#lukepeeters

October 2016: Italy (7th-10th)

Varigotti, Loano & Finale Ligur

Who would’ve thought Italy would be the where we’d start our love for surfing? None of us apart from those whom already owned boards. After a visit it Turtle Beach Surf shop in Liguria, Andora Joe and George ended up a surfboard and wetsuit each with the extras like leash, wax and fins for free, with great thanks to the owner of the shop who came and gave great discount.

Having my eye on a 8 1/2 foot long board which i should've bought, but was indecisive and passed the opportunity, ill later regret this. Like kids at Christmas Joe and George got waxing their boards and rushed to the med sea. The waves were very small but there eagerness was refreshing.

A few days were spent in the surrounding area, we visited a nudest beach by mistake where we snorkelled,kayaked and of corse Joe and George got naked with the other naked italian men, but the beauty of this spot was it was hard to get to for the faint hearted with a rock climb via rope down a cliff to get the beach. I’m not great with things like this so i didn't go and neither did Hannah, so we kayaked around to me everyone. 

I ended up having to drive back an hour to Liguria to purchase the board i should've got when Joe and George got theres. This time the owner wasn't there and i was kinda worried id end up paying full price so i explained to the lady behind the counter via google translate my friends received discount from the owner and i would like the same... after a phone call she gave me 33% off, result!

October 2016: Switzerland (1st)

Nesslau & Bedretto

Awoken by the sound of passing traffic, i unzipped the roof tent and poke my weathered face to fresh autumn morning. My legs were slightly aching from the walk the previously day and this was more apparent when i clambered out. Today marks the day that Luke was introduced to world 27 years ago, he now joins the elite group of 27 with Nath and myself.

The three of us have know each other since we met riding bikes back 15 years ago just goes to prove time goes so quick. The sound of clanging echoed from over the road, Alpine Braunvieh cattle were grazing watching us as we feast on the usual breakfast of noodles or peanut butter toast. These cows are breed for the milk so i’m glad we weren't looking at the next Big Mac or sirloin steak.

We were indeed parked up on the side of the road but with so much greenery around us i think you can’t beat these spots, ok so you get the occasional car drive past at night lighting up the roof tent as if it were day time but for a large percentage its is hush with just the sound of chirping birds, free flowing water and obviously the clang of  a brass bell wrapped around multiple cattle.

Luke isn't one for fuss, so after some exploration around the bank they’d found a fresh water river. It was decided that we’d chill down by the river, the water was unbelievably freezing, I'm not talking cold I'm talking go in for too longer and you are definitely getting hypothermia. My skin went tight and breath short but so what this was so refreshing, Everyone went in apart from Nath blaming his illness from yesterday for the reason he wouldn't get.. a bit of a water diva if I'm honest but his loss, with clean clothes and minds, a few hours were spent watching life/cars&bikes go by. I never mentioned when in Luxembourg City George picked up a Nikon D70 and lens second hand with like 8k actuations for an absolute steal, since then he's been going photo crazy, shooting everything he see’s i wish i could recreate that feeling of owning my first DSLR which happened to be a Nikon D70s with 18-70mm, that camera rocked.

September 2016: Germany (16th-21st)

Stuttgart

Kulturbetrieb Wagenhallen (Culture company Wagenhallen) Luke had located a spot in an industrial area which he believed would be good to stay in the city, this time we google map (satellite view) as a fail safe.

We arrive at what looks like an art college and makeshift bar social area, theres a road running parallel to the brick units and a path that cuts through to the other side which isn't a road. Luke wonders off leaving us to explore the surrounding area, he comes back looking hyped “theres campers here!!” Great i think to myself must mean its kinda legit. Though free camping is legal in Germany I'm pretty sure this place doesn't fit the criteria of what most would describe as a free camping area. But who cares, the worst that could happen is we get moved on by the police.

Manoeuvring some obstacles to make way for the truck and vans we finally arrive at a large open gravel like car park surrounded by metal debris and metal and wooden sculptures, this place is like a scrap yard/gypsy camp. We all were scratching out heads trying to figure it out but a group of men were congregated on a freshly cleared area of fresh soil. Being polite we asked if we were ok to stay for a couple of nights, in my experience Germans usually speak good english/understand you well.. It took a few moments to actually communicate what we were asking and got told to go speak to a man who’s name I've now forgotten. After finally finding him he actually thought Luke, Joe, George and myself were musicians in a band and wed be performing here. We asked what the place was? he explained in the old units it was workshops for art students and the containers where either temporary or permanent whilst the unit workshops were being converted, I'm not entirely sure but the fact is the area was awesome and felt like wed fit into this community.

Wondering around we met some more people asking questions as they were setting up for what looked like an event, they were setting up for a Fixed gear bicycle race ran by a local bicycle shop, told us we should attend and of corse we did and met the owner of the shop who invited us to the shop for coffee. The event featured numerous heats of races around container city following a final heat to declare the champion and runners cup with sprocket medallion prizes and good old german beer. Following the race there was also a skid distance contest on the gravel.. i don't have to elaborate on this. We even did a demo on our bmx’s racing the circuit and also some tricks were performed by Joe and George (the comp dogs) We had fun and enjoyed this first ever event but it got weird, the music being played at the after party i cannot describe and we later met this lady who invited us to here jamming room where she had all sorts of instruments, it smelt like rotten vegetables, it was an uncomfortable environment and i ended up leaving as she became all weird, the guys later left as she had locked herself in the toilet to which somebody mentioned they’d seen needles or something.

Surrounding the container city as we call it was an indoor skatepark which used to be an outdoor concrete park, with fun/different transitions we visited the park when the weather wasn't kind to us. Between the park and where we were staying was one of very man historic stations. It once was a place where the jewish people would depart and never return, heading to various concentration camps including Auschwitz. What remained of the station was just a section of rails and bumpers, with a wall running adjacent to the rails with names of all the people who left this place. With an information  board with photos of german soldiers and jewish people being loaded onto the carriages.. to think what was going through their heads being loaded to certain death and also what the soldiers were thinking.. did they all know these people they could’ve known, went to school with or even worked with are going to die because of the SS.

August 2016: Belgium (August 13th - 21st)

Originally i was going to try and update the blog following the trip weekly, then monthly then not at all due to our battery charging system failing (battery failed).

Kortrijk & Antwerp

After arriving in Calais we met up with our friends Luke and Hannah. Spending around a week free camping at a sports lake outside of Kortrijk, we’d sleep and eat here and spend our days riding the skate park, which was probably one of the best I've ridden, thats says a lot with my high standards of parks.Locals (bmx and pedastrains) were all very friendly and most came to converge with us or practice there english. I really would like to re visit Kortrijk and meet up with Kevin and Wolf 

Later that week the time was to move on to Antwerp. The area surrounding the skatepark was surreal. Temperatures roared and it was a struggle to get the motivation to ride without sweating buckets, that and the fact the park was a dumping ground for parents. Kids of all ages even infants wondering around dangerously walking in the way of skaters and riders.. so dodgy. The bowl was of mammoth proportion and in spot sections freaking massive you'd death grip the bars and let it take you.

Cranham Woods - 19th June 2014

September 2016: Luxembourg (1st to 10th)

Wasserbillig

Wasserbillig is a town in eastern Luxembourg. Wasserbillig has around 3000 inhabitants, which makes it the largest town in Mertert. So having one of the best skateparks in Europe would sound a bit bonkers wouldn't it?

Luxembourg is one of the world's top-three nations in wealth, which makes sense as the cost of living is pretty nuts, So why would you build a very well built facility in a place with such a low population and from our experience with no kids interested in riding, skating or scooting and more focused on football/soccer.

Its hard to understand, but why should it matter waking up every day with the sun blazing and a empty skatepark maintained by an gentleman who spoke no english, regardless he looked after us like guests and made a big impression on us, he was a chain smoking groundsmen who'd open the doors to his man cave (shed) offer us coffee and the use his his computer. He even plumbed up an outside shower which we could use, if you ever get to meet him you'll understand he’s the one of the characters you'll remember from a trip. A bit more about the park, Our friend Will Evans visited here to film part of a Bmx edit for Fox Racing of a Bmx Legend Rubén Alcantara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEw9n5bEY14

The park was great and we had some awesome sessions there, having to usually wait until the evening to ride due to the heat being unbearable and of course the reflection off the concrete itself was dazzling. So far Wasserbillig and  Kortrijk (Belgium) are up there to be visited again, we even meet some locals.. i say locals, they weren't from Wasserbillig, more like Germany etc.

Luxembourg City

I was able to visit the city twice, one time with the whole crew and the other just Nath and I, travelling via rail the price for a day ticket for the whole of Luxembourg was 4 Euros , i didn't have much expectation of the place if I'm honest, i mean the reason for going was the multi million euro facility built in the heart of the city, when we googled the park it was like wow! that looks incredible, but as you may be aware don’t be fooled by images, don't get me wrong the park was a paradise for skateboarders or street riders,  but for ramp/transition riders it had no flow and was difficult to find lines with it being so busy.

As for the city, even with all the money its like any other, though the business district was full of street gems, on the second trip to the city we were tipped off by Oscar a well spoken local whom we had met at Wasserbillig, he said to go check the area out. Rails, ledges and wall rides in abundance if was a pity our lack of skill couldn't take advantage of such a delight.

Echternach

I was starting to get the gut feeling the period of time free camping next to the at Europe's best park was coming to and end, i don’t know why maybe passers by made a complaint or the neighbours paying to live, seeing us living freely became jealous and wanted us gone, well it happened for the first time of the trip we were moved on by the police, freedom camping in Luxembourg is actually illegal so no longer could we call Wasserbillig home, that night we parked up next to an old house over looking the town and went back to the park the evening after that under a bridge on a service road. The last day at the park was sad and we moved on to a Lake in Echternach, Probably a busy Lake in the summer but being off season was quite and apart from the occasional walker or bike rider were the only ones sleeping here, though. The facilities were pretty good as well with an ultra modern Hostel with inside climbing walls beer and free wifi... get in.