Thursday 10 June 2010

Phisdelo’s Nordkapp to Gibraltar in 72hrs

This was live blogged during the ride on the old IBA UK forum by multiple commenters.

FazerPhil Posted: 13 May 2010 at 11:14am

For a few days I have been swopping txt messages with Phil. I can no longer keep it to myself and know he will not mind me sharing it with his Iron Butt friends.
10th May 14.26
I recieved this picture of Phils bike at Nordkapp on the north coast of Norway

11th May 13.44
I left the place this morning to drive to Gibraltar in 3 days so i'll check out the place for your venue.
11th May 13.51
Just came through a medium snow storm north of Finland now in Sweden
12th May 16.45
Yes near Hanover try to reach Lyon tonight
12th May 20.20
Just burned my trousers for the 5th time this year on my modest exhaust pipewhile fueling up!!! Catch you tomorrow from Spain. Buonos Nobhes
13th May 11.13
1400km to go. Am at Beziers. ETA 1am deadline 3am. looks still possible.

My last message to Phil was "Good Luck"


GarminDave Posted: 13 May 2010 at 12:19pm

Fantastic effort, hope he does it because 3,000 miles in three days on the Scandanavian roads for a lot is a big ask.

I recognise that icon!


Go Phil.

Later

Dave

Bazzer Posted: 13 May 2010 at 2:41pm

Go Phil. This is all possible because you aren't a binary thinker. 


ks6c Posted: 13 May 2010 at 2:41pm


Go, Philip, Go!

FazerPhil Posted: 13 May 2010 at 3:57pm

UPDATE
13th May 15.35
950km more to got to find a car wash for the final picture

So just 600 miles to go and he's thinking of the finish tonight. Normal riders would consider it a weeks holiday!!!!!!



michiel kerkhof Posted: 13 May 2010 at 6:58pm


thanks god we're not normal....go philip go.....



kevinw Posted: 13 May 2010 at 7:38pm

Amen Brother.

Kevin

FazerPhil Posted: 13 May 2010 at 8:25pm

I sent him a reply last time to say don't clean the bike or it will look like he trailered it down and just received this.
13th May 21.12
You're right sometimes I am too Swiss( he's Dutch!!!). Another 400 KM to go.
I replied that he was well on schedule and got this reply
13th May 21.18
Yep I'm taking some food and getting dressed again. It feels a bit sad that everything will be over in a couple of hours. C'est La Vie.

I'm sure we all understand that sentiment at the end of an extreme ride.

Little Toe Posted: 13 May 2010 at 9:02pm

Philip - best of luck with the ride and I'm looking forward to the Ride Report.


Ray F Walton Posted: 13 May 2010 at 9:02pm


Nice one Philip.  

ks6c Posted: 14 May 2010 at 5:13am

 You need a SPOT, Philip, so we can ride these rides with you!

GarminDave Posted: 14 May 2010 at 7:03am

Has he done it?

What an effort and we have all had that end of an extreme ride feeling of 'Dam its over!'

Later

Dave

FazerPhil Posted: 14 May 2010 at 7:52am

I went to bed around 11 last night but just had to lave my phone on. I was awoken by
14th May 01.07
The ride is over this is the direction sign just after the runway before the roundabout next to the gas station

There was no picture attached but then he had riden for 3 days so can be excused!!!


DONE PHILIP
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE END OF JULY AND BUYING YOU A BOTTLE OF WINE. 

FazerPhil Posted: 14 May 2010 at 8:38am

14th May 0830
I've just had a call from Gibraltar. I couldn't believe how coherent Philip was. He has certainly had a big adventure and is taking a couple of days getting back to Switzerland for a weeks family holiday.There is rain in Spain.
Seems the hardest thing is adapting from the north of Norway roads and conditions to Spain all in one ride!!!

FazerPhil Posted: 14 May 2010 at 9:03am

 Philip's sat nav showed 5723km covered in 3 days.
That is 3576 miles!!!  and not much motorway in the North of scandinavia


FazerPhil Posted: 14 May 2010 at 9:44am


Got the pic. Philip about to leave Gibraltar at 0945



kevinw Posted: 14 May 2010 at 9:47am


FazerPhil Posted: 14 May 2010 at 10:13am

Pics coming thick and fast now Philip has finished his mission and on holiday!!!!!!  




FazerPhil Posted: 14 May 2010 at 10:22am


Philip says he plans to take it easy today with a few siestas under olive trees in the sun...........  
Makes me wonder why we like to go to Europe.....


ks6c Posted: 14 May 2010 at 3:37pm

Incredible, Philip!  Enjoy your well-deserved holidays. 


phisdelo Posted: 15 May 2010 at 12:11am

Only now I dear to return to the real world and hit an internet line. Was very fine in my own little LDR world. Ever since Phil told me this very morning, he posted some of our exchanges on the forum, I am pondering how to communicate about this ride.
As some know, I"ve droped a line here and there and by PM on this forum that the project was in the making, but, as we all know, it had only a 10% rate of success (as per binary thinking rules....). 2/3 days before departure it was still snowing like crazy with low skies etc... And then Thursday morning I won the bigest LDR lotery price "a weather slot". The weather forcast for Nordkapp showed a slot of 48h at +5C, between Sunday night and Wednesday morning. Off I was in preparing my gear, confirming accomodation, ferry etc... . And - hocus pocus, everything clicked. A couple of lucky, common sense decisions farther and the project was rolling.
This extreme ride clocked till now over 10000 km in 7 days with one rest day, for souvenir shoping and driving around the place to get a feel of it, on the third day, but above all in order to prepare for the start and recuperate from getting up there, 4000km in 48h was a nice warm up session. Thus looking over all at something in excess of 2+4 SS 1k rides in one week, with 2/3 covering of the distance in new territory, which I had never driven before at that time of the year.
I'l try to put a ride report of some sort together in the coming week and tell you as much possible of the emotional and adventurous side of this project. I do not think that as speaking to IBA riders, I need to delve into the training, organisation, bike preparing and other practicalities, which are requested to face such an extreme ride.
So far, as said to Phil, I am still decanting as well my own thoughts and impressions and sometimes I shiver from the emotions of these last days. It all went very fast, very stressful and very energy taking. At this moment I am freewheeling to Figueras to check out the Dali museum first thing tomorrow, change ideas, resource myself in the Massif Central on Saturday in one of my favourite places, along the Compostelle pilgrim road and then return home on Sunday.
I promise to tell you all about the deer, the suicide of my deer wistle after some scientific testing, the mousse, the breath taking landscapes, the snow storm, fjord tunnels, fjord driving and the Sami people I met, but also the bus stop naping, the cables along the Swedish roads, the 3/4 times I was close to call it quits, the meeting with an Italian motorbike driver *who happened to pass by Nordkapp* (only Italian can do this), but also a young couple on a motorbike finishing their 6 months  trip which started in South Africa, the two young scandinavian girls on their bicycles who used the weather slot too and could not stop dancing and congratulating each other when arriving at the monument.
As you all know this is not my native language so I will try to put something coherent together, but be forgiving in advance.
Voila, I can feel the fatigue leaping up so I will leave it at this. Suffice to say, refering to an other LDR JY, when I crashed on Sunday moning for a short 3h sleep in a hotel next to Stockholm airport, before sinking away, after a grueling 2000km ride, I knew at this moment in my life, I did not want to be anywhere else than here and looking forward for the adventure to unfold itself.
Bonne nuit... and have some good dreams...
PS sorry for the typing the Spanish keyboard is a bit etrange.


codcutter Posted: 15 May 2010 at 7:07am

WELL DONE Philip
will forgive the typo's and grammar, you're probably a bit tired

Belizibub Posted: 15 May 2010 at 8:07am

Outstanding Philip, Look forward to reading your report

Little Toe Posted: 15 May 2010 at 8:41am

Well done Philip, that sounds like it was one of the best adventures you've had.
Your ride report I'm sure will be a very entertaining read, and an inspiration for others to follow in your trye tracks.

FazerPhil Posted: 15 May 2010 at 9:40am

Philip. That was a good write up for a Dutch man (who thinks in binary!!) from Switzerland typing on a Spanish keyboard in English.


I enjoyed being part of your ride and hope I helped in some way.

michiel kerkhof Posted: 15 May 2010 at 9:49am

well done philip....we can all imagine the tiredness as well as the glory of this ride extremis....looking forward to reading your report....

Bazzer Posted: 15 May 2010 at 5:24pm

Well done Phillip, an impressive achievement from a good bloke.
Ignore Phil, we all know its us that are binary thinkers and not you.

ks6c Posted: 24 May 2010 at 4:06am

I was just looking on the IBA's Certified Ride Finishers page and discovered that - when certified - Philip will be 1 of only 8 riders in the world to have done this ride!
Another WELL DONE, Philip!

phisdelo Posted: 25 May 2010 at 1:21pm

Thank you all for your support, I just read again what I wrote 10 days ago and this was a very big omission on my behalf so next time I need to pay drinks again!
I am only back from holidays this morning so I need to do a lot of catch up on my paper work.
Funny you have been looking at this Dan!
In fact, although I got an EM from IBA US in January confirming acceptance of my 1st SS1000 in July last year ride with my IBA number, I am still in the process to get mail confirmation with all the memorabilia I've ordred with it. I reminded them this on the 27th of April and Ira replied that it should go out shortly!! Last month I did an BBG, because one can't do an extreme ride without having one and the certification is with Roger.... and in the coming days, I'll be puting together the doc for this ride to Roger too.
I seem also to be a premier member as I get all the attached mails ...
Perhaps we meet this summer, I presently try to put together an E2EG in the UK with a UK friend of mine....

Regards to Vicky

FazerPhil Posted: 25 May 2010 at 2:39pm

Philip when you come to the UK we must meet.
I live just 6 miles from the M5 near Bristol. if I'm riding by then I would love to ride some or all of the way with you.

We have two spare beds for you both and can also ensure some good hospitality 

phisdelo Posted: 25 May 2010 at 4:18pm

Don't you worry Phil, now that I only need to do the reverse i.e. Gibraltar/Nordkapp, we'll do that together!+ any other ride that may come along ....
Dan, there must be some issues on the consolidation of these lists, because if I take the Finish list on the N/G chapter, there are already more than 15 riders, but only one on the 10'000 mile ride!!

I think you should take this IT job of IBA US and do some serious international consolidation of these lists!

ks6c Posted: 26 May 2010 at 11:48pm

You bet I was following this, Philip - I couldn't miss a great ride.  And, no, I don't have any spare time for IT jobs, I'm retired .
Ray and I are riding the E2EG on June 16th - you're welcome to join us.

John Young Posted: 29 May 2010 at 12:11pm

Phillip,
I'm desperately hoping to fit this ride in myself this year (but not on a Meriden triple).
Reading your article has renewed my determination

John


Bazzer Posted: 29 May 2010 at 3:56pm

Getting yourself a super Kwacker then John?

John  Young Posted: 29 May 2010 at 4:03pm

After the emotional and very nice posting "youngish" Bazzer put on the forum about me earlier in the week, it looks as though things may have returned to normal .....  


phisdelo Posted: 29 May 2010 at 7:34pm

Hi ALL,
Just did my paperwork and except for when I went for the loo in Germany, for which I lost the ticket, everything seems to be in best order.
Will be in the post on Monday!
Looks like ODO 5979, GPS 5723, left 11.05.2010 Nordkapp @3:11 AM, arrived Gibraltar 14.05.2010 @1:44 AM.
Very happy to read that my custom/cruiser Yam XV1900=super Kwacker! thanks for that Bazzer. Although besides one UK IBA rider, I don't see many around in Europe; must be a mistake on the others behalf.

Dan, I am wheeling&dealing with Denise presently on the E2EG, no success yet but still making progress, so nothing is lost. Where is the meeting point on the 15.06?

ks6c Posted: 30 May 2010 at 1:00am

Ray and I have reservations at the Sunny Bank hotel in Sennen, Steve is still working on his.  Looking to depart early (like midnight, if they can wake me up  ) on the 16th.  Reservations for the night of the 16th are at the Sea View in JOG.
It would be great to see you there!

Ray F Walton Posted: 30 May 2010 at 2:36pm

I'll second that 

phisdelo Posted: 07 June 2010 at 10:59am

I am in.
Meet you at Seaview Sennen, early afternoon, 15.06.2010.
All reservations done, even the bike service on Monday 14.06, (need some tires changed..).

Phil, do we still have coffee when we'll turn the corner?

ks6c Posted: 07 June 2010 at 2:15pm

Ray thinks we'll be turning the corner about 2 a.m. - should be a great time to drop in on FazerPhil!

FazerPhil Posted: 07 June 2010 at 5:11pm

Yes we do , Just say when