalow George’s cousins Spiro and Efthimios built with their own hands. Here, on our last night in town, we shared a wonderful birthday. Imagine a table of homegrown food spread among 30 people around. Bread from the local oven, vegetables from our gardens, chickens freshly slaughtered that afternoon and wine from our family's fields. We look around and see three generations raising a glass to the cousins who have returned from far. ‘We’ve come here to marry my sister’, George says, as a dozen conversations crisscross the table. When the birthday cake bearing an illustration of a cyclist and the words ‘Corfu to London’ is brought out, John stands to give a toast and cousin Stefano translates, ‘I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the immense hospitality I have been given here. George's extended family here has been more than hospitable, and this celebration for his 30th birthday is a wonderful way to begin our trip. Tomorrow we leave for the long road ahead; and I know that George shares my sentiment when I say that we will never forget this wonderful beginning’.

Week 1 : A Lesson About Youth

2009-07-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

George has many young cousins here. All made most memorable impressions upon us. Their youthfulness, love and commitment to one another becomes evident in each generation that preceded. Here, in Lefkimi, a happy town, they learn these values as George's grandfather once did. One cousin, Little Johnny for example, has gone beyond these expectations. He is fluent in English and enjoys bicycling and playing guitar. With these interests, we were able to communicate well and find a lot in common. The light in Little Johnny’s eyes taught us an important lesson as we continue our trip across Europe. This is to approach life with enthusiasm and a youthful gaze, and whenever possible to make the attempt to get to know your family. You will learn a lot about yourself.

Week 1 : Bike Maintenance, My Cousin's Workshop

2009-07-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

My cousin Alekos is the sole proprietor of this machine shop in my grandfather’s hometown. Here we do basic bike maintenance. Behind a glass window in his office he proudly shares with us a number of patent certificates bearing his name for mechanical inventions including a skydive simulator, an olive/ branch separator and his current geothermal heating/ cooling building systems. ‘We are defined by our work,’ Alekos reminds us as John and I reflect on how the experiences of this bike trip will shape us. In this town George’s heart reminds him this is a part of where he is from. In these hills, like blood returning to the heart, I revisit this place to be rejuvenated.

Week 1 : A Greek Wedding

2009-07-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

A Greek wedding is a marvelous event. As for any wedding, its preparation and epilogue are occasions to revisit one’s family along several generations and to fill in the gaps of time. It allows for all who attend to hear stories from those who have been away, to see and hear how we are faring in the world both near and far and to reestablish the bonds that, because of time and distance may have grown weaker but have never broken. And all weddings encompass one idea- it is the confirmation of a love and commitment between two people and the opportunity of those present to affirm that commitment with them. In this particular case, I had the unique opportunity to be a guest of the Makrinos family and to observe general customs that weren’t entirely different from those to which I am accustomed. There were some glaring differences, however. I think that it's safe to say that I will never have a wedding in Ireland. Irene's was held in the northwest of Greece, in a part of the country where George’s mother and her side of the family are from. I watched as Irene's family walked her toward the chapel to Taso, who was standing in front of thr chapel with his side of the family. The ceremony was a Greek Orthodox ceremony and was spoken as such. I and cousin Steve were asked to run to the car and get the baskets of rice, which every single person there dipped their hands into. The wedding band was definitely no run-of-the-mill DJ. These guys were Greek all the way. And I learned how to step on toes with grace when dancing in the traditional line dance that seemed as if all 200 of us were in. Actually, it was more the gracious nods that I got from Elias, who was next to me in the circle of strapping young Greeks with whom I was dancing, that accompanied his pained smiles than any actual grace that I might possess. And if there is any word that I have learned so far in my travels through this fine land, and which I have used third only to "yiasas" (formal for hello/ goodbye) "eufaharisto" (thank you), it is "sthn yia mas," or "cheers!" And I suppose that at Greek weddings they fly in the prime minister, because he showed up after an evening stroll to the delight of, dare I say, most of the wedding guests. It was quite an event. It sent my mind to thinking of my own sister, how beautiful she was, the smile on my father's face as he walked her toward Peter and how proud I was that I was her brother. I could see in George's eyes, he felt the same way.

Week 1 : Arriving in Corfu, Greece

2009-07-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of the most recognizable landmarks of Corfu, Kanoni is the site where George’s sister Irene and brother- in- law Taso chose to taken their vows. The chapel is accessible only by a 2M wide footpath and is completely surrounded by water. We arrived here by morning, parking the bikes and enjoying a Heineken as the morning mist and clouds carved through the hills in the background. We wished our friends back home could see this.

Week 1 : Athens to Patras

2009-07-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

We chose to ride 2 days from Athens to Patras (Greece’s third largest city) in order to test our bike gear and get a better sense of our physical condition for the ride ahead. Experiencing the North Peloponnisus coastline firsthand meant defending ourselves through hellacious traffic out of Athens and pedaling through a most formidable headwind. It was here, though, that we first encountered crystal blue sea waters and the blank stares of local passersby. We loved every moment of it as we passed through towns with such names as Korinthos, Xilokastro and Rio. We stopped for rest a-plenty, often joking about our heavy bags and the fact that ‘John would bring the kitchen sink’ if he could.

Route Map

2009-06-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Bike-EU Charities

2009-04-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

Take action! For every $2 raised, $1 will support the ride and $1 will support the following local, regional and national causes, respectively:

Promoting Bicycling : The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is an organization whose mission is "to create a healthy, more livable region by promoting bicycling for fun, fitness, and affordable transportation; advocating for better bicycling conditions and transportation choices for a healthier environment, and educating children, adults, and motorists about safe bicycling."

Saving a National Treasure : The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) "fights for strong and effective laws and regulations, working cooperatively with government, business and citizens in partnerships to protect and restore the Bay. Legal means to force compliance with existing laws may be also be pursued by the foundation," making them a natural choice to sponsor as increased development and the encroaching 17 million people in its 64,000 square-mile watershed has put this delicate ecosystem dangerously out of balance. While we do hope to raise a substantial amount of money for the CBF, we hope more that our drawing attention to the Bay's environmental decline will greatly increase the awareness by the people of the region of a natural resource and treasure that for so long has been used with little regard to its overall enduring health.

Supporting Wounded Troops : The Face of America Bike Ride's mission is to reach out to, and actively include, service members who have been severely injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by teaming up for a two-day 110 mile bike ride from Gettysburg, PA to Washington, DC. We hope to raise enough in contributions for Bike-EU to make it possible to support the costs of a wounded service member's close friend or family member to share a participatory role in the charitable event.

Route Map Video

2009-04-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Past Tours by Riders

2009-04-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

2008 Makrinos: 60 Days, 3480 Miles from California to Delaware:
www.bicycle-across-america.blogspot.com/
www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/winter09/shorts.html
www.vtnews.vt.edu/spotlight.php?spot=342
www.rexfoundation.org/bicycleacrossamerica.html

2006 Foley: 45 Days, 2000 Miles from Kyushu to Tokyo Japan

2004 Makrinos: 35 Days, 2400 Miles Hokkaido Japan
www.filebox.vt.edu/users/gmakrino/Hokkaido/riderlog.html

Letter of Intent

2009-04-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to bike-eu.blogspot.com!

Bike-EU is an endeavor to experience Europe by bicycle on a path across the continent with the goal of raising money and awareness for three causes that are important to us. From June 23rd to August 18th we will tour the European continent on our bicycles as we travel on a 5,000-km journey from Athens, Greece to London, England. We hope you’ll be a part of the journey by helping us raise $2 per kilometer- $1 to support the ride and $1 to support the cause of your choice.

We have both individually ridden 2000+ miles in Japan- George around the northern island of Hokkaido, and John from the very south of the country to Tokyo. Last summer George also completed a cross-country ride from San Francisco to Lewes, Delaware. We are both experienced riders who intend to maintain this blog on a daily basis in order to accurately share with friends and family a daily riding log, our interactions with the people of the European continent and our thoughts, pictures and video footage of each day behind us. In short, the daily account will consistently portray the riders' real-time experiences during the journey. We look forward to hearing from you; and we do hope that we present an exciting adventure whose causes may benefit from the public's growing interest in our upcoming ride.

Kindest regards,

John Foley and George Makrinos

ROUTE MAP, July-August

2008-06-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

stage 1 : June 22 Athens Greece to Albania

stage 2 : July 2 Albania to Croatia along Adriatic

stage 3 : Slovenia half way point July 22

stage 4 : Czech Republic through Germany

stage 5 : Across English Channel to London

An Argument for Albania, 5 days before leaving

2008-06-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Our intent to ride through Albania is beginning to foster negative prejudices about Albania raising questions about our safety. These stereotypes are born of a mysterious cloud hanging over a state that not many know about. We wanted to devote an entry to share current US. Department of State sources.

"Visitors should maintain the same personal security awareness that they would in any metropolitan U.S. city. Crime against foreigners is rare in Albania, as targeting foreigners is often viewed as too risky. Medical facilities and capabilities in Albania are limited beyond rudimentary first aid treatment. Recent electricity shortages have resulted in sporadic blackouts throughout the country, which can affect food storage capabilities of restaurants and shops. Visitors should plan to purchase bottled water or drinks while in country. Albania is a cash economy. Credit cards/ ATMs accepted in major cities."

source: US Bureau of Cosular Affairs, Albania
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1076.html

It remains one of the poorest countries in Europe and was the last of the central and eastern European countries to embark upon democratic and free market reforms. Albania is currently pursuing a path of greater Euro-Atlantic integration. Tensions occasionally arise with Greece over the treatment of the Greek minority in Albania or the Albanian community in Greece, but overall relations are good. Since FY 1991, the U.S. has provided Albania with more than $616 million in assistance, not counting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food aid. The aid has served to facilitate Albania's transition from the most isolated and repressive communist state in Europe to a modern democracy with a market-oriented economy, and to support long-term development.

source: US Department of State, Albania
http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/al/