Holiday preps

We really need to get prepared for our holiday... Exactly four weeks from now, we've rolled out of the Cycle Tours bus and will probably be putting up our tent on the first camping. Problem is that we took our bikes out of the garage only last week (with accompanying dust, spider webs and dry cycle chains). We made a very short ride to get an ice cream last weekend to test what had to be repaired or replaced, and as I'm writing Eise is working on his bike to re-grease his derailleur.

Today we went out to do some holiday shopping as well. Last time we went on a cycling holiday, we used canoe bags and home-made carriers, which was not always very successful. So this time we decided to buy some proper bags and because we couldn't choose between two sets, we bought one of each. One set are two good old Ortlieb bike packer classics (combined with a drybag) and the other is a neat combo of two side bags and one top bag from Vaude (Karakorum). So, expect some testresults after our trip! Both sets have less room than the large bags we used last time, so packing wil be quite a challenge. At least it will force us to take only the highly necessary stuff, something we're not really good at. We can put the tent, mats and sleeping bag on top of everything, but still... I've made a list uf "must haves" and "nice to haves".

Next to the bags I've also invested in a nice and light rain jacket (160 grams, seems impossible!) and a new pair of SPD shoes. I'm hoping these will save me some sleeping toes... So, I think we should have most of the stuff we need... We borrowed a really neat sheet sleeping bag which will fit two sleeping mats in special compartments and on which one sleeping bag can be zipped. So this little thingy saves us from bringing a second sleeping bag! Love accessories like that!

Hopefully the weather is ok tomorrow, so we can make a trip again. Would be nice to have at least a little bit of training before we leave!

Testing Flock

I'm testing a new web browser called Flock. Interesting about this browser is that is combines a lot of social networks (Facebook, Flickr, etc.), blogs (including Blogger) and that your contacts from these sites and Gmail, Twitter, etc. are automatically shown in the browser. One click on the blog button allows you to post a message on your own blog, your friends latest status on Facebook and their latest posts on Twitter are shown, etc. It looks quite good, but is also feels kind of creepy that your browser 'knows'  all these things of you when you log in for the first time!

Another thing to post is a picture of my new car! Just bought it today, don't even have it yet! But I like it, a shiny blue car, previously owned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence (including a nice army green first aid kit!!). This cuty will bring me to Leuven every day from April 1st onwards!