Hurting...

In times of trouble,
The pain strikes hard,
Straight to the heart of me,
Floored, by a yard...

Where did it come from,
Where will it go,
Will we survive this,
Nobody knows...

I pray for calm,
Beware the storm,
Look for the new light,
And wait for the dawn...

Heartwrenching Beauty...

It brings us together,
It keeps us apart,
We love it,
We hate it,
It tugs at our heart...

But when it falls softly and gently and slow...
We can't help but marvel,
At the wonder of snow...

When it's right to wait...

Sometimes my heart and my head are at loggerheads as to what to do...

My impulsive and emotional heart says 'Do it! Do it NOW! Everything will be fine, don't worry!'

My grounded head says 'No! You mustn't! It's not worth the risk! What if...'

Usually my head wins but sometimes, just sometimes... I wish my heart would win instead...

Another Dream Delivered...

I just passed a van on the M62... Nothing unusual in that you might think!

But this van belonged to a motorcycle company and their slogan was 'Another Dream Delivered'...

What a fantastic phrase...

Imagine what it feels like to make someones dream come true, let alone to do it again (ANOTHER dream delivered...) Wow! What a great motto!

John and I always fancied touring in Europe on a big old cruiser... I hope that this dream that will be delivered...

Stepping Stones...

Everything that happens to you in life is a stepping stone. It might be a step up or a step over but it's still a stepping stone!

If you feel like something is taking you backwards, then maybe you missed your way and need to take a different road.

Look up, smile and move on!

Life is good! :-)

Amsterdame10 - Day Two

This is the day I was looking forward to the most and now I find it is the day I am least looking forward to writing about...

The ride from the ferry at Rotterdam, to the hostel at Amsterdam, was strewn with mishaps and little did we know, as we set off in high spirits, just what the day would bring!

We awoke to the sound of the ferry's passenger announcement and didn't need much encouragement to get downstairs to breakfast! Breakfast on board is a grand affair, a massive hot buffet of anything you can think of for your plate. Also there is cereal, yoghurt and fresh fruit! Scrummy :-)

With bags packed and cabin checked for leftovers we queued our way down the stairs to get to where our bikes were safely stashed and stowed! Beside us the motorbikes were revving and raring to go... their engines growled as the offloading started and we madly honked our horns to the amusement of the bikers who waved and honked in reply...

It was soon our turn to ride off the ferry and we freewheeled down the ramp and onto Dutch soil, once again honking and cheering. Passport control were so relaxed that there was nobody there! So we cycled out of the Europort and re-grouped into our teams on the other side of the barrier! Bikes were checked and any necessary tweaking or adjustments were done... and then we were off...

Cycling along the block-paved surface, we snaked along behind Mark, finally joining the cycle track and pedalling alongside the wind turbines, standing tall and graceful along the banks of the river....

It wasn't long before the flat, easy ride we'd been looking forward to became strewn with obstacles - concrete barriers to be precise! Yes - the Dutch had decided to close the cycle track for work (the nature of which was unclear) and so we were stopped, literally, in our tracks! And yet... not to be put off and more to the point with no other known route, we decided to proceed! Yep - over we went... girls, bikes, panniers and all! There were not just one, but three of these concrete barriers! Waist high, butted up against a fence on one side and a wall on the other... the only way was up! We dismounted and one by one we climbed over and lifted the bikes up and over too... even Andy's tandem, complete with daffodil!!

Eventually, three barricades and one full height wire security fence later, we were finally able to get properly underway... Onward girls - to the ferry! Once over the river it was onwards through some gorgeous villages towards Delft..

This section is gorgeous and a pleasure for us all! We pedal swiftly along down the block-paved streets, honking our horns and calling 'hello' to the locals! We wave at the children and generally revel in good-humoured banter!

We stopped in Shuipladen (?) at about 11am for a break and to stock up on supplies, namely Mars Bars from the local supermarket! We take the chance to try and spot where we are on the map - a useful idea as we would later find out!

Soon we were off again and it wasn't long before we found another obstruction in our path - a building site! The cycle track was plainly visible, on the other side of security gates and a half-submerged crane! No way around it so we had to go through it... undeterred we managed to get the bikes around the gates and across the sand to the cycle track and then saddled up and rode off as though we did this every day...

We pedalled on though towns and villages, following the cycle tracks, occasionally stopping for a drink or a comfort break! The homes are all gorgeous, all well kept and each with their very own outside space! No matter how small the yard or how large the garden, each home has its outside space set up ....

Of course today is Saturday so there are always plenty of people out and about, sitting or pottering in the garden or otherwise going about their business! It's a really happy ride today, a good feeling! Sunshine, blue skies and good company! It wasn't long before our thoughts turned to lunch and we started looking for the familiarity of Valkenburg Meer, not realising that we were taking a different route...

We soon came to an open sandy area and headed off through sand dunes along a smooth block-paved track, passing pedestrians and cyclists and leading out into a wasteland of drifting white sand and dry grasses... The wind which had been with us all day was more noticeable here and we leaned into the wind and stepped up the effort required to pedal along...

As we cycled the team became more and more spread out... the pressure to keep going was intense and we found ourselves battling long, drawn out slopes which drained our reserves and took ages to conquer... we would finally reach the top and then sigh with dismay as yet another slope loomed before us... 

(If you look closely you can see white dots (cyclists) along the road travelling uphill from left to right!)

We pushed on, energised by the thought of lunch, trying not to think of the undulating dunes and hoping we'd be clear of them soon...

It became a struggle... both mental and physical!

Some of us found that keeping our head down was the only way to do it whilst others struggled to simply keep moving forwards... all the time heading into the gusting wind... We became too spread out to call out encouragement to keep focussed!!

At one point I could see nobody ahead of me for miles, and when I turned around there was nobody behind me either! My legs felt like lead weights and my mind was playing tricks on me... what if the track split? Which way should I go? What if I had already missed a turning? What if I was lost and they didn't notice? I had no choice but to trust myself and pedal on... believing that there were friends ahead and more friends behind...

Eventually I saw them, stopped at the side of the track, waiting for me... they were resting and waiting and the front riders had been there a while. I gratefully (and gingerly) got off my bike and straightened my aching legs... I looked back down the track and could see nobody coming up behind me... I took a long drink from my bottle (which had been hard to do whilst cycling uphill into the wind!) and had the last somewhat mangled cereal bar from my saddlebag!

Once again I looked back and saw a lone figure in the distance, Sandra, head down, battling along! She got closer and closer until she pulled in behind me... exhausted and close to tears... She looked at me and I gave her a big hug! It's surprising what a boost we get from being with the team - and how much we miss it when we get split up!

After what seemed like ages, more figures were seen in the distance and another couple of riders pulled up, followed a long way after that by Andy and the last of the team! Whilst the latest arrivals rested Andy rode forward to discuss tactics with Mark whilst we waited in the blazing sun... at least whilst we stood still, the wind was welcome!!

We set off again determined to keep up, no matter what it took! After a while we came to a junction and paused to check the way but couldn't stop long due to flying ants swarming round our ankles... we hopped back on our bikes and carried on! Mark called back that he'd had contact from Gary and we were just a short distance away from them... The other team had arrived at the lunch rendezvous and were waiting for us... This spurred us on and we pedalled along the last of the track and out onto a seaside promenade... littered with bikes and weary cyclists... it was 4.30 in the afternoon!

The van with lunch eventually arrived and its fantastic driver had to get straight off to go and meet Rich's team who were in Valkenburg waiting for their lunch too! Lunch was in a box from P and O Ferries - their lunches are always marvellous! Thank heaven today was no exception! Sandwiches, crisps, hard boiled egg with salt and pepper sachets, an apple, an orange, a cereal bar, carton of juice, a bag of 6x mini-muffins, and a danish pastry! Fantastic!! Just what we needed! God Bless P and O :-)

A decent break and a chatter was much needed to fill up our reserves of energy AND morale!

Gary's team set off first as they had arrived sooner but we soon had to ring them to ask that they wait for us... Our SatNav system wasn't working and we had no way to find where we needed to be - the map was useful to a point but not practical to cycle with and we couldn't keep stopping as it was already late in the day and we needed to make good time from here on in...

It was decided that we would join up with Gary's team and make one huge snake of bikes, with Gary at our head, Sian at our tail and with Mark and Andy at intervals in between!

Spirits lifted at once - the more the merrier was true! We set off, winding our way along the roads, turning this way and that, following faithfully until we reached the familiar sight of the canalside cycleway and the pretty little houses lined up alongside! The sky was blue, the wind had dropped (a little) and Sandra and I knew that this stretch was beautiful and easy!

'How are ya feelin.?' came the familiar cry... 'Gorgeous!' we all shouted in reply! Energy surged through the team as we charged madly forward and set a fine pace! Those who had not been with us from the start were surprised into silence!

The miles sped by as we made good time, crossing roads where necessary and stopping only when we had to! We knew that we were doing well!!

Then disaster! One of the girls collided with a bollard in the middle of the track and as she came off another girl hit her and cycled over the top of her... Sian radioed ahead and we all stopped whilst the ride guides helped to get them up and check them over... Fortunately nothing broken (riders or bikes) but a split lip to be tended! So it wasn't long before we were on our way... only to be stopped less than 10 minutes later when one of the girls, still shaken up, wobbled and came off again! She was fine, no worries, so all back on the road again...

Then we saw the aerial launch ramp at the Lifeboat Station... we had been looking out for it and having not seen it we assumed that we had passed it miles back but just not noticed!! We felt instantly deflated as we realised just how far we still had to go! We pedalled on in silence for a while... but couldn't resist the banter for long!

Soon the city advanced and the cycle track gave way to bustling streets and pavements, busy enough but thankfully quieter than usual due to the hour... One of the team had arranged to catch a train from Amsterdam to Brussels that evening and so two of the guides escorted her to the station, leaving Gary at our head and Sian at our tail...

We attract quite some attention, a long line of girls all snaking along... ;-) With Gary being the only guy with 40 girls, he got some looks too (secretly I think he liked that!).

Cycling through the Amsterdam Forest was quite surreal...

still and quiet and cool... cycling through parks and seeing people out to enjoy their Saturday evening... barbeques cooking, families having fun, children running and playing... even lovers, hoping for peace amongst the shady trees... and instead being jolted from their seclusion by a line of 40 cyclists honking horns and shouting. 'WooHoo! We see you!!!!'

Onward and onward we pedal along, quieter now, tired and just wanting to get there...

Junctions become very frought affairs, desperate to stay together and not get separated... everyone is edgy and there are a few near misses as wheels touch and we bunch up a little too close...!

Once again disaster strikes... one girl is thrown off her bike as she clips the curb. The ride guides are already with her as we pass and they wave us ahead to where the rest of the group are waiting. We all take our bikes off the cycle track and wait patiently. Some of the team have seen blood and we speculate that she might need an ambulance! We watch and worry and wait...

We are only about three miles from the hostel but we know that we must have the ride guides to continue! They can't leave her but we see them bandaging her head and wonder if she is thinking of continuing the ride? Thankfully she had been wearing a helmet when she fell otherwise this could have been much worse! The bandage makes her helmet impossible to wear so the wrapping comes off and the helmet goes on! What a girl! Brave? Foolish? Who knows but she's back on her bike and ready for off!

We are all aware of the danger we are in... exhausted, hungry, keen now just to get there in one piece! The team are on alert, adrenaline is all that's keeping us going now! We call out to each other to leave space, we call out the lights 'Green Light! Good to Go' or 'Red Light, Stopping!!' Banter is abandoned as we focus on the serious job of getting everyone there with no further mishaps!

We ride on, finally reaching the Vondelpark where we know the hostel lies... it looms up through the trees and in silent relief we ride up to the gate... Riders dismount and quiet words are exchanged... no whooping, no tears of joy, no phone calls home... in complete contrast to last years triumphant arrival...

We made it... we're here... weak smiles... and a few tears... but more of relief than of joy...

Amsterdame10 - Day One

Wow! Can you believe it? A whole year has passed (to the day!) and here I am again!

Amsterdam beckons and 60 ladies are waiting for the off! York's McArthur Glen car park is filled with bikes and bags and yellow ride shirts, the air is filled with excited chatter!

We are checked-in, de-bagged (in the nicest possible way!) and grouped together for a team photo :-)

Next we were split into teams and got ready for the off...

last year I did the ride as part of a year of challenges for my 40th Birthday so you may wonder why was I back? Well I had such a brilliant time last year and the challenge was such an achievement that I just felt compelled to join in once more... so here I was! This year my ride buddies and cabin mates were Sandra and Wendy, friends made on last years ride :-)

We just knew we would have a great time!

One by one the teams set off to cheering and air horns set off by friends and family, all gathered to see us off! So the long line of girls wound our way out into the coubntryside, along cycle lanes and tracks heading off towards Market Weighton where we were scheduled for lunch...

As we pedalled we chatted and laughs went up and down the line. It soon became obvious that one of the characters of our team was Nikki, a self-confessed loud-mouthed Scouser! She was brilliant! She kept us entertained with her banter with Mark, our front ride guide and she had us all calling out in response to her chant 'How are ya feelin'?' to which we would shout 'Gorgeous' in reply... Spirits were high as we cycled along, weaving our way through leafy lanes...

We pulled over beside a road near Seaton Ross to have a drink and check someones tyres and the break was useful to stretch legs and fingers... morale was high... Although we had pulled off the road we were wary of traffic and had various systems in place to warn each other of hazards whilst cycling, these calls often stayed with us when off the road too!

As we waited beside the road a white van was seen coming around the corner and several shouts were heard 'VAN' we called, 'It's coming FAST' I shouted and with that it hurtled around the corner, its driver fighting to stay in control... its brakes screeched as it struggled to stay on the road... we held our breath as it just managed to get around the corner without hitting us... we were angry and relieved all at once - it could have ended so badly! He was gone in the blink of an eye with nothing more than a partial plate to go on...

Shaken but determined we saddled up and rode on, thinking ahead to lunch, with Nikki calling out her chant and getting a few choice words in return!

We arrived at the pub for lunch, chips and sarnies, good job too - we were ravenous, we could have eaten the same again!! All three teams met up here to exchange banter on the journey so far and tell tales of our near miss!!

Freshly filled and ready for the off the teams set off at intervals. Our only deadline was the ferry...

Heading for Hull we followed country lanes and cycled over footbridges, we even lost our way at one point and almost found our way into some private gardens!! We had a Blair Witch experience in the woods and were sure we heard the Hound of the Baskervilles and shots being fired!

We had another mini adventure in North Ferriby but eventually found our way onto the correct road to lead us under the Humber Bridge and alongside the estuary. The dockside apartments are very smart and the block paved walkways make for easy riding. We fly past The Deep and cross over steel walkways which link the areas on both sides of the waterways.

Before long the gleaming white ferry comes into view and we are spurred along... 'How are ya feelin'?' Nikki shouts... 'Gorgeous' we yell in reply! Faster we ride, along and around, with every push of the pedals bringing us closer to our overnight rest...

At last we make it and find ourselves lined up at Passport Control alongside some fabulous Harley Davidson motorbikes! Their gleaming chrome and immaculate paintwork testimony to the pride of their riders...

Finally they agreed to allow us out of the country so we pedalled furiously up the long and winding ramp onto the ferry... what a climb but we made it - without stopping! And honked our horns wildly at the joy! Bikes locked and safely stowed we claimed our baggage from the support van and went off to find our cabins...

Get fed, get settled and get some sleep was the order of the evening... after a stroll on deck and a bevvy in the bar of course!

ONE Sleep...

ONE Sleep?
What happened to TWO sleeps?
I'm sure I've missed a day somewhere!

Well yesterday was a busy one but I should have made time for a quickie!

Anyway, at least my bike has had a once over at the bike shop, the majority of everything is packed (apart from really last minute stuff!) and I think... dare I say it... I'm ready!

The rain has given way to sunnier skies and although it's a little blustery I'm quietly confident for a good trip! (Excluding, of course, the hill at Brantingham which will, once again force me to abandon my pedaling and bear the shame of walking up!).

So, tomorrow we're off!
Am I excited? Oh yes!
Will I miss everyone? Hell yes!!
So why am I going?

Because it's an amazing adventure and because we wanna raise some good money for this superb charity!

Please support me online at www.justgiving.com/amsterdame10  just quote 'poshpinkblog' in the message box! Thankyou!

I will be blogging and tweeting my way around (follow me on Twitter 'Poshpinkellie').

So, one sleep left... Better make it a good one!

Wish me luck :-)

Three Sleeps...

OMG! What is there still to do before Friday?

1) Ride my bike to the bike shop for final tweaking and pumping!

2) Final gathering of all required washkit and medication... cos you know you're gonna be the one that everyone asks cos they expect you to have what they need!

3) Frantic accumulation of enough unerwear and socks to last the five days, now taking into account the possibility that we will be soaking wet and need changes of socks several times per day!

4) Secret hoarding of Haribo and Tangfastics without the kids knowledge...

5) Last minute currency swap (at the Post Office probably cos they're closest)!

... My head is spinning now so I'm off before it explodes! Lol ;-)

Four Sleeps...

Well it's that time again! Just FOUR SLEEPS to go and I'll be setting off once more on the cycling challenge that is Amsterdame10!

A round trip of 250 miles from York to Amsterdam and back again by bicycle! There are 60 of us going again this year and we are hoping to raise £30,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care - it looks like we're halfway towards our total already!

The bike is getting its final tweaks at the bike shop in Wednesday and my packing is gonna have a damn good go at getting packed on Wednesday too! Lol ;-)

I'm determined not to have the same luggage issues as last year when I took 'one small holdall' as instructed and carried everything else in my panniers on my bike! Never again! Everyone else had brought a much larger bag and carried nothing on their bike!! This year that will be me! Lol!!

Watch this space...

When You Just Know...

Sometimes you just know when you buy a new top that it's gonna look just fab!

Well imagine my excitement when I found just such a top in a fifteen minute shopping spree to find something to wear for Saturday night!

It's design means that it is perfectly suited to big boobs (not all tops are!) and I just knew I would love it! More to the point - I knew my man would love it too!

So, I tried it on tonight with the skirt and shoes I plan to wear for Saturday night... OMG I love it!

The whole outfit makes me feel sexy and sassy and it had just the right effect on hubbie too!

Roll on Saturday night! ;-)

The Penny Drops...

I've just had a lightbulb moment!

You know when somebody says something that makes you feel like a light has been switched on?

Well all those jobs which have been plaguing me for months are now under threat!

I'm gonna make a list (lists are the saviour of the Common Man don't you think?) of all of those jobs and stick it to the door! THEN I'm gonna do ONE JOB every night!

They are mainly small jobs and should take no more than half an hour each but I'll feel good that things are getting done and once I start something then it doesn't matter if it takes more than half an hour because for me it's the 'getting started' that's the hardest part!!

Of course once I've done a few I'll feel really good and that should push me to do more...

Right, where's my pen...

Fight Back...

Sometimes, when you allow yourself to dream... plans get made! Plans cause excitement and energy builds...

You go to bed on a high, full of hope and ideas, almost unable to sleep, wanting to start the wheels in motion...

The morning comes and you're full of anticipation! You get out of bed... and life smacks you in the face!

You shelve the ideas, curb the excitement and bank the energy! Suddenly there seems so much do to that all the good stuff gets set aside... postponed... cancelled...

Well sometimes you have to let yourself be selfish!

Sometimes you have to make those plans and follow through BEFORE you hit the ground... BEFORE you lose that energy and BEFORE you lose the will...

Grasp that energy...
Make those plans...
Live Your Life!

Vita-life!!

I was just thinking back to my weekend in Margate and the fun that Caitlin and I had with a man and his theodolite..

They are building a brand new art gallery in Margate - The Turner Gallery - costing £10m.

As we walked along the sea front we found three theodolites, one on each side of a T-junction. As we walked past one I noticed that it was unattended and thought I'd take the chance to look through it - I've always wanted to know what you can see!

As I looked through I noticed that its opposite partner - the theodolite across the junction - had a man looking back at me!! Thinking I might be in trouble I quickly stepped aside but then in a flash of wickedness I decided to give him something to look at and threw my boobs into his line of vision!

He looked up stunned and we dashed away laughing!

Life just gets better with age :-)

I am braver now than I have ever been!
I have seen more now, than I have ever seen!
I will dare to try that which I never dared,
I will stand tall and and dare to be dared!

I will push myself and drive my will,
I will look forward and time will tell,
I can do anything,
I can achieve,
All that it takes
Is that I believe...

To Be or Not To Be...

That is the question!

If something is meant to be then I truly believe it will happen. Whether it happens on my timescale or not is another matter! But then they say 'Patience is a Virtue' Lol ;-)

Fate has contrived events of all kinds and if Fate has a hand in my future, as I'm sure she does, then I open my arms and welcome her!

Where to Sit on a Train?

So, here I am sitting on a train to Margate! I'm off to visit my life-long buddy Caitlin for the weekend! Yipppee!!
The train from Selby was absolutely packed and I am so pleased that I reserved my seat!
Every place was taken so heaven knows where (if anywhere) I would have sat otherwise!!
Anyway, the train from Kings Cross to Margate is so far almost empty... but therein lies the problem!
If a carriage is almost empty - where do you sit?
Obviously not anywhere near the odd looking guy with greasy hair and staring eyes!
Moving down the almost empty carriage there are only two sets of seats with tables. I like sitting on trains with tables!
But what if the train fills up and someone else wants to sit at the table too? What if they smell bad (like the lady on the last train with strong perfume!)? What if they want to talk all the time?
So, should I sit in a 'two' seat? There is less space but it is less likely to attract a fellow passenger - and I could always drop down the mini-table and pretend it's bigger!!
But there are so few people on the train... and I am one of the first ones here... so why shouldn't I have a table seat?
I decide to be brave and I boldly park my suitcase under the table and park my bum in the aisle seat beside it!
There!
By sitting in the aisle seat I decide that I am effectively blocking the window seat beside me and therefore if the train does start to fill up at least I have a chance of keeping some reasonable space around me!
So, we're off! The train is still reasonably empty and I have a table all to myself!
I am sitting back watching the green fields fly past in the spring sunshine (well actually we're in a tunnel at the moment but it didn't sounds as good!).
But my lovely cuppa from the ever-so-chatty lady in Pret is just grand! And it's also my first one of the day so even more welcome :-)
The sunshine really is streaming in through the windows now... I'm enjoying this!
Fancy! I could have been all cramped up in a two-seat! Lol :-)

(Not so...) Fabulous Footwear!!

Shoes!! Why do we need shoes??

Having a very important day to attend on Sunday I found myself caught up in the infinite frustration of a fab outfit spoilt only by the lack of appropriate footwear!!

I felt justified in purchasing something suitable but the trouble was I couldn't find exactly what I wanted so I compromised!

Sadly, shoes are one thing which should never be compromised!

Of the three pairs I bought (the intention being to choose one and return the rest) I chose a pair to wear and another to take with me in case of desperation... I know myself too well!

The shoes were fine for almost an hour but then I couldn't stand it any more! They were tight on my toes and rubbing! When I finally reached desperation point I resorted to the other pair but they were even worse!! Aaarrrggghhh! Frustration!! The pain was unbearable!!

I had no choice but to struggle on in the ones I was wearing but given the faces I was trying not to pull, I had to simply walk slowly, with a kind of fixed grin and not talk! Any attempt to speak would have been punctuated by 'ooch' and 'ouch' and would have totally given the game away! I had to try my hardest to maintain my demeanour and it was getting harder all the time!

By the end of the day I was wandering barefoot round the restaurant - throwing decorum out of the window - everyone was (I hope!) too drunk to notice!!

Unfortunately when the time came to leave, it was raining! I tried but was forbidden from parading barefoot through Birmingham city centre...

... barefoot by car though and home again...

If only I had chosen fabulous, expensive shoes I never would have looked back...

Note to Self: Shoe Shopping is a serious business!!

I'd rather give it a go than never know...!

You know that advert... the one where they sit in the car looking out at the wild and windy seashore before ripping off their clothes and running free as a bird through the sand dunes... and then run straight into the freezing cold water laughing and screaming...

Wouldn't it be great? Really? I mean yes it would be freezing but as long as you had a good supply of dry towels and plenty of warm clothes to put on after ... then why not?

You would need a deserted (or at least sparsely populated!) beach though!

Anyone fancy it?

Give it a Go in the ..
Watch the ad...

Resolutions!!!

Well so much for mobile blogging! Not so much as a sausage since I signed up for that gadget!!

My New Years Resolution... blog more :-)

I can't believe my last entry was 22nd November - Christmas has come and gone and New Years too - madness! All madness! Great, fun and sometimes highly stressful madness but madness all the same!

Now I'm back in the land of work, the kids are back at school and once again I have a small chance to do what I need to do instead of doing other bits and pieces which result in my day feeling wasted!!

I resolve to plan, to do and then to plan again!!

Happy New Year :-)

Jeronimo!!!!!!

This is it! Today is the day of my Triple Whammy Adrenaline Experience at Magna, Rotherham! I've made John close the gallery for the day so he can come and watch me and the kids are banned from their own activities - they have to come and watch too!

I have to check in at 2.30pm ready to start at 3pm and we make a good start by arriving early, an hour early! So, we take the advice of the guy on the desk who suggests that we go and watch the jumpers for a bit before checking in!

Oh boy! The Abyss is sooooo big! It's high and wide and dark with video screens and music playing and people throwing themselves off a gantry 150 feet in the air!!!!! With shouting from the floor and screams from above it was a hell of an introduction to my afternoons entertainment!

We stood for a few minutes, watching and then returned to check-in. The queue wasn't huge but it did seem to take ages! The anticipation was building and it reminded me of the time in Playtex City before the start of the Moonwalk.. waiting and waiting with the pit in your stomach getting bigger and bigger and just wanting the whole thing to get started!

The line of intrepid souls didn't seem to move very quickly and it took 40 minutes to reach the front where I signed away my right to blame them if anything went wrong...

It was about now that I had a moment of crisis... I hadn't brought any spare contact lens - what if they fell out??

I walked back into the darkness and the music looking for the way to the zip wire - the first of my three challenges!


John and the kids were allowed to stay with me and so  together we made our way up a flight of stairs and along to where I was taken aside and strapped into a harness ready for the slide of my life!

Once I was suitably strapped up by a suitably strapping young man, then checked over by another... I was led, along with three fellow sliders, along corridors and down stairwells to where we would climb narrow stairs up into the roof the the mighty old steelworks...

I can't remember the name of the guy whose job it was to see us off but he laughingly told us that he had just had two nine year old girls do this and we had better not bottle out!! I remember thinking that it had to be easier to just do it rather than squeeze back along the narrow stairs and find your way back!

The zip wire was 250 feet long and stretched away into the darkness. Below we could see the faces of friends and family waiting and watching... it was soon my turn. The guy in charge was chatty and reassuring as he checked over my harness and hooked me onto the relevant straps and explained what to do, pretty easy really - just hang on, step off and enjoy the ride! So I did!

It was so quick that I blinked and almost missed it! The speed was said to be almost 35 miles per hour and I must admit it did feel fast but it was only moments before I came to a swinging halt at the end of the line... Fab! That was good! Not scarey at all and I even thought it a bit tame! Bring on the abseil...

The abseil was a little different. I needed a new harness, strapped on by yet another suitably strapping young man... and once again checked out by another... this was proving to be a good afternoon ;-)

This time with gloves to protect my hands on the rope, I was pointed in the direction of a staircase, a steel tread staircase made up of  many flights of stairs. Each landing had a message - 'you are about to throw yourself 150 feet into the abyss', or something equally daunting! Each flight of stairs was harder on the legs and with muscles aching and getting short of breath I finally made the landing... only to be advised that I was only halfway at 76 feet and had to keep on going!!

Climbing and climbing, onwards and upwards, knowing that the quickest way down was the rope! At the last landing I was faced with a vertical ladder with a curved cage around it - up I went and there I was! 150 feet up on a steel gantry made of gridiron with gaps big enough to lose a 10p piece! Look down and you saw the height, look over and you could see the height - there was no escape!!

But there was Dave - the friendly face on the abseil. Smiling and asking had I done this before? I briefly explained how I had chickened out of a similar challenge in my early teens and felt the need to repent!  He laughed and told me not to worry - its easy! In fact don't think about it, it's a no-brainer!

Step by step he hooked me safely onto the platform and let me through the gate. He checked over my harness - they are very thorough! It was all very reassuring - he was attached, I was attached, he hooked me one hook at a time onto the overhead arrangement which I would use to lower myself to the ground, 150 feet below...

Hold on here he said, arm by your side, ease your grip on the rope to slide faster but don't let go...

I leaned out over the side and gingerly let one leg dangle off the platform, that was it, no going back now, 'that's great' he said 'off you go!' and down I went. I had wondered whether I would swing about, having no wall to push again with my legs, this was a free-fall abseil! I was also worried that I wouldn't have enough strength in my arm to support me but it was all fine and I managed what I thought was a very controlled descent - see, I even know the lingo :-)

So, back to the harness area for a re-fit, before the power fan! I got strapped up by a girl this time, with another young man for afters! Once again I headed for the stairs, up and up I climbed, mental preparation made no difference - it was still a long way!

It's a good job the power fan is last! I was the most nervous for this and pretty sure I would have bottled out had it had been first!

Eventually I make it back up to the top, the vertical ladder again, hanging on and hauling myself up! I walk along the gantry to the bench where the bungee jumpers are waiting. They are with a group jumping for children in need and have raised £1k between them!

I wait my turn and a girl is strapped up for bungee and really doesn't want to do it... I feel for her and am glad that it's not me! After cheering from below and encouragement from her friends she allows herself to be gently pushed off! She screams all the way down but she's fine and her friends are really proud!!

My turn to walk past the bungee point to where the power fan is rigged. The bungee guy tries to make me do the bungee but I resist! Along the gantry the power fan kicking in loudly at intervals enough to make you jump (pardon the pun!). I chat with Gary, a fellow jumper, and am surprised to find myself actually rather calm! I'm not afraid to look down and can see John and the kids far below me. I find myself bopping to the music - I can't help it! I'm excited and shout a loud 'woohoo' everytime someone jumps!!

It's Ian next, my power fan guy. He asks how I'm feeling and I tell him I'm feeling pretty relaxed, considering! Like the rest he is chatty and reassuring. He asks me how come I'm doing this and I explain my 40th challenges and tell him briefly about Amsterdam, the Moonwalk and my naked photos! Am I getting brazen or what??

Ian checks my harness and does the hook-on-hook-off thing, making sure I'm safely strapped to the overhead motorised cable which will kick in a few feet from the floor to ease my landing!

I step to the edge... And I'm off! I scream 'WooooooHooooo' and before I've finished shouting the fan kicks in and I'm on my bum on the floor! I've landed already! The catcher guy helps me up off the floor and grins at me as he undoes my harness! I think I butted him with my helmet but he says he's fine!

It's been amazing! Truly uplifting! I feel confident and able to do anything - apart from a bungee - well, not today anyway...

I hope I've inspired my kids to have a go at something like this and Isaac has already said I was awesome :-)

I loved it... But the adrenaline didn't last long! What's next? :-)

Now I've got no excuse!

I've just set up mobile blogging :-)

Now I've got no excuse!!

No! That's not me!

How bizarre! I just logged in to my blog to see what was my last entry (forgetting how long ago it had been!!) and saw the photo of me as I used to be ... aaarrrggghhh! Scarey!!

That's not me at all - at least I don't feel like it's me! I look so different! Although I did find myself trying to adjust my non-existent glasses the other day!

I much prefer my 'new' self ... although she's not getting much of an outing these days... grand ideas get squished when you wake up and life just smacks you in the face!!

The reason I clicked onto my blog in the first place was reading an email from Leigh, the photographer who did my naked shoot a year ago last September... He and his wife have had some shots taken of themselves for a couples shoot - a new product! Click on this link and see what you think...

Mighty Aphrodite Naked Photo Shoot for Couples...

Would you dare...? I would!

So... will I do?

Wow! Has it really been a year? A whole 12 months since I turned 40??

What an amazing year!

At the beginning of last summer I had a shaggy shapeless mop of hair and had been wearing glasses since the age of seven!

I was a busy working Mum with no time for myself and had been that way for over fifteen years!!

2005

So what is new?

Well... my haircut is new! My contact lens are new! My wardrobe has taken a leap of faith and won and... I even own make-up!!

So what happened? My daughter happened that's what!

We both loved watching Gok Wan and we love his way of changing a girls clothes and making her look again at the way she sees herself.

As my 40th birthday approached I could only focus on the number - it was everywhere, overshadowing everything! I became obsessed with my age and everything else paled into insignificance!

Eventually, my 15 year old daughter Emily suggested that I should have a new haircut and lose the glasses!

So I did!

She came with me to the hairdressers and the hair went! Well not all of it but alot of it! I loved it! Why didn't I do this years ago??

Next I saw the optician and had a contact lens trial which went so well that I started wearing them full-time and haven't looked back since!

After that came the shopping - oh yeah! It's what girls do best!! Previously I had been a frustrated shopper, looking for clothes which covered me up and hid the parts I didn't want to show! But now... I looked for tops which showed my shape, and wasn't afraid of wearing things a little tighter instead of simply picking a larger size!! I tried high heel shoes and it felt good - really good!

I even bought make-up and used it!

The absolute icing on the cake for me was when I went to Reading, got naked in front of a stranger and had him take photos of me! It was the wildest, most scarey thing I had ever done but it was great!!


My confidence soared and I started thinking about my life and about other things I wanted to do...!

I have had many opportunities in my life and I'm ashamed to say that I have passed many of them over through lack of confidence. Missed adventures simply because I was too scared to try!

What did I miss out on? You wanna know what? Well, the biggie, for me was missing out on a weeks sailing trip on a tall masted rigger when I was in the Sea Cadets. I had the chance to sail for a week on T.S. Royalist but they wouldn't let me go when I said I didn't like heights - one of the tasks aboard would be to climb the mast and rig the sails... I regret to this day ever letting on that I was scared!

Another time we were on a camping trip and I had the chance to go abseiling... once again I chickened out for fear of the height! It wasn't even a high one!! What was it with me??

So I decided... I was gonna take the bull by the horns and make my 40th year one to remember!

Life begins at 40 right?

So I wrote a list - yes there is an actual list!

WHAT DID I DO? Oh My God - LOADS!! I don't think I can even remember stuff!
Go Windsurfing - I did this for my birthday on 7th September 2008 - Great fun but Gary had the patience of a Saint!
London Theatre Trip - John took me to see 'Jersey Boys' September 2008, it was a brilliant show and a fantastic start to my year!
Do the Playtex Moonwalk - On 16-17th May 2009 I completed the 26.2 mile power walk and raised £375.50 for Breast cancer Charities!
Amsterdame09 - In June 2009 I cycled 250 miles from York to Amsterdam and back and raised £651.50 for Marie Curie Cancer Care
Great Yorkshire Show - I went for the first time ever and spent the day taking photographs - doesn't sound much to some but I loved it!!

WHAT HAVEN'T I DONE? (Yet...!)

Walk up Snowden - maybe combined with white water rafting??
Abseil Down the Humber Bridge - This is no longer allowed but I do have an abseil challenge planned to replace it!
Attend a Rock Concert - This is definitely gonna happen!!
Have a go on a Climbing Wall - not done yet - its gonna be scarey but I'll do it!
Lose a stone in weight - not holding my breath for this one but you never know!
Indoor Sky-Diving - I haven't done this yet but I will - in fact this is looking like it might be a family trip :-)
Walk the Catbells - a weekend in the Lake District should do it!
Nightclubbing - just never had the opportunity!
Be at the London Eye for New Year 2009 - no tickets booked yet but let's see!!

So, the highs... were the highest, the low was sooo low (there was only one - Battersea Park at about 2.30am on the morning of Sunday 17th May 2009 - but it got better!) - MY WHOLE YEAR WAS AMAZING!!





Thanks John - you have been such a rock in supporting me throughout all of this! I love you I have only one thing left to say ... There ain't no stopping me now!!

New Gadget!

I've just added a new gadget to my blog! It's an Opinion Poll at the bottom of each entry which allows you to click 'like', 'cool' or 'interesting'...

So click, click away, click, click away :-)

PS If you want to read further updates then why not become a follower - then you'll get an email when I do a new entry :-)

Amazing Amsterdame09 - Day Five :-)

For the second time this week we awoke to a multi-lingual (steady now!) greeting and knew it was time to make a move!

This was it - the last day! The final leg of our journey home and the last installment of the adventure!

Time to pack our panniers one more time - funny how we paid less attention to how we stashed it all away!! One more breakfast (they were good breakfasts!), and one more trip down to Deck 7 with all our stuff!!

Upon arriving back at the bikes we saw the carefully tied rope knots and were reminded that we had been expecting a less than calm crossing - we exchanged glances and shrugged, nobody had noticed a thing!

Once again we waited our turn to ride down the ramp, not quite the same without those motorbikes to honk at! We slowly rode down the ramp, the queue at the bottom meant we had to practically stop halfway down!! Shame! No wheee for us today!!

It felt really good to be checking in at British passport control - we had grins on our faces and knew we were one step closer to home! We couldn't wait to get going!

The weather back in the UK was a little dubious as we headed back inland. Once again we carried our bikes over that two storey steel staircase, we rode along the iron walkway, daring to look down into the murky depths, we passed the rocky rubble and reached the Halfords car park - but no Starbucks today!

As the path narrowed I remembered only too well those horrid nettles! I told myself that today, on this last day, I would just ride for my life! So I did! Straight along the path, straight through the nettles, as fast as I could, never daring to look down, on and on they went, seeming higher than before. I waited for stings and pain in my legs and arms but nothing came...

As we came out into the open we slowed and stopped, waiting for everyone else to catch up... I looked down at my legs and saw that they were red, as were my arms, covered all over in raised lumps, nettle stings! We all were! Adrenaline must have kept the pain at bay!

We regrouped and set off again along the open track, leaving the Humber Bridge behind us! Our first break of the day would be back at Brantingham but before we got there we had to tackle one almighty hill!!

After cycling on complete flat this was a massive reality check! The hill was steep and very long and the group soon split into those who went racing off ahead and those who stayed in the 'slow and steady' camp!

The road levelled off and I breathed a sigh of relief... until I realised that the hill continued around the bend and just kept going up...! I felt the energy drain from my legs and I focused on the tarmac beneath my front wheel... I grimaced with effort as my leaden legs pushed against the pedals... I was still moving but at such a slow rate I was amazed I hadn't fallen off!

I got slower and slower...and slower... and had to stop! It just wasn't possible to keep pedalling... I got off my bike and walked... but I wasn't alone... we had cycled so far over the last few days... and somehow it didn't feel like failure!

Finally we reached the top but we knew we were not the last and we looked behind us for signs of the last of our team...

Jaynes helmet rose into sight and she slowly pedalled - yes PEDALLED - into view! She had stayed on her bike the whole way up that darned hill! Every foot of tarmac, every bend in the road, she had stayed on her bike for every inch of it! What a woman! We whooped, honked and cheered for all we were worth! Way to go Jayne!

From that high we cycled the short distance to the Triton pub at Brantingham. It looked very welcoming with its large canopies and familiar benches. We rode in and dismounted... and heard a shout from Lianne! As she cycled round a bench to park up she had hit her ankle on its corner, it was very painful and started swelling almost immediately! All this way without incident and now this... out came the ice-packs and she laid it up on the bench to rest!

Teas and coffees were very welcome and the landlord was very pleased to see us again. In fact he insisted upon taking a group photo in front of the pub before we left.

By the time we set off the temperature had dropped and a few of us had donned our waterproof jackets... wet and cold just didn't appeal! From here on in the route followed along country roads and we cycled along in groups happily chatting away! On the very next pause I took off my waterproof which had proved unnecessary and I also took the chance to ring home and tell John about the landlords photo - he said he'd check the website for us!

Yet again we were making excellant speed, heading towards Howden for our lunch! Sometimes when the road was busy we had to stay in single file but mostly we were able to chat and we were back to our habit of moving up and down the line, chatting and then moving along...

Howden soon came upon us and we cycled into the car park of the pub. There was plenty of space but no racks of course so we leaned the bikes against the wall, sometimes 3-4 deep, and locked them with multiple bike locks!

Our early arrival caused a little consternation however as the chips weren't due to be ready until 1.30pm and although the sandwiches were visible, covered up on trays, they wouldn't serve us until the chips were done!! We still had 45 minutes to wait!! We were sooo hungry!

With it being the last day I allowed myself a lunchtime drink (I know, quite the daredevil!). One fruit cider later (!) and the chips were finally ready - we made a bee-line for the food! It didn't last long though and Rich had to ask them for more!!

Next door to the pub is Candy Andy's - well known as a most amazing sweetie shop! As word spread the girls popped out and Candy Andy's rapidly filled up with ladies happily stuffing paper bags with goodies galore and liquorice sticks of every colour!!

With sweets safely stored it was time to hit the road but not before I had a call from John to say that the landlord from the Triton had indeed put up the photograph of us on his website and a lovely write-up too :-)

Helmets on, locks off and we honked for all we were worth... locals must have wondered what on earth was going on!!

The route to York from Howden was a convoluted one and the road we took held a surprise for one of our team... a lady ran out with her baby to say hello as word reached her we were passing by, tears welled up from most of us as they hugged.

The road led on along familiar territory, a route I had cycled with my children, a route which I knew would pass through my village, within yards of home, at a time when I knew my daughter would be there...

Next time we paused I quickley rang and she said she would come out to see us...

Along the riverbank we cycled, through gates and stiles, in single file, until we grouped at last to take the village!

The team were great, and knowing how excited I was to see my girl again, they put me at the front...

From the back I heard... give me an 'E'... give me an 'M'...give me an 'I'...'L'...'Y'...

...and then there she was, my beautiful girl, sitting by the church, she stood to meet us and I almost dropped my bike in my haste to hug her! I wrapped my arms around her and held on tight! I had missed her so much and this adventure, this amazing, challenge had made me realise just what I could be and I just wanted to share it with her...

'Hey Em...' Lisa called and Emily went to hug her, 'and me' called Lianne... 'and me' called Jayne... she hugged them all! Tears flowed and the lump in my throat was huge!! One more brief hug and we set off again, she would be there tonight...at the finish!!

I was on such a high! With renewed energy I pedalled on, fighting back the tears! I felt so proud, what a fantastic day! I waved at my friend passing by in her car, I waved at Ron, sitting as always by the window in his house... what a day!

We cycled on to the next village and honked at the people we saw, we waved and cheered and honked some more!! What a rush!!

The plan was for all three teams to meet up at The Drovers Inn, Skipwith, so that we could cycle to York as one team! We were the first to arrive at the pub and felt like we deserved a treat so we four bought a bottle of Rose between us and enjoyed it outside in the sunshine!

Sadly Skipwirth would be the last stop of the journey for Lianne as she had to travel to Manchester that night... she would not be able to finish the ride with us! We had come so far, had such good times, shared such fun and such laughter... it seemed so unfair!

As we sipped our rose a silver car pulled into the car park, it was Russ come to collect Lianne. We left her to have her own reunion and then we all piled in for hugs too! It was definitely share and share alike when it came to hugs on this ride! She had been fantastic company and her presence at the end would be missed!

While she was loading her bike and luggage into the car we plotted a fond farewell and as Russ drove her away he had to pass through two lines of girls, all in daffodil yellow, all clapping and cheering and waving her off... I don't know if she was crying, but I know I was!!

Friends and family had been briefed to expect us back at McArthur Glen at about 6pm but Rich warned us that we were likely to be there early! We all made hasty phone calls to alert those who needed to know!

A photo call was made and Rich gathered up all the cameras while we posed as a team in front of the pub. His arm was weighed down with cameras and we all sat grinning until everyones camera had a photo taken on it! Thanks Rich x

Now this time when we set off we really did look a sight - 54 of us, cycling along, singing any tune which happened to come in our heads, even a part of a tune or a chorus would be enough to get us all joining in! We had 'You'll Never Walk Alone' amongst others, and 'Here Come the Girls' which seemed to have become a kind of anthem for the trip!

What with singing and the honky horns you would have thought it was Day One not Day Five :-) The energy was amazing and we were fair racing along...

As we approached McArthur Glen we stopped just a little way before the car park... adrenaline was pumping and we were singing 'Dancing Queen' at the tops of our voices... just around the corner family and friends were waiting and we could barely contain ourselves...

Rich said a few words at this point but for the life of me I can't remember what they were!! I was so excited, so proud, so energised, so happy... so many emotions all at once...

Well, we rode into that car park like we'd been away for a month! We honked, and cheered, and woohoo'd our way into the car park as fast as we could pedal!! Everyone cheered and clapped and waved and we all just dropped our bikes and ran to hug everyone!!

The din was incredible but the atmosphere was electric! Everyone was hugging and crying and it was the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of! Family and friends now gave way to team-mates and girls were hugging each other... there was much back slapping and signing of shirts... we were all on such a high!

John had brought with him six bottles of champagne and it wasn't long before there were scenes reminiscent of a Grand Prix win! Champagne was being sprayed everywhere and over everyone! Balloons were bouncing around and we were all buzzing!!

Team photos were needed and we all posed in rows whilst cameras clicked from every direction! In a moment of madness Lisa grabbed a bottle of champagne and ran between the ride guides pouring it over their heads!! We all screamed with laughter and the moment was priceless!

One by one people started to leave, some were being driven home, some had to drive themselves, some had just a short way to go but others had miles before they got home... all of us thinking the same...

What a fantastic thing we had done! We had just reason to be proud of ourselves and for me it was the biggest, and the best thing I have ever taken part in!

I loved it, every minute of it! And I would do it again in a heartbeat :-)



We rode from York to Amsterdam,
All the way there and back again,
We had good times, we made good friends,
We wished the journey would never end ...

We came together from near and far,
To challenge ourselves and raise the bar,
Raising money, the means to an end,
Teams irrelevant now! Just friends!

Amazing Amsterdame09 - Day Four :-)

Day Four - Amsterdam to Rotterdam, the homeward journey begins!

It was hard to believe that this fantastic journey was already coming to an end! Not that we were home yet, far from it, but we were starting our return journey and for many of us it felt like the beginning of the end.

With our panniers full and the room left empty, we trooped downstairs to claim our bikes and get them packed up and ready to go. We clamoured for the pump to gas up the tyres and once again excited chatter filled the air!

One by one the teams assembled ready for the off! We wished each other well for the days first leg... the teams wouldn't meet again until lunchtime!

We set off the way we had come, through the trees and along the paths of Fondel Park. This time there were no family barbeques, no music, and no children playing. It was Monday morning and the rush hour was upon us!

Rush hour in Amsterdam is so different to the UK - their rush hour is busy with bikes! Loads of them, everywhere you look! They ride along the woodland paths as if it's a highway! Dressed to impress the riders wear business suits and we even saw a briefcase balanced on the handlebars!

Ladies in chique long skirts and fitted jackets seemed to pedal effortlessly along with surprising speed! It was quite surreal! They of course knew exactly how to use the road and who should give way to whom at crossroads... we didn't and there were a couple of near misses - which were only misses because the Dutch cyclists were so adept at manoevering!!

Once out of the park we found ourselves back on the streets, weaving in and out of the traffic and watching for stop lights which broke up our lines!

As we left the bustle of the city behind we rode along without break or interruption. Back along the canalside, cycling once again past those immaculate houses... but this time there was nobody to honk at! No smiling faces sitting in the sun, no happy laughter from families messing about in boats!

In fact one of the few people we saw that morning was a skater, in-line skating his way along our length, passing us at speed and then coming back in the other direction! It seemed he was using this stretch of road as his track and he glided smoothly along exchanging hellos as he went! We must have passed him several times in each direction before we were off his training route...

We stopped at the small cafe we'd found on the way in and were glad to stop for tea! I was having a gloves issue resulting in tingling fingers, a problem I'd not felt before, so was pleased to take them off! I left them off when we got going again but wished I hadn't as the pressure on my palms wasn't good! I put them quickly on again at the first opportunity!

Back through the towns and along the canals, looking for the familiar sight that was Valkenburg Meer. And then there it was! We had made excellant time and the water was as blue and sparkling as it had been that first time! This time we were first to arrive and we had the pleasure of honking and whooping as the other teams rode in :-)

Soon we were all together again, sitting, chatting and munching :-)

An hour passed and lunch was done and it was time to set off again! Honky horns sounded as we waved and cheered! Pedalling ferrywards! Passing open countryside and windmills as we went...

The afternoon was kind to us and the sun shone brightly. Occasionally we had shelter from the canopy of trees but often the sun was relentless on our backs!

It didn't feel at all like we were speeding along but once again we made good time and we surprised ourselves as we arrived in Delft for afternoon tea!

Perfect! Sitting in the sunshine outside a small cafe, enjoying coffee and cake, chatting with friends - how amazing is this??

After what felt like ages we had to hit the road again, heading closer to Rotterdam and the ferry home...

We had just nine miles to go to reach the small ferry, then another nine miles to the big one! As we pedalled on there were more and more people about and the honky horns ruled once more!

Bikes once again prevailed as we saw students leaving school. They asked questions and wished us good luck. At one point we were cycling along a narrow path, bordered on both sides by green fields. The path was obviously a popular route home from school and as we passed a line of boys, cycling in the opposite direction, they held up their hands and we hit high-fives as we passed!

Soon the familiar red brick roads came into view and once again we rode along quiet residential streets, just the occasional honk this time to an unsuspecting bunch of workers paving the road!

The houses soon disappeared and we found ourselves alongside the turbines, slowly turning way above our heads! Under the underpass, winding around, we knew we were close... and then there it was...the ferry terminal with the Pride of Rotterdam gleaming in the sunshine!

Being the first to arrive and needing everyone present before checking in, we decided that the only course of action was to find a pub! So we did! There was plenty of outside seating and it gave us chance to sit and relax with a great vantage point for when the other two teams rode in!

The buzz was huge! The other customers realised they were being invaded and so we soon had the patio to ourselves! We chatted and laughed and took photos! We rang home and passed the news!

Now I had one more challenge to face before the day was over! The ferry ramp! It had beaten me at Hull and now I was determined to get all the way up, on my bike, pedalling ALL THE WAY!

Passport control wasn't too bad and we got through without incident. I took a deep breath and started pedalling! The ramp is a killer! It is so steep and that bend halfway just about finished me off! I just kept pedalling, forcing my feet to push one at a time! It felt like I was going so slowly that I would just wobble off!! But somehow I made it! WooHoo!! I honky-honked the ferryman at the top - he must have thought I was crackers!

As we unloaded the bikes we were told to lash them to the railings with the rope which was sitting in bundles along the row. We looked at each other and guessed we were in for a rough crossing!

We collected our baggage and made our way from Car Deck 7 up to Cabin Deck 10. Different cabin but same beds and same routine!

Showered and changed and ready for tea we headed to the restaurant. 'Do you know what?' we asked ourselves, 'WE DESERVE CHAMPAGNE!' and why not? We ordered not one but TWO bottles of bubbly and had the waiter serve it at the table...

The meal was excellant and we were truly stuffed! Too full really to go dancing but somehow we managed it :-) The showbar was where we headed next and a great gaggle of girls (with the occasional ride guy) made for great company! The chatter went on until the early hours, making good use of the time difference (we gained an hour going back!).

I headed off to bed a little before the others, and did in fact wish I'd stayed a little longer, but I took the chance to write once again in my journal, notes for the day...

Amazing Amsterdame09 - Day Three :-)

The cycle ride to Amsterdam had been amazing! And now here we are! In this bustling city with its canals, bars and saucy streetlife! We were tired but the excitement outshone everything else and we were keen to get into the hostel, unpack and get out and about!

We parked our bikes in a very clever two-tier bike rack and found our way upstairs to the room we would share for two nights. It had everything we could need including an en-suite loo and a separate decent-sized shower room! We even had TWO electric sockets!!

Sleeping arrangements stayed the same and we were soon unpacked and showered, ready for adventure!

Just a short walk away was a small plaza with an Irish Bar which looked warm and welcoming, I think others had been before on prior trips. The main man there was called Stanley and even though it was late by the time we arrived he agreed to accept a food order, I'm not sure his kitchen staff felt the same!

We had a great meal, sitting on high stools around a tall table. The pub had great atmosphere and we chatted and ate for ages...
After we got back to the hostel we decided to go and get a drink in their own bar before bed, It was cheaper than being out and we girls got a jug of Tequila Sunrise between us!! It lasted surprisingly well and soon the hostel staff chased us off to bed by closing everything down... but we stayed up as long as could ;-)

The new day dawned sunny and bright and with no alarm to wake us we awoke contented and with thoughts of breakfast!

The continental offering was strangely satisfying, although I had to force myself away from thoughts of a bacon buttie!

Amsterdam was calling us and it wasn't long before we were out on foot patrol!! Jayne & Lianne, Matt, Gary, Lisa and me! We had quite fancied seeing the Rijksmuseum but the queue was horrendous and so we chose the Costa Diamond museum instead! We saw an amazing selection of sparkling jewels, glittering rings and necklaces, we were allowed to try them on too... but the room wasn't unlocked until we had removed them ALL!!

Happily we meandered through the streets, the sun was shining, the girls were smiling and everything was good! We even managed a spot of shopping - mindful of the fact that we would have to carry anything we bought!

We found a cafe in a large square and stopped for lunch. We laughed and chattered until the food arrived and then tucked in! As we sat there in the sunshine it suddenly dawned on me ... we were sitting having lunch in a cafe in Amsterdam ... and we CYCLED here!! Cycled! On our bikes! From England to Holland, York to Amsterdam! I got a lump in my throat and knew I'd remember that moment...

The food was gorgeous and perfect fuel for the afternoons adventuring. We decided it would be fun to take a trip around the canals and found one which left quite soon - keen as we were to make the most of every minute :-)
The canal trip lasted 75 minutes and was really an eye opener! Did you know that they have massive ocean-going liners moored up in Amsterdam??? They have a bike park, like a huge multi-story but just for bikes, hundreds of them!!

The houses along the canals are all so different and so beautiful! The architecture was so detailed and everything immaculate!

Did you know that the trees along the canals are all Dutch Elm because their roots grow straight down and won't compromise the canal walls! Did you also know that they change the water in the canals twice each year!

The others were happily chatting away but I preferred to be out the back, in the open, watching and clicking away... my camera was in overdrive! Everywhere I looked there were images to capture! I was in my element!!

A million photos later the boat arrived back at its berth and Jayne and Lianne took the chance for a quick siesta back at the hostel while Lisa, Gary, Matt and myself found ourselves back at the Irish bar - Stanley came to take our order! We enjoyed a cappuchino and a bask in the sunshine, taking time to absorb the atmosphere and chill...

In the afternoon sunshine Gary & Lisa slipped away to the park to while away an hour or so, I wandered back to the room to find Jayne and Lianne still fast asleep. Downstairs the hostel lounge was empty, apart from a guy using their internet station, so I got myself a drink and took the time to catch up on my journal.

Usually when I'm away I write a journal every day. All the good stuff, all the fun! This trip had seen only enough time to make notes, literally just words, thoughts, places and people, anything that jogged my memory of where and when and how... but even this had left me with over two pages of notes for each day!!

Back in the room the girls were awake and we all freshened up, ready for our night on the town!

The plan was to meet downstairs at 6.30 and head off towards the Red Light District ... well when in Amsterdam...

We were joined by Sandra, Lorna, Joanne & Nic giving us a good-sized group of ten. Together we took a tram to Dam Square and wandered along, trying not to stare into wacky baccy cafes...

After a bar-stop for a drink and a chat with a very exuberant American and his family, we moved on and managed to find an Italian restaurant to eat in.

After leaving the restaurant the streets were even more packed and the darkness showed up the lighted windows and the neon strips which decorated every shop, cinema and bar!

It seems that hubbies were in for a treat and we scoured the shops looking for suitable DVD's!! Mission acomplished and what a treat - the guy in the shop gave us each a small whip to play with and keep ... what a giggle!!

We all had a certain curiosity about the famed Red Light Area and as Jayne seemed to know most about it she seemed to be our guide! 'Would you like to see more ladies?' she asked as we wound our way along...

Back by the main street with its canal we heard a commotion and a naked guy was riding a bike along the street to whooping and cheering from the crowd. We heard he was soon arrested but it was a distraction as we soon realised that we had lost Nic! Where was she? We had all been wandering along, in two's and threes, watching windows and giggling! But Nic was no longer with us!

We stopped and backtracked and soon she was found! Safe again we linked arms and all stayed together - Matt posted himself at the back as rear guard! Nice one Matt :-)

The excitement over we headed back to Dam Square for the Tram and as we walked along we found ourselves chatting with some guys who were also staying at the hostel. They were in the Canadian wheelchair basketball team and were over here for a tournament. They admitted that they had been chatting to the red light girls about the 'services' available to guys in wheelchairs. We were informed that everything was 'very satisfactory'!!

We all got the same tram but the driver was a little hasty in setting off and we all lurched violently - good job the guys had their brakes on!!

Back at the hostel we retired... to the bar! Just for a nightcap, Southern Comfort and lemonade, with a dabble of chatter and a good laugh, before bed!