Good morning All, it´s 10.21 the morning of the 9th July and I am sitting behind Janny and Tonny´s computer.  Janny en Tonny are the owners of ´t Hofke minicamping and B+B in Olburgen, a beautiful camping located on the edge of the IJssel.

I awoke this morning to a large rain storm clattering on the side of the camper but I am pleased to say that it looks like it has blown over. After lying there for a while I heard a bash against the side of the camper and on opening the door we found bread rolls for four and I can tell you this much, it was one of the best bread rolls I have tasted in a long time. I and the kids certainly needed the energy after the ride.

Yesterday morning went well, and everything went smoothly, one or two little hickups but nothing major and most importantly we got away on time. There was a good show of people to come and see us off and we had the support of good friends and I would like to take the oppertunity to thank you all for helping make it a success. The  ride itself went well and I feel that we have made a good start, both children kept going all the way and we cycled 62.98km from Eibergen to Olburgen. I myself cycled from Beltrum to Eibergen in the morning which added on an extra 9km to my total. I must admit though I was a little worried at one point during the ride when I looked at a sign post that showed Beltrum to be 6km, I had therefore ridden 37km to get just 6km away from where I had left off.

The rest of the ride went really smoothly and I only had to miss a very short piece of the route because I didn´t have money with me, which meant that I couldn´t take the ferry in Bronkhorst so instead had to come via Steenderen and on to Olburgen. I am not too worried about missing that piece out though because it means I will have to come back and cycle that bit one day, a good excuse because Bronkhorst is a lovely village and well worth the visit.

One thing that did disappoint me yesterday was that I didn´t have a camera with me so I didn´t manage to get any fotos on the way but when we arrived at the camping there was a reporter ready and waiting and we took some photos to accompany an article she is writing about the ride. Janny and Tonny had given Yvonne Baars from the Contact a tip that we were on the way and she chatted with me for a long time and took lots of notes for her article. I am pleased to say that she was very attent and asked me lots of questions so she had everything clear in her mind and she promised to write about the ride in a positive vein.

Well if I am not carefull I could be sitting here for hours ticking away at the keyboard so I will sign off for now but just before I do I would like to thank everyone that has helped make this project possible. You have all helped me reach a major milestone in my life and I hope a major milestone for spinal research. Thanks you ALL !!!