Don Bull's 1965 Bicycle Trip
In the 1960s I was in the U. S. Army stationed in Germany. In 1965 I bought a Motobécane* 10 speed bike and rode it frequently between my headquarters hotel in Bardorf and Helmstedt and Wolfsburg. By August, I felt I was in good enough shape to go for a long ride and planned a trip to Luxembourg with a detour through Holland and Belgium.
Hotel Niedersachsen, Stadthagen, Germany
On August 4, 1965 I wrote: I rode 102 miles today. I started from Bardorf at 5 AM. It looked like rain but the sun was shining within a half hour. About 3 the rain came - I was getting new ball bearings for my bike at the time (50 cents for labor and parts!) so I kept out of the rain. When I got to Stadhagen. I decided to afford myself the luxury of a room to celebrate the first day and to keep dry.
Osnabrück, Germany
August 5, noon - 60 Miles this morning. Good sleep last night. Good weather today. Hardly a cloud in the sky and the mountains near Osnabrück are beautiful. Should make Holland in the morning.
Camping de Molenhoff, Weerselo
August 5, evening - I made it a bit further than I thought I would. I'm in Holland now. 130 miles today. Weerselo in near Hengelo - about 10 miles from Germany. I've talked to several Dutch people and they are all very friendly. I speak German. They speak Dutch. Maybe I can learn some Dutch during my brief stay in Holland.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
August 7 - 372 miles so far. Amsterdam - a cyclist's paradise. From Joost van den Vondel:
Though fortune sometimes visits him who stays at home
Our native energy impels our folk to roam
Twixt many lands the bonds of brotherhood we tie
In truth, who rests grows rusty - this no one can deny.
De Heide, Westmalle, Belgium
August 9 - Day 6. 572 miles so far. Stayed in Delft last night after taking in Zaandijk, Haarlem and Den Haag. Had a little cabin to myself for 10 Guilden. Tonight I have a room like the one pictured for 155 Francs. Took in Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Breda, Baarlis - Nassau and a few more miles of Belgium today. Tomorrow - Antwerpen and Brussels.
Brussels, Belgium
August 10 - I'll remember Brussels for rain. It started when I got here. Such a storm. Antwerpen was nice. Onward ...
Waterloo
August 10 - End of 7th day. Only 65 miles today. Long tours of Antwerpen and Brussels. I met my Waterloo here - left knee has finally started bothering me. Hopefully it will be OK in the monring and then on to Luxembourg. I walked about Brussels for 2 hours and saw a lot of rain and a wonderful city.
Luxembourg
August 12, noon - Day 9 - 785 miles. I've reached my final desination and from here I will ship my bicycle to Helmstedt. I've conquered the Ardennes and that's enough. The way from Brussels was 1 1/2 days up hill (or so it seemed). The scenery was marvellous. I slept under the stars by a mountain stream. Never felt better for 9 days in my whole life.
München, Germany
August 14 - I passed Friday the 13th hitchhiking through France. From Luxembourg to Nancy and then from Nancy to Strasbourg where I spend the night. I toured Strasbourg on foot this morning then caught a train to Karhlsruhe. From there I hitchhiked to Munich - had marvellous luck - the last ride bought me a big dinner and a few beers. I arrived here too late to get a hotel room so I am spending the night wandering and looking at the crazy people. Such a busy city.
August 15 - I took the train to Helmstedt.
Shortly after returning to Helmstedt and Indian friend told me his brother's freighter was coming into port at Bremerhaven. He could have my bicycle loaded on the ship and bring it to New York - the freighter would be going there eventually. I gave him the bike.
A year later I returned to the United States. My Indian friend was living in Hamilton, Ontario and he had heard nothing from his brother.
I never saw my bicycle again. I assume the crew is still riding it around the deck of the ship.
*From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Motobécane was a French manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and other small vehicles, established in 1923. "Motobécane" is a compound word made up of two colloquialisms stuck together. "Moto" is a slang word for motorcycle; "bécane" is slang for "bike."
In 1981, Motobécane filed for bankruptcy, and was subsequently purchased by Yamaha and reformed in 1984 as MBK; the French company continues to make motorscooters, and has no relation to Motobécane USA, which imports bicycles from Taiwan and China, manufactured to their specification under the Motobécane trademark.
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