At the last moment I decide to go to Eurobike. I don’t really like flying and there is no airport nearby, so I am taking the train instead. It’s a long journey, but at least that gives me some time to read. I made a new year’s resolution to read 24 books this year, and in my wife’s family, these resolutions are taken seriously. It’s a tradition to write them down and verify at the end of the year how well you’ve executed them. Anything less than a 50% score is definitely a recipe for some ridicule. I’m a little below the required pace, but I can still make it.
Unfortunately, I don’t get to read much because I’ve caught something and feel sick. I’m happy to get to the hotel, and hope that a good night’s sleep will cure it.
It doesn’t. Not only am I sick, I also slept in a wrong position and I can barely walk straight now. My neck, my back, my shoulders, everything hurts, this is brutal. I get to the show, have a few meetings (suppliers, industry friends, etc) but go back to my hotel quickly.
On the Friday, I feel still just as bad as I did the day before. On top of that, my uncle has passed away so I need to go back to the Netherlands for a funeral tomorrow. Before I leave, I quickly meet with the frame builder. The first mold is ready, they just finished making the first frame so it’s exciting to see the photos. It looks underwhelming, as the first frames out of the mold always do, but you can already see the beauty in it so I’m excited (as excited as one can be while feeling like a wet towel). Then I have to run off to get to the train station.
The only way to get back home is via a route with five stop-overs! Given how I feel, this is less than ideal. Of course one of my train is delayed, I run like crazy to catch my connection – which I don’t – and the run causes my body to ache in ways I didn’t think possible. With the connection missed, I can’t make it home that evening anymore and I need to call in a favor from my brother to come pick me up in Duesseldorf. A forgettable week.
