127. Europe Bicycle Trip--Lukas and the Kaulen Family

In January, my good friend, Mary Powell , brought the two exchange students that are living with her in Flint, Michigan, north to experience a little of Canada in Sault Ste. Marie. Lukas Kaulen was from Neuss, Germany and Fero Smatana was from Slovakia. It was extremely cold when they visited. We rounded up some cross country ski equipment downstairs for the boys  and in temperatures of about -28 degrees celcius , we headed to Hiawatha Park. After a quick lesson, we were off on the Pinder 4 km trail. I couldn't believe Lukas. He is a sweater like my grandson, David. Every 5 minutes , he was taking off clothing and adjusting apparel to get cooler. Fero was busy taking photos of the snow on the trees and the morning sun trying to break through. Both boys did very well and deserve a great compliment for doing so in those temperatures. In the evenings, we played games and ate German Ritter chocolate. When they left, I told them both about my plans to maybe bicycle in Europe next spring and if I did so and was near their home, I would come and visit. Now I was making it come true by visiting Lukas and his family in Neuss. So sorry Fero but Slovakia will have to wait for another trip.

Lukas, Mary and Fero

Lukas herringboning the hill

It was a crisp, cold ski day.

Well done! Hooray!

Lukas, Mary Ann and Fero

Meeting Lukas at his home in Neuss. It's much warmer here!

Lukas' mother, Maren-a friendly, energetic, happy ,and caring lady

Delicious treats to choose from

The family--Rainer, Maren and three children , Silja,11, Nils, almost 18, and Lukas, 16

Maren gave me a tour of their lovely home. The living room area

The TV and shelves across from the living room

The dining area and shelves for her many photo albums

The piano which Silja plays. She can use headphones and you don' t hear anything when  she practices.

The kitchen

My Room is a special room for Maren. This room was one of the 3 requests Maren made of Rainer before Silja was born.

I get the privilege of staying in "My Room"

What a nice touch--a chocolate butterfly left on my pillow. Thank you

Lukas and I spent some time looking at the photo album that Mary made of his stay with her in Flint.

Silja with Ulla and Norbert, Maren's mother and father

They were shocked to see the size of my bicycle.

In the absence of his father who was away on a trip with friends to Bavaria, Nils became the head barbecue chef and he did an excellent job because the meat was delicious!

We enjoyed a delicious supper outside on the patio.

Afterwards the ice cream truck came by and Silja and I had an ice cream.

Silja is very flexible!

Lukas is very handsome and strong. His English is excellent and the whole family is improving their English due to his time in America.

Later in the evening, maren's brother, Jan and his wife Janina, came over to say hello.

126. Europe Bicycle Trip--A Frustrating Day in Germany Heading to Neuss

Today is a big day as I am heading out of Velden, then on to Venlo and then east out of the Netherlands to go to Neuss, Germany to the Kaulen family and to plan my trip of the Rhine River. It is Day 45 of my trip--half way point--Saturday, the last day of May-May 31st--Time is flying by quickly!!

Hank and Ria--thank you for your hospitality. I will pray for Ria to get better so you both can go to  Gambia again.

A big breakfast with lots of choices.

No cows want to get up this morning in Netherlands.

The Maas River by Venlo

This path was impossible to ride and I gave up and walked.

The  Limburg Museum was closed this early in the morning.

Venlo

A covered mail scooter

.No German cows want to get up either!

A German gentleman!

German hay soldiers

I had no map of Germany and no bicycle numbers. I knew the cities I wanted to come to but was very used to following bicycle paths and numbers like in the Netherlands. I did well to get to Leuth, Germany  but after that I got lost a lot and found that when I changed direction all the time, it took the GPS a long time to reset it's direction. I decided I needed a map to go with the GPS and started looking where I might get one. I tried a bicycle store and had no luck because they could not speak Dutch or English. I was exasperated in Viersen and totally lost in the bush a few times. The elderly people I talked to did not know English and so I decided to only speak to young ones and 2 of them helped me out.   Finally I found a bookstore and walked my bicycle right into the store which wasn't busy yet and the salesgirl and I looked at myriads of maps before we found a suitable one for the area I was to cover. I was lost forever in Viersen and so happy when I found a "yellow road".  The yellow roads all have bicycle paths next to them and once I was on the first one , I had no more trouble finding my way to Neuss. No more zigzag bicycle paths for me today.

An orange postlady

This field smelled like strawberries but I have never seen strawberries put into a bushel basket.

Lettuce

Sugar beets

Bushes and small trees

Hooray! I arrived in Neuss. Thank you, lord.

125. Europe Bicycle Trip--My First Accident and Hand in Hand Gambia

After leaving Groesbeek and the National Bevrijdings Museum, I cycled towards Velden.

That is true for me right now. My BIKE is my LIFE.

I had to walk this long section of sandy back road.

I got lost for a while and then found myself on this rough section of trail and it was more like mountain biking-poor Silver!

I had to take ferries twice across the Maas River.

This couple, Hank and Ria had also stopped to check the bicycle sign here. When we came to the table, I couldn't unlock my foot from the pedal fast enough and Silver and I both fell into the table. My arm took the brunt of the fall and I couldn't get up so Hank helped me. Then we had lunch together and chatted before I left. I was totally embarrassed by the fall and told myself that I must be more careful in the future. My arm hurt a lot but I didn't think that I had broken any bones.

Bicycling along the Maas

Silver and I like ferry rides.

I take a selfie every time.

Lots of people were waiting to take the second ferry that I came to that afternoon.

Getting ready to disembark

A waterwheel

The place with the waterwheel has been made into a restaurant.

The greenhouses are empty now.

Lovely flowers

They make a nice background for a selfie.

I arrived in Velden, a small town, at the address of Hank and Ria, at about 6pm which is late for me.

Side garden

Back area

Hank has some goats and chickens.

Hank showed me my room and also gave me a map of Germany to use for the evening so I could try to make a plan to go to Neuss, Germany tomorrow. Ria was not feeling well as she has a bad back and was in bed most of the time while I was visiting.

The dining area

The internet worked best in Hank's study so I worked there most of the evening.

The living room

My bedroom

I thought that this was a nice idea to do with some special baby clothes.

These are photos showing Hank and Ria in Gambia, serving with an organization called Hand in Hand Gambia, which was started by an acquaintance of theirs.

My arm was starting to bruise already.