Basel Switzerland Firefighters
Yesterday we cycled the last 120 km from Mulhouse, France to Basel, Switzerland. It took us longer than expected as we spent much of the day dodging quite extreme thunderstorms and associated heavy downpours. We were lucky to find shelter in an old barn and an old abandoned brick house.
The land is very flat with few trees. We were certainly the high point on our bikes. Pretty helpless feeling with no shelter and the storm chasing us. A direct strike on us certainly would have melted our tires or worst melted our last 6 Kit Kat bars!
Finally made Basel after 6 p.m. We were hosted by Biffy who we met through Warmshowers, a website that cyclists share their homes with other travelling cyclists. Biffy had prepared an awesome meal for us as well with hot tea and wine to drink. She is a school teacher in Basel and originally from Christchurch, New Zealand. We had a great evening of food, drink and learning about Switzerland. Basel is split by three countries: France, Germany and Switzerland. Some people live in one country and walk across the street to work in the other. Businesses and factories set up in the country with the best tax benefits.
The next day we were picked up at Biffy’s by six of Basel’s finest firefighters and an old pumper truck for a tour of the city by bike. We rode to where you can stand near three separate countries in one spot, took a ferry across the river and finished at the giant fire station downtown. They had some media there, few speeches and food and refreshments. The Swiss are very efficient and organized people. We also met Markus, the man in charge of the Race Against Cancer, who we will be working with in Switzerland. I think the fire chief liked me after we chatted because he went in and came back out to give me a badge, a Swiss Army knife with the Basel Fire Department engraved on it, and a book on the history of the department. We then rode the old pumper across town with Sebastion, Renato, Markus, Patrick, Yvres and Bruno escorting us. The people downtown all stood and stared. It was one of the highlights of my entire ride, what a great group of firefighter brothers. We all shared emails and already have shared Facebook links. They have promised to come to Vancouver and Whistler to ski or ride the bike park. I was so sad to leave them.
Lightning Storm in France
Tomorrow we cycle to Root, Switzerland with the Zurich firefighters after a media and awareness session at 9 a.m. downtown. I have my speech memorized in German but will not sleep to well until it’s over. I really hope my fundraising ideas will help their effort for their specific cause.
Then on to St. Gotthard Pass the day after with more firefighters to see how high we can get (it’s 2,000 metres). Italy is on the other side.
Apparently there is a metre of snow halfway up, so it may be closed. Will give it our best shot. Stay tuned!
I am a firefighter from Canada circumnavigating the globe by bicycle for breast, prostate, and lung cancer charity.
I recently crossed the United States from Vancouver Canada down the Pacific Coast to San Diego and Mexico then across the continent to the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. Currently cycling crossing Europe from Portugal to the Turkey/Iran border.
My global ride site that maps me on Google Maps is www.firefightercycle.com
Read my blogs sign up on twitter @copsfire, or RSS feed here
