Mountain biking

Thirty-five kilometers in the sandy forest south of Apeldoorn did not sound like too much hard work.  That must be possible, and still have plenty of energy over for other activities in the weekend.  But that was reckoning without the weather.  According to the meteorologists , autumn starts on 1st September.  This year they were certainly right.  There had been an awful lot of rain the last week or so, leaving the paths in the forest a mixture of slippery mud, requiring quite some concentration to keep the bike going at least roughly the direction intended, and wet sand, which gripped onto our tyres like we were cycling through sticky chocolate cake with our brakes on.  And to make matters worse, after a sunny start, the heavens opened and those who like me were foolish enough to have taken their raincoats off got soaked to the skin. In other words, in a way that only real mountain bikers can appreciate, it was great. Skill, endurance and tenacity were all abundantly required.  The forest was really beautiful as well, especially in the moments when the sun came out after the rain and shined through the fresh green of the wet leaves. Part of the route was in the military exercise area near Apeldoorn, so that was an extra treat to be allowed in where it is normally forbidden.

The tour was well organised by the hospital in Apeldoorn and apparently 1400 people signed up (including the unfortunates who chose to go on road bikes). All very efficiently done, well signed and with a free lunch, donations to UNICEF and a goody-bag at the end. Of course, after all that effort, there is not much energy left for the rest of the weekend, but it was certainly well worthwhile.