This trip is going to be EPIC and I'm thrilled for the both of you! Sure wish that Karen could still ride.
Looks like you did book with Edelweiss and that is GREAT. Everything with them is first class. Loved how they'd move everything from hotel to hotel for us, plus you'll undoubtedly make some really good new friends to invite for riding here. The one thing I've mentioned to you but for the others was that about half our group was Brazilian and they loved to go fast all day which made Karen anxious. After a day or so of this we found that we could get the days' route from our guides then go at our own pace separate from the group, take side trips or stops, and then hook up with them at lunch or the evening hotel. Oh and never ever EVER try to keep up with drinking Brazilians. damhik
My experience in that area is somewhat between Eric and Boris but I've not been back for a few years. Fortunately, the area is local for Edelweiss so that alone will get you past most issues. If you are on your own, agreed about the speed cameras, I keep at least several hundred Euros in cash from the old days when you could pay a fine on the spot (mostly France and probably not needed anymore) or some shop has something D_M just HAS to have, Dutch people are really warm but get past the slow Dutch RV campers and vans when you can because they crawl around curves, when you do come across those f-ing bicycles going down hills they go insanely too fast for spandex and might use the whole lane very suddenly, busses are an issue when they are around but the Edelweiss guides will probably have you less on their routes, always visually clear your corner line before committing and watch the road both way above and way below, better to have the heated gear and not need it, it's Europe so it rains, nearly everybody speaks at least a little English so no worries, have Apple Pay on your phones and at least a couple of separate credit cards (duhh).
REALLY looking forward to hearing how it goes!
Looks like you did book with Edelweiss and that is GREAT. Everything with them is first class. Loved how they'd move everything from hotel to hotel for us, plus you'll undoubtedly make some really good new friends to invite for riding here. The one thing I've mentioned to you but for the others was that about half our group was Brazilian and they loved to go fast all day which made Karen anxious. After a day or so of this we found that we could get the days' route from our guides then go at our own pace separate from the group, take side trips or stops, and then hook up with them at lunch or the evening hotel. Oh and never ever EVER try to keep up with drinking Brazilians. damhik
My experience in that area is somewhat between Eric and Boris but I've not been back for a few years. Fortunately, the area is local for Edelweiss so that alone will get you past most issues. If you are on your own, agreed about the speed cameras, I keep at least several hundred Euros in cash from the old days when you could pay a fine on the spot (mostly France and probably not needed anymore) or some shop has something D_M just HAS to have, Dutch people are really warm but get past the slow Dutch RV campers and vans when you can because they crawl around curves, when you do come across those f-ing bicycles going down hills they go insanely too fast for spandex and might use the whole lane very suddenly, busses are an issue when they are around but the Edelweiss guides will probably have you less on their routes, always visually clear your corner line before committing and watch the road both way above and way below, better to have the heated gear and not need it, it's Europe so it rains, nearly everybody speaks at least a little English so no worries, have Apple Pay on your phones and at least a couple of separate credit cards (duhh).
REALLY looking forward to hearing how it goes!