My first week was one of testing, wondering, looking, listening. And keeping a sharp eye on the counter of Xena, my electric motorbike.
Day 1 with a fixed appointment in Sedan, France. I rode 226 km on a full charge + recharge of 2 hours (some 10 km to spare, probably). Day 4 : I squeezed 252 km (!) on a 100% charge out of her with some 5 km to spare upon arrival, ups…! Last 50 km I slowed down to 40-50 km/h and tried not to brake even once, as the bike regenerates power when letting her roll to a stand still. In the mountains I managed to regenerate a couple of percentages and smiled accordingly. How special, ‘refueling’ while riding!
As it happened, sun and heat stroke strongly —up to 35° and more in the shade— and riding generally at a grandma’s pace, more then once I tended to doze off…! Came in the MUSIC. For I had taken a box full of contemporary classic music, neatly divided into three playlists: one by composer Annelies Van Parys, one by mezzo soprano Els Mondelaers, and one with bits and pieces I gleaned myself.
I will publish the full playlists later, but here are some bits from playlist 1 :
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And I had an appointment. Friends-for-over-thirty-years, Sandro Romagna and Armando Pederzoli, were having their marriage party on July 17th in Brescia, Italy. They checked my whereabouts every day, feeling ill at ease that I wasn’t simply flying in.
#elektrogirl riding Belgium to Istanbul (and back) 