The Maiden Voyage of Ramalama and Shakalaka

There two young bicycles, Ramala and Shakalaka, identical twins they are.

In order to tell them apart one needs a Ding Dong, the other a Boom boom. 

Itching and twitching to seek out adventure and wild roguery, to discover their true identities they gathered their necessities for the road and left propelled by their peanut powered riders (that's us that is).

For days through soggy wet sand they cycled. The wind and the rain in their faces, the sand in their bearings and rainbows to greet them at the end of each day.

They arrived in Rennes at La Petite Rennes where Ramalama found a Ding Dong and Shakalaka picked up a rear view mirror.

Oh the joy! We are begining to tell them apart! 

 

It rained and it rained and it rained. The wind blew and it blew and it blew in their faces. All the way from Rennes to Belin Beliet and all the other places.

Soggy wet picnics and flasks of hot tea kept us going! 

Gilbert, the hero who escaped from the clutches of the thieves!

He is happy to be dry and on the road again, flitter fluttering in the wind, enjoying the views.

Aaah the open road! It leads... Where does it lead? He doesn't know yet.

 

Wherever they stopped, Rama and Lama, Shaka and Laka attracted the attention of cute little kitty cats!

Things are looking up! 

Two cats! Two punctures!? Is there a link? We can't find one. But it is certain that our twins will need a tyre upgrade before too long. 

The wind it was outrageous! The storm raged and the trees fell, scattered across our paths. Over and over again we took detours and carried Ramalama and Shakalaka over the debris and the trunks. 

 As always, here the random bicycle art. Some abandoned night club graffiti and an impressively stylish retro cyclo accessoires logo. 

 Hop hop, back on the road!

We are always looking out for signs of the elk society. Beuglons en coeur! Bellow with all your hearts!

Giants will walk the earth once again! 

The signs lead us on for 3 weeks and 3 days. A total of 1214km in 21 days of cycling, mostly in the rain, 3 days of sheltering from the storm and a couple of days rest to give our little bottoms some relief from breaking in saddles.

We have visited old friends, made many new friends and discovered new places to do our show come spring.

But for now we have arrived at our winter quarters. 

When they don't have chores to do like fetching water and going shopping, Ramalama and Shalkalaka are safely tucked away at the bottom of the stairs. 

Our legs have been stretched back into walking position, we have gathered our senses and Sylvia is in the directors chair ready for the remaking of Jonny Jeegante & The Bici Benshi. 

 

And where is Kevin you might ask!?

He is  in the dressing room, dreaming of the all singing and dancing Carmen Munchita Cabaret.

But more about that another time.

We did it! All of us together! Goal achieved!

Just as we got rolling again everything got stolen!

Literally everything! The bicycles, the show, the dream, the giant, our underknockers, everything!

Aaaaaaaaaah! We screamed, silently and philosophically and prepared ourselves to start walking bra less and barefoot into the unknown.

However! Our friends jumped in to our rescue and willed us to get the giants back on the road again.

And helas, only a month later we did it!  All of us together! Goal achieved!

With some of the money raised we have already ordered brand new upgraded bicycles with a special generous deal and some extra goodies from Yuba Bicycles.

To remake the whoe show we have lots of work to do. We will take our time over the winter, ready for a mind blowing 2024 tour.

 Gilbert miraculously survived! We found him lying in the road! He had jumped ship as the thieves drove off with our bicycles loaded into the back of their van.

Here he is! He'll dream about better days to come and for now tell you of a few tales from the road this past June.

On the Loire Gilbert led us to a cemetery of lost plants, extinct species a sad sight to behold.

https://www.facebook.com/p/LOasis-du-Dragon-100075919988480/

 

It did however inspire Cornwall Climate Care to set up something similar at Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park. 

Going, going…. Gone?

You might worry about rhinos or tigers going extinct – but what about species right here in Cornwall?

 Bicycle culture on the other hand we found is  very much alive and on your plate here in France!

Gilbert had a long conversation with the singing and cycling carrot and came back with a bag full of cheese. 

 In Toucy a new D.I.Y. bike workshop has opened it's doors. 

What a name for a bike workshop! Prize winning even! Rustine = puncture repair patch, hi hi hi hi!

The last show we did was here with Rustine Bieber at La Californie in Toucy.

 Gilbert also found a magnificent stash of mini bikes at Rustine Bieber! Long live Les Velobici!

And long live the Metal Clowns! What's a metal clown? What's a Velobici?

 "Let's roar together, unyielding, unrestrained, forever!" the call of the Elk Society: "Beuglons en choer!"

On our travels we've been looking for signs of the Elk Society. We found Colette  by 13 Bis and a playground Elk.

A coquerelles feather atop Pola Negri and a much loved flatpack hat. I miss you dearly!

And a very pretty wall to share with you. It'll still stand there when we are long gone.

Gilbert was getting into flying as a rare drag queen death head moth. He'll get to fly again!

These are the last photographs we have of our much loved bikes. Bye bye Ray Mundo and Flotte Lotte!

We shall miss you dearly!

 

On the road again

With a bittersweet farewell to the Wolfpack of the Southwest, we set forth on our journey,

ready to traverse the roads and cycleways of Europe, brimming with anticipation for the adventures that lay ahead.

 

 The Wolfpack, united and resilient after their spirited escapade with XR in London, howled within our hearts as we embarked on this new chapter.

https://wolves.live/how-to-play/

Leaving behind Millbrook in Cornwall, we gathered our bicycles and belongings, eager to escape the confines of  prison island. Crossing the waters, we arrived on the shores of France. Passport control greeted us with the words "Tampon pas" meaning no stamp in the passport.Our freedom to roam, unshackled from the clutches of Brexit, had been restored.  YES!

Relishing the voies vertes, the greenways that crisscrossed Brittany we made our way from Roscoff to Les Monts d'Arrée, we encountered both old friends and new, reconnecting with the open road and all its wonderful peoples. 

Undeterred by the pouring rain, we persisted for five days, Finally, we arrived chez Kate, Marco, and Antoine, where we immersed ourselves in two glorious weeks of decluttering, painting, sewing indulging in the aromatic sizzle of Marcos barbecues and navigating our way through the enchanted depths of a forest.

 

Mounted upon our invisible bicycles, we defied the whims of the mischievous wind, gliding with reckless abandon through fields adorned with vibrant flora that seemed to whisper secrets of the universe.

 

Finally sensible signage, made by cyclists for cyclists! Hurray! Merci Paul Beucher for keeping the voie verte alive, sheltering cyclists and serving coffee at "Le Foutelay"

 

Venturing deeper into the realm of Normandie until we reached the welcoming embrace of La Ferme d'Escures. There, we dedicated two more weeks to sculpting our show, bringing life to the puppets Jacquespierrot and Tapatatumpa, as they swiftly mastered the nuances of the French language in preparation for their grand debuts.

 

  

The theatre awaits, a stage set for the french premiere of Jonny Jeegante and the Bici Benshi. With hearts pounding and nerves aflutter, we unleashed our performance upon the world. The Saturday and Sunday shows resonated with triumph, intertwining laughter, and applause. "Une histoire rocambolesque!" 

The puppets performed brilliantly, It was a feast of collective joy, accompanied by the indulgence of delectable slices of cake from Elisa, with Miriams delicious strawberries on top and cider from Hubert. 

Au revoir les amis!

https://www.fermedescures.fr/

Down the Mayenne, our wheels spun, propelling us towards Montflours, a rendezvous with more friends Les Radis and Co. 

 Once again, we summoned forth a spectacle of magnificence, this time under the open skies. The audience's smiles and applause fuelled our spirits, our journey was to be shared  with all the newly found  Grand Cerfs - Beuglons!

 Now eastward along the Loire, to see yet more old friends and another performance in Toucy

 

                                                        

We will then head south, toward the the Festival du Roc Castel au Caylar. L'éloge du voyage lent, a festival that honours the art of slow travel. 

https://festival-roc-castel.eu/

 

May the road unfold before us, painting our lives with stories yet untold.