Amsterdam (Cruise Council)- The story......Basman and DaFickser left for Paris on a rainy saturday afternoon a week ago. In a good mood we speeded to Rotterdam to complete the first stage of this trip and pick up Master Rockx. The first stage took us 80 km in the direction of Paris and after a good night sleep, beer and a few joints always help, we went accompanied by Rockx in the direction of Antwerpen (Belgium) the next day.

The first day took it's toll when Basman had to stop due to an injuiry on sunday, we had still the wind (ZW) in our face, but with this unexpected sunny day it was even harder to make a decision what to do? Stop the whole trip or continue ... after an hour of flipping coins and feeling bad Rockx and Dafickser got back on their rides and Basman went to the trainstation back to Amsterdam. A though decision to make, but the show must go on.

Sunday late afternoon we made it into Antwerpen Brasschaat, cold as the sun was gone by four we stopped at the first hotel we saw knowing we would make it to Gent the next day now we did another 100 km in the right direction.

Monday ... pffff, rain again and even more wind, but looking forward to team up with the boys in Gent we cruise through the suburbs of Antwerpen ... Ok first visit the centre and let's get something to eat before we try to find the way in a city divided by the Schelde ... which tunnel to take? Of course we find a tunnel, bit in the wrong direction, but what the hell for the first time in three days we have the wind in our back getting back on the right track to Gent and when we make contact 20 km before Gent with the support troops from Gent in a local bar we get into the saddle for the last time that day. 1 1/2 hour later we open our first beer at the counter of the Belgium Chopaderos HQ served by our brother Velonix.

During dinner we discussed what to do as this trip wasn't harder as expected. We knew what we were getting into, but after another day in the rain and putting power on the pedals instead of cruisin" with an NNO wind in tha back to Paris, having both pain we came up with the PLAN. The Plan was simple ... we contacted Basman who was back in Amsterdam to make contact with us the next day, riding with the Chopaderos support Van, so we would have a backup car getting into the north part of France in case we needed to take some rest.

Tuesday the posse went in the direction of the French border, but as some of the pain had gone that morning after half an our every speedbump felt like the Himalaya's. We had to contact Basman again to rescedule our pick up for Paris, the fieldtrip finished after almost 300 km in the back of the support Van knowing we could make it with better weather and on a less thight secedule ... now we still would make it to Paris the disappointed feeling disappeared the closer we got to Paris... Yes we would cruise the Champs.

Without getting seriously lost on the Periferique, thanks Raf & Miss S, we got to the Chopaderos HQ France and tasted French hospitality tuesday evening with two days of wonderfull cruisin" ahead. Certainly when the first thing I saw was the blue sky through the window the next morning. Wednesday and thursday we cruised Paris, easy to get around on a bike.

And Paris in winter is still Paris, with all it's beauty, so we cruised along the Eifeltower, Palace Royal, the Louvre and gardens, boulevards and Seine. Pain, cruisin" in Paris all pain was denied as none excisting.

Specially when we could race uphill wednesday evening during the quickly organised Chopaderos Paris NightLightcruise with champagne at the finish facing the Arc.

Friday we went back to the DAM in the Chopaderos support Van to meet up with the early arrivals for the Chopaderos wanne be cruise the next day...

Thanks to the Frog and new 1830 chapter for making this an unforgetable trip.

More Paris pics see >>>>