Still alive – A special thank You

Hello. I am still alive, still on my scooter and last but not least i’m on my schedule. But the most difficult thing is finding internet.
First of all I want to do some special thanks. To al the people who already donated money on the account of the child cancer foundation. It is very important for me, and for the project that there are people who wants to support right from the beginning. It is a motivation to go on. And after a week I dare to say that I will make it. I like it and without serious troubles I will arive at the Doka café with a scooter.
I can say that it is the most brilliant thing I ever did in my life. Being outside, feel that you are alive and see the ever changing landscape. I can also say that it will be a once in a lifetime thing. But knowing that makes sure that I am enjoying every moment. For all the people who believed in me, and in the project, thank you very much. This is also your Ride Against Cancer.

Joachim

Two new songs on the Go Gear Against Cancer!

I had some minutes ago a delicious breakfast outside. The sun already shining and I have decide that I don't will have stress anymore. I will see wich way the wind will blow. One thing is sure I don't try to arrange a sleeping place in the big city's, may be I just visit them.
But it's almost eleven o'clock in the morning and I will leave soon. But I want to put two new songs on the Go Gear Against Cancer!

The River - Bruce Springsteen posted by Gino Tanghe because it is his favourite song. It's reminding him to the years he was a student. With a group of friends they wanted to give a party to celebrate the last months of the last schoolyear. But years ago it was not easy, the head of the school didn't like those things. But they tought, what ever, let's do it. I think it is a very good way of life. But after the party the school head was not so happy and they had to give al their money back. But what Gino wants to say is that, even he don't hear anybody of his friends of that time anymore, the good memories will stay forever. Thinking back of that time, with the River and Bruce Springsteen.

My good friend Kevin Deberdt posted It's a beautifull day - U2. I became crazy when I read his mail because it's a very good song. Kevin didn't want a emo song. And although it is a little bit cliché, Kevin thinks that if everybody would use this song to wake up, the world would be a lot better.

So long and good luck,

Joachim

Some words out of Place X

Hello everybody,

place X will be for ever a secret of We Ride Against Cancer, exept for the people who made me sleep here and not under the open sky. I will be forever gratefull to them, and never forget their support. Anyway, everything is OK with me. I didn't drive to much with the scooter today, but I like to drive so it's never to much. Let´s say, I didn't do a lot of kilometres. I took the time to put some things in a row an think back on my life, on the first days, on my dreams and wishes and on my illusions. Some of them are gone forever, what not means I walk with my head down. It´s for some reasons Walk On from U2 is one of my favourite songs on the Go Gear Against Cancer.

I realised it already months ago, but today I was taking some time to think about it, that some people are unforgetable, no matter what happens in your life. It's for such a people I do this road trip. It takes only one minute to close them in your heart, and to never let them down anymore. Truus was such a girl, the base of this tour. And also Meghanne Beun is such a girl. What follows is the song she wants on the Go Gear against Cancer:

Toca para mi - Alejandro Sanz because, "In a way, you always fascinated me. Allso your new project is again super I think! At the moment I'm in a very unpleasant situation. I don't like the studies that I'm doing. But when I see then how you're chasing your dreams, it gives me hope and desire for a simular challenge for me. So if people tell you how crazy or even foolish you are to come to Belgium by scooter, just keep in mind that from time to time, I would love to be in your place! Yo te quiero oir, quiero formar parte de tu locura!!! Big kiss honey"!Meghann

With this next video I want to honour all the people I close in my heart forever, and all the students with dreams in a difficult situation now. Place X will forever be their place. The video comes later

Greetz,

Joachim

On the way to Montpellier!

Hello everybody,

I have to say, sleeping outside can be romantic, but you have to be with two. Because all the beautifull things dissapear in nothing if you have to sleep oustside because there is no place for you, are they cannot help you. They want, but they can't, then I think yeah, yeah right. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HyQBbGC3cQ.

But I survived. I slept in front of the monastery like I said, but on a wall of a half a meter high, and I could just lay down on it. The birds woke me up, owkey that's a little romantic even if you are alone, but it was six o'clock in the morning. Doing nothing was no option, so I decided to leave Carcassonne hoping on a better day, with more luck.

But it was freezing on my scooter so early in the morning. The wind was still cold, and the sun didn't woke up yet. Everything was gray, and a beautifull country lose a lot of his beauty. So I hoped to not meet Murphy and his law today and that he saved the rain for later. Anyway I didn't met him, or not in the weather case.

Because after a while the sun came up. Before that I tought I was in really trouble. I needed gasoline and for sure a toilet. But in the little villages I passed by there was nothing open. And there are probleme's with my cart to take money. I think the only probleme is that there is no money on it, haha. So I could not take fuel. But just when I needed fuel lady luck smiled to me and there was a fuelstation, and an old women worked even on sunday morning.

The weather became better and better and the route was nice. Only one probleme, if you have to sleep outside you cannot load your battery of your sellphone, of your photocamera so even you guys will share in my probleme's. But the route changed from industry to sea, beaches without a building in a distance from some kilometres. To very touristic places, so it was a verry variated day.

I arrived already at noon in Montpellier, the city I would stay the night. But the people of the big city's don't feel like help other people so I decided not to stay there and after spending a noon there taking my scooter in the direction of Nîmes.

But I made a capital mistake. I wanted to go to the countryside and I took one exit of the big route I was driving on. La grande Marmotte. I couldn't believe my eyes, only hotels, Casino restaurants and boats. I tought about the worst, and indead it came true.

I asked to more than thirty people if they could help me, but no one could. Even if I said that I slept last night under the open sky. One couple gave me six euro, and I was very gratefull. Some people are really arrogant. Some make jokes, but the most stupid one I heard was the wife who said, and does it not going, sleeping outside. The weather is good. I tought heaven help. Why is a 21-year old guy fighting for solidarity for the child cancer foundation if other people not care about a roof above your head. It makes me angry, it makes me a little dissapointed but I keep on going.

I think back on two nights ago, no I realisy how nice a bed, to sleep alone, can be.

I went to all the hotels, and said I could make publicity on the website who is well visit. But no one could help me. One sympatic girl of the reception gaves me a bottle of water, and three biscuits. But she would not make a call to ask if there was a bed for free. It's not her fault that other people not care about you, it is my fault to take the wrong turn. So today I sleep before a church.

Good night,

Joachim

Sleeping under the open sky

Hello,

day 2 of the We Ride Against Cancer tour. It was a nice and easy ride, to Carcassonne. I started early because I had to do extra kilometres. First to Girona before going to Figueras. I didn't go to Rosas because otherwise I had to turn back and the only reason I wanted to go was because I was there on holiday with my parents years ago. But I don't live in the history so I decided to go directly to Perpignan, Narbonne and Carcassonne.

I was a few times scared because I tought I was driving on the highway, and that's the only thing I cannot do. Cars were flying by, I only praid. But after a while I saw the option to go on on the same road who became little smaller because the most of the people chose to take the highway. So I did the right thing.

The weather was nice and the sun burned hard. Even I am a very social person I can enjoy a time on my own. And may be it sounds stupid to drive on a scooter and not on a bike, but on my scooter I feel I am really living. I like speed, so going hard with the scooter, the wind blowing next to you ears and having wonderfull views, it's amasing. But just at the Spanish border, no speed, nothing. I stopped some minutes to take some pictures and I want to start again, nothing happened. I felt it like a sign that I had to stay in Spain. I was cursing, because I know nothing from scooters. But after a while, I could go on. Carcassonne here I come.

I was a little nervous to find a sleeping place tonight. But I said for myself that this trip has to be special in every way. So I only ask five times If I can sleep in the house of the people. If they do a phonecall, no probleme. But if they say no, I only ask four times more. And this is the result of today.

I had to be at 18.00h at placa des Canots. And I tought I was a lucky guy if I saw that the French Liga Against Cancer also was doing something to raise money. They sell vegetables. So I saw my chance coming and I explained my project, I asked if they could help me with a place to sleep. The wife said, yeah, there are a lot of hotels here. I tought, another answer like this and it starts to rain. Anyway I hope it don't rain because in the last place I asked to sleep the answer was even worse. It was in a monastery and it was an old man who opened the door. Don't ask me what he is doing between a lot of old non's. Anyway I could stay there for 25 euro's. I said, I only need a couch to sleep, and I leave early in the morning. No, no, no, it was not possible, he had to keep him to the orders. I said it´s not going about orders, it´s solidarity where it is all about. So I decided to sleep before the gate under the open sky. Those who know´s me really good, they know I will do for sure. A like Nike shoes, and an expensive watch, but to prove that we all have to be a little more solidaire, I have enough with an open sky, and ... a good weather. I hope.

To see what hapened last night in the hotel you can follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q-9rNfQlT8

In a while there will be come songs for the Go Gear Against Cancer. To find out why that song you have to look to the reactions of the Go Gear Against Cancer message.

If you want you can do a bet where I will sleep next night. There are a lot of options I want to try. Anyway, we keep in touch.

Greetings out of Carcassonne,

Joachim

Nightrider!

Hello,

the spanish lifestyle is one I love. But sometimes it makes you scared. I travel to the border of Spain on the N-II. It's a beautifull route next to the sea, but with a lot of hills. The Spanish lifestyle made me leave at 20.30h in stead of 16.00h. The nice band started playing around seven, to late for me, before saying goodbye to everybody it was after eight. I couldn't do anything about it, but I wanted to leave, not stay another night in Barcelona. You have to know I am serious of making it to Belgium. But people can say, Joachim, you are loco but I was thinking it myself. Everything dark, cars passing by, me and my scooter at the right side the sea, at the left side the hill. I was thinking, yeah yeah, you can be a fool, but it's not possible to risk your life on the first day.
Another probleme was that I am not in a big city know. Girona was to far, Rosas impossible and if I wanted to sleep somewhere I had to make a choice. But this week-end it`s the motor GP of Catalunya, all the hotels are full. So I took the first the best I tought. And I have luck. I can stay here but in the weekend of the motoGP unpossible to sleep for free. So I paid the bill of this little but nice hotel where two girls are dancing Flamenco. I know already that I will miss Spain. My plans for tomorrow is leave on time, going to Girona, Rosas, Cadacques before travelling to Carcassonne. I have to be there for an interview at 18.00h.
You can watch a video of me on Youtube by following this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alQEbJzdKrU

Buenos noches,

the pilote

Some minutes to go!

Hello everybody,

i tested the scooter in the centre, everything is ready. But now I have a connection with internet and i want to show you some of the pictures.

When I have more time, i will make photo-album and put the link here.

In some minutes I try to leave the city centre. I pray for a good trip and very nice weather.

Hasta luego,

Joachim, Barcelona centre, 30 degrees.