Flaeming 2017

Sunday, 24-September-2017 - Werder - This year the Fun-on-Wheels out-of-country trip took us to the Pleistocene hills (photo) of the Fläming Heath in Germany, about 75 km south of Berlin.  Here lies the Flaeming-Skate--230 km of super-smooth skating and cycling paths!  Thanks to Brigitte, Conny, Johan and Maurice for organizing this super skating weekend!  25 skaters and one moped rider. Some were good for 160 km--12 skaters finished the 44th BMW Berlin--Inline-skating Marathon! See links below for photos, clips, and gps-routes by day.

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Fun-on-Wheels Flaeming Weekend 2017--Day 5

Sunday, 24-September-2017 - Werder/Veghel - It was still raining, so we took a moment to reflect on the loss of Bep, thanked the organizers and said goodbye.  We stopped for lunch on the way home.  It was a truckers restaurant with classic Cadillac photos.  pics (51)

Fun-on-Wheels Flaeming Weekend 2017--Day 4

Saturday, 23-September-2017 - Werder - I woke at 0600 to see Johan and Conny go out the door of our room.  They were all ready to head out with the others for the train station to go Berlin for the inline skate marathon.  When I got to the breakfast table, Frans passed on the sad news of Bep's passing on Friday evening.  I was in shock.  It was a shock for us all.  I couldn't make it to the buffet.  I had to sit down at a table corner and cry my heart out.  I had just skated 18 km with her exactly three weeks ago in Veghel.  This was something I had to accept.  I put my black headband around my arm--it was the least I could do for Bep.  The non-marathon skaters headed out around 0900. We were taking route RK1.  We got to test our climbing and braking skills.  At the 35km point, we split up in two groups:  100km (8 skaters) (photo) and the rest for 52 km (one moped rider, two bicyclists, and three skaters).  What was supposed to be a grass stop turned into a shoulder crash for Adriaan.  Toon and Henriette picked him up at the crash site, and brought him back to the hotel. Then an ambulance took him to the Johanniter-Krankenhaus in Jüterbog.  Brigitte and Maurice kept company with Adriaan at the hospital.  His shoulder wasn't broken, just badly bruised.  Once everyone got back to the hotel, we got cleaned up and went to the Café und Restaurant "Tetzelstuben".  Shortly after we got back to the hotel, the victorious marathon skaters arrived proudly wearing their medallions.  pics (188)
gps-tracked route part 1
gps-tracked route part 2

Fun-on-Wheels Flaeming Weekend 2017--Day 3

Friday, 22-September-2017 - Werder - Today's skate was a puzzle tour.  After a great breakfast, we were split into four groups to navigate the route and solve various questions along the way.  In Dennewitz, we met a group of very friendly and curious beaver rats (photo).  They were just like the one we saw last summer at ZieZoo in Volkel with Logan and Jakob.  I was in group 4 along with  Adriaan, Clemens, Inge, Jennie, Maria, and Maurice.  Lunch break:  bratwurst and potatoe salad.  We were good for 60km.  After supper, we finished puzzle questions for extra points.  Then the non-marathon skaters discussed the tour options for Saturday. pics (329)

Fun-on-Wheels Flaeming Weekend 2017--Day 2

Thursday, 21-September-2017 - Werder/Jüterbog/Hohenseefeld - After getting train tickets for the marathon skaters at the Jüterbog train station (photo), we headed for Hohenseefeld.  Due to all the road construction in the town center, it took us a while to get out of  Jüterbog--like "Hotel California", You can drive out any time you like, but you can never leave.  At Hohenseefeld, we took route RK7.  Smooth asphalt, beautiful countryside.  Lunch break:  bratwurst and potatoe salad--one of my favorite food groups.  We were good for 42 km.  Around 1800, the other skaters started to arrive.  pics (261)
gps-tracked route

Fun-on-Wheels Flaeming Weekend 2017--Day 1

Wednesday, 20-September-2017 - Veghel/Werder - The organizing team went a day early.  I got a ride with Conny, Johan, and Maria.  Marij and my grandson Seth saw me off (photo).  We arrived at our hotel Erlebnishof Jüterbog-Werder at midnight.  Brigitte and Maurice sleepily welcomed us and said goodnight. pics (21)

Belgian Border Inline Skating

Sunday, 6-August-2017 - Oirschot - It was the tenth year that Pieter organized the 100 km vacation (Postel) skating tour--the eighth year for me. The weather and the company couldn't have been better.   We had a lunch break at the 40 km mark, at the Kapellerhof garden restaurant near the Dutch-Belgian border.  After just seven kilometers in Belgium, along the Bocholt-Herentals Canal we stopped at border marker 191--the highest point (44 m) in the North Brabant province (photo).  This year I shared a bike with Pieter.  I lost five weeks of skating while recovering from a fall in June, so I didn't  want to push myself over the limit.  There was some rough pavement during the first legs of the tour.  Helene, Louis, and Johan helped me stay with the group when I fell back.  It was the right decision, but pedaling the bike was harder than skating--I couldn't keep up on bike either.  I took some two aspirin (paracetamol) for my hurting left knee.  At out last rest stop at Café in d'n olie-fant
in Veldhoven, we saw the first minutes of the European Womens Championship game Ned-Den.  We went crazy when Vivianne Miedema scored to make it 1-1, and again when Lieke Martens made it 2-1.  It was 2-2 when we left.  Luckily, we had smooth asphalt for the last 20 km.  Hylco stayed with me until we made it back to Oirschot.  There was cheering with arms int the air just before we got back to Pieter's home--the Netherlands beat Denmark 4-2!  There was a full refrigerator and a deluxe garden hose shower waiting for us when we got back.  A barbecue topped off this perfect day.  Thanks to all tour participants, and especially my helpers and our host and guide Pieter for making this day to remember.  Eleven skaters--good for 100 km. pics (172) route

Skating Glimpse of the Efteling

Thursday, 27-July-2017 - Heesweijk-Dinther/Kaatsheuvel - This evening, we headed for the Loonse en Drunense Duinen.  At the edge of this National Park we got a glimpse of the Efteling.  This seven-league boot pointed the way.  Nine de Toren Skaters were good for 30 km. pics (41)
gps-tracked route

Jeannette 50

Sunday, 18-June-2017 - Veghel - We met at Jeannette's home to celebrate her 50th birthday.  Twenty-two Fun-on-Wheels skaters were good for 50 km.  What a great day to remember!  pics (106)
gps-tracked route part 1
gps-tracked route part 2

Warm Evening De Toren Skating

Thursday, 1-June-2017 - Den Bosch - A wonderful sunny evening.  It doesn't get better than this.  I got a replacement bearing today in the mail from Jan van der Hoorn.  I had to clean the other 11 bearings before I headed to de Toren.  On one bearing, the bearing balls got away on me--the first one I spun while rinsing off degreasing cleaning fluid.  It took me 30 min to assemble one bearing!  That was before I watched the two video clips below.  I also put 2-degree wedges between the frames and the skate boots---to make the boots perpendicular to the wheels. I'm really happy with my new skates.  Back at de Toren we told stories and enjoyed the warm evening. Ten skaters and one bicyclist--good for 27 km. pics (104) gps-tracked route
assembling bearings with nylon cage by Jam Skate Addiction (3:52)
assembling bearings with nylon cage by zxcft6yhnji9 (1:09)