Langlaufen and riding the snow

Location: Boswachterij Ruinen
Duration: 2.5 hrs
Distance: ?
Weather: snow, thawing
Comments: Now at last, snow. This langlauf thing proved to be more difficult than I thought. The first time I hit the street, was when loading the car, right on my own parking spot I slipped away and fell. When we arrived in the woods, it was still dark, and you could feel that Jack Frost left, the trees where already dripping. But there it was, the trail with the virginal snow, no footsteps, no dog prints, just white snow. I put on the skies and got off. It was hard to keep the skies parallel and get the right rhythm. I think I did 6 kilometer and only the last kilometer I got the idea that I did okay. Gliding down the hill went very smooth, but at the foot of it, while looking over my shoulder I hit the ground for the second time. The soles of my shoes that got lose during the skiing now came of completely. Luckily I was almost back at the car. I got on my bike and had a nice ride through the snow and ice. With my bike I hit the ground for the third time. Now riding into a frozen car track with my rear wheel. I felt the bike go and rolled over on the ground.

No mud today

Location: Dwingelderveld
Duration: 1 hr
Distance: ? computer stopped
Weather: cold, very hard wind
Comments: No mud, just frozen trails, ice and snow. The very hard wind was cold, but in the pine-woods it was okay. Benno came with me this day, but he got lost, so I had to go after him, he just ran the wrong way. Saw a beautiful buzzard right ahead of me. They say tonight will bring lots of snow, so tomorrow I will be up at seven to see if I can hit the trails witm my new langlaufskis.

Biking and langlaufen

The bike needs some exercise, but I am so busy...
I hate this, the days are short and full of work...
Next week John comes to ride a trail that is part of the "Pieterpad". He has big plans for this walkingroute that goes from one end of the country to the other end, about 300 kilometer. I think he wants to ride it in two or three days.
Now the snow is falling and I hope I can try my new langlauf-skis tomorrow.

The hind and me

Location: Boswachterij Ruinen
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Distance: dunno
Weather: cold, frosty
Comments: saw a hind running away right in front of me, her white behind was easy to see when she dissapeared in the pine wood. The last half hour was very dark and I once lost the trail completely, finding myself lost in the middle of nothing. The zippers on the legs of my new long black pants are already 'kaput'. The nose breathing works very good, after an half hour when completely warmed up it goes almost without difficulty and it feels very powerfull.

Tasting some real mud...

Location: Dwingelderveld
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Distance: 17 km
Weather: cold but sunny
Comments: Started at eight this morning for the first real ride on my new bike. The heather was slightly frozen but also very muddy. We tasted some real mud and didn't meet a soul. Saw a beautiful sunrise. During the actual sunrise when the light and warmth of the sun started to hit the ground I arrived at my favorite spot.
Inspired by the moment I stripped naked and did my daily yoga-exercise “the greeting of the sun” on the frozen gras, with my bare feet holding the earth and with my hands touching the sun. A wonderful experience.

Test ride

Location: Ruinen
Duration: 1 hr
Distance: 7 km
Weather: good
Comments: testride, try out and locating things to adjust or fix. The saddle had to be adjusted. I removed the parking-support because my heel just hit it. I pumped up the blue tires, indeed matching the lettering, to 3 atm. And that was it.

My "new" daewoo

Today I bought myself a “new” bike. I found it on marktplaats, an internet buy and sell place. This bike has a beautiful aluminum frame with a sexy bend in it. It has only 500 kilometers on the computer counter. I bought it from a nice old man in Winschoten. I will treat her with love and care. John will get his bike back. Thanks for your bike and all your good advice and support.

Long round Dwingelderveld

Location: Dwingelderveld
Duration: 2 hrs
Distance: ?
Weather: cold, dry, good weather no wind
Comments: lost the gearshift mechanisme for the forward gear. Had a good ride. Nose breathing helped very good, after a 20 min warming up the real power came by itself. Very good ride!