It’s very cold and frosty as we wake on the first day of Discover Our Earth. The final briefing meeting yesterday went well and every-one seems ready to go. Breakfast is subdued as the group appears excited and nervous that the moment to depart has finally come.
The first ride is a short jaunt to Mieming Town Hall for the official send off. A grand affair with National Anthems played for each group of riders as well as speeches from the Chairman of SOS Children Villages and the Mayor of Mieming, who official starts the Expedition with wave of an Austrian Flag.
We have an invite today from “The Swiss Peters” to come for lunch. Peter and Peter are both riding on Discover our Earth – One on Sections 2,3,4 and 5 and one on Section 5. Their hospitality is fantastic as they open up one of their homes for us and are descended on by the whole group. Lunch is Goulash and Salad followed by home made Hungarian deserts. It is a very welcome warming feast.
The ride ends overlooking the lake of Bierlesee in Switzerland. A small friendly family hotel with a good fish restaurant. Day 1 is done, every-one is in, all the bikes made it and everyone is smilling. Day 1 – success – Now for Day 2……
View more picture from the start here.
Pictures by Alexander Segar.
From there our little convoy of the Support Vehicle and two bikes wend our way to the Channel Tunnel and across to France for the first night away for the Support Crew. Two days across Europe sees us arrive in a snowy, frosty and cold Austria. It is beautiful with the mountains and fir trees dusted with snow and the clouds wandering down the valleys heading no where in particular. All we need is for fresh snow to hold off until after the 21st so we can head south to the warmer coast of the Mediterranean.