He set out to do one thing and then went the extra mile or should I rather say many more km’s….
The Dutchman decided to take his bicycle and ride to Milan along the path next to the Grand Canal, it’s real name is “Naviglie Grande”. It’s about 40 odd kilometers, from Turbigo to Abbiategrasso, well at least that was the point where I thought he would turn round and return home…..
He packed his backpack, water, some snacks, 4 little olive rolls, loo paper, his cameras, batteries, and even his cellphone(charged). I strapped his camera harness onto his chest and bade him goodbye. He set off somewhere between 8 and 9.00, at his normal pace, that being rather fast because he reckons if he pedals slowly he wants to fall off the bike, a balance thing.
The Dutchman followed our normal path through the park to Turbigo where he would then take the path to Milan. As usual he stopped from time to time to take photos. The scenery along this cycle path is really beautiful.
Cycle path next to Canal
Somewhere he decided to follow some other cyclists on racing bikes for a bit. When you’re focused on what you set out to do and being very inquisitive, small details like taking note of where you are going doesn’t actually happen.
So sometime after lunch he calls me to tell me “I’m Lost! Where am I, can you look on google maps?” I asked him to look for a road sign so that I can “find” him, he said he had to go back a bit as far as the crossroads. When he got there he phoned me again and said he was on the way to or from Borgo San Siro. So I looked on the map and saw he was between Vigevano and Pavia. Oh mama. … more than 30 km’s from home. I told him to go to the main square in Vigevano and Poplap and I will come fetch him.
We jumped in the car and took off for Vigevano when we got there we found him in the square looking rather haggard and very tired, he was eating an ice-cream. Without much ado we each had one too stracitella and caramel, can definitely recommend it, very yummy! He still hadn’t had lunch, bar the four little olive rolls, so I got him a kebab which he promptly devoured.
So we loaded the bike into the car and drove home. Back at home the whole story came to light when with the help of the maps and the photos we retraced his steps I mean pedaling. I was horrified but not really surprised at this unconscious effort to get lost in his aim to reach Milan on a bicycle. He has now been banned from riding so far by himself, it’s not funny to try and look for someone if they don’t even know where they are. Well looking back on this I have to chuckle it is how the Dutchman is….. very focused and determined. In total he had ridden more than a hundred km’s. And true to form the next day he was ready to go again….
About Martie
I got my inspiration for this website from the song called “Imagine”, and so I decided to go on this adventure. I have always wanted to put up something like this where my friends and I could express our memories and dreams for the future. Share them with us, because if many people dream the same dream it will certainly come true.
A beautiful example of strenght and will power!! Very well done Dutchman, keep it up!