I just decided to cycle the camino Santiago de Compostela upcoming summer, cycling 5 weeks starting in Haarlem. And then i got the appointment for my second vaccine at 23th of july 2021. That will be in the middle of my trip. I was really disappointed and saw my plans falling apart. Until a friend of my suggested to start at the boarder of France and Spain at the Pyrenees.

” And with some luck you can arrive to Compostela after 3 weeks… quite a challenge.”

I was happy with his advise because from that moment on i decided to cycle de Camino de Santiago de Compostela anyway. I will cycle the third part of the Camino. I just read that i can start from Dax or Pau (France) and adjust to the cycling until the feet of the Pyrenees in one or two days. I will look at the route later.

” I saw that people abroad read my blog sometimes so i decided to write in English. It’s quite a challenge but i like challenges. It maybe is not the best of English but a while ago it was my wish to improve my English so this is my chance to do it.“

First i have to order my new bike and start making a packing list and buy the stuff i really need. Like bike bags and a tent. Because i want to sleep at camping sites or in Albergues. Alburgues are different at a monastery or church, in a hall, old school building or in a city hall. I really love to stay at that kind of places and meet new people from different nationalities. And at the alburgues are in front of them some ‘Zonas acampadas’ , a little place on a field to camp if the alburgues are occupied.

Some other thing is that i have to figure out how i’m going to arrive at Dax with my bike. I think i ask a friend to bring me to this point and after that they can use my car for their own holiday. For example. I can also travel by train to the start point in France. And maybe it’s possible to wild camp at some lost more rough places along the route.

Today i went to a cycle store in Rotterdam to let me advise about which bike will be the best for me. Elmar, sales advisor, bicycle technician and world cyclist of Bike4travel helped me out very good. I could try out a few bikes from Santos, Idworx and Avaghon. What a difference it was between the bikes. I really loved the Santos Travelmaster 3+. It will be all black (mat) with some metallic red accents.

I had to make a lot of choices.For example: Een Rohloff naaf of een Pinion versnellingsbak? I choose the Rohloff naaf. Hydraulic brakes or disc brakes. I choose the disc brakes.

And i already bought 2 front panniers and 2 rear panniers of Ortlieb. Black ones who will look cool on my black bike of course.

My bike will be delivered in three weeks. It was a bit of a challenge if i could get my bike in time for my bike trip to Santiago de Compostela because most of the bikes have a delivery time of 6-8 weeks. Of course i didn’t thought about that until Elmar told me so. But the black one could be delivered in 3 weeks. So happy that black is my favorite colour!!

It’s about the journey,

not about the destination

I will start making my packing list this weekend and if it is ready i will put a download to a page at my blog. I have to buy so many things, accessories, if i want to camp a long the camino. But hey it will be the start of many adventures throughout the world so it is really worth the effort and the money.

Last evening i ordered stuff that i need for camping:

• Tent

• Sleeping bag

• matress

• Tarp
• Travel towel
• cooking set
• MSR stove

• cutlery
• foldable cup and plate
• Bever ‘zitlap’

• Thermos bottle

Upcoming monday it all will be delivered by Bever sport.

I already have a lot of clothing. I only want a pair of mountain bike shorts and a pair of cycle shoes wich i can also use for walking.

I have to make time to organise my trip. It’s a challenge while finish of my work upcoming two weeks, but i have to make it my priority because i want this so much.

Every time i’m on the bike i feel such a freedom and the idea of experiencing cycling through the Pyrenees and the camino makes me feel so happy.

It takes getting everything you’ve ever wanted, and then losing it, to know what true freedom is.

“Ride” by Lana Del Rey

X Liefs Liz