Distance since last post: 75kmWeather: Cloudy, rainy.Forecast: Bad for the next 3-days. Looks like I’ll have to be careful!Notes: Crashed into a lamppost while I was trying to mount my bike. No damage. Phew! View towards Remagen (two bridge towsers can be seen at base of hill) in terrible weather. No sun, no energy although [...]
When I did my first tests and calculations about the use of solar power to drive a PC I was quite amazed at the inefficiency of the process and today’s ‘laboratory conditions’ test proves just how much room for improvement there is. It’s thanks to devices like UMPCs that this is project is at all possible [...]
This part of the Rhein, from Bingen, all the way up to Bonn, is really wonderful. And the campsites just keep getting better!
I’m still not 100% sure how much energy I managed to capture today but it looks like around 30W which should give me enough time to post without too much worry. I stopped at about 10:45 and set up my solar collection point, ate my breakfast and waited. And waited. And got a bit bored! [...]
Distance since lost post: 15kmWeather: Clouds thinningNotes: I don’t have much faith in the lead-acid battery. The Li-Ion battery seems to be charging much more reliably. Another day completed and I feel like I’m getting into a better rhythm. Checking emails and RSS on the mobile phone and creating rich journal updates with the Q1b. [...]
Distance since last post: 40kmWeather: Mixed, cloudy. Hazy. Warm 20-22 degreesNotes: Feeling really good. No aches. Pushing harder today. Cant stop eating sultanas! The hills on each side of the Rhein are getting bigger! Winter is coming…If you take notice of the geese that is. I saw a flock flying south (following the River perhaps) [...]
Location: OppenheimDistance since last post: 68KmWeather: Hot with 50% cloud coverForecast: Heavier cloud tomorrow. Clearing toward Thursday.Notes: Problem with the Lead-acid battery today. It didn’t seem to charge. Will concentrate on loading the Li-Ion battery tomorrow. Due to the cloudy weather I decided to cycle all the way through to the campsite in one stage [...]
Or thereabouts. It was a long hard day and ill write a bit more about it later. I’ve updated the map and am just off to have some food.
Location: Here (just south of Ludwigshaven)Distance since last post: 27.1kmWeather: Warm 25 degrees C. Some cloud cover.Notes: Counted 33 mosquito bites from last night. My back got eaten. There must have been one in the tent. He’s full up now! When I arrived at the campsite this evening, the tent area was empty. About 30 [...]