Tjoan Liang Ie
Hello, Please allow me to introduce myself to those of you who do not know me and whom I may have only just met on the Road. To my family and friends, who do know me, this may all be Old Hat but... Dear ones, read on non the less. (if only for the photo's)
Standing Up front of my sister Soan Lan´s autoped was at first a good way to get somewhere.
For those wondering why my name does not look nor sound typically Dutch I say: It is because I am a Dutch National of Chinese-Dutch descent, my Father was Chinese and my Mom is Dutch. I was Born in The Netherlands in 1960 and was raised in a family of five. They are my Mom and Dad, my older Sister and younger Brother. My dad passed away in 2002.
If it was pedal propelled I liked it! Here with my Mom and Sister in 1966 in Belgium.
I have always had a keen interest in cycling ever since I could reach the pedals of some sort of pedal propelled vehicle. Making the Transitions from Tricycle to Bicycle and now Recumbent Bicycle I spent a great many years Exploring the World and Broadening my Horizons on a bicycle seat.
Being a very young toddler, not even three, I started my very first explorations on a tricycle in the neighbourhood but also beyond the neighbourhood! (much to the frustration of my Mom). I was scolded and grounded as a result but neither ever lasted very long. So soon afterwards my next exploits usually had the same outcome.
My custom build Vittorio Bike and its frame builder: Frank Groot.
At the age of a High school Teenager I enjoyed making Bicycle Trips during holidays both in The Netherlands and Abroad on a Sporty Multi gear bike. For example: twice with my girlfriend to England on a Bicycle Camping trip. The excitement of discovering the open roads ahead, navigating in unfamiliar territory, I thought: this is the Life I want to Live! Those Trips sadly lasted a few weeks at the most. My Taste for more Cycling Adventure grew rapidly and just a few years later the Exploits by bicycle became Extended Journeys lasting Months then Years. I had outgrown The Netherlands and even Europe was to small by now so other continents were explored. The horizon always compelling me to see what lay beyond. I can say I became an adult while Exploring the World during the many years of a near continuous cycling life that followed.
But a some point the urge to explore diminished and other exiting new opportunities came along. The final straw was the theft of my treasured Custom Build Touring bicycle which left me Stranded in Gibraltar. However the Joy of Riding a Bicycle was soon exchanged for finding great Joy in another mode of Travel. Sailing!
I went out to Sea! I now rode the Waves and was Blown to new Horizons by the Wind. The Wind, my former Adversary many a time had become my Ally and I arrived at places I could not have reached by Bicycle. My world had become even larger !
After quite some years have passed, first filled with Adventurous Sailing The Oceans as Crew and later Skipper aboard Yachts for 7 years and then, having returned shore side, running my own renovation service business in The Netherlands, I now have bought myself a Recumbent Bicycle and am about to experience my Old Way of Life again: to Enjoy the State of Riding!
My Philosophy and aim is to Travel in Harmony with Nature allowing all the Senses to take part in the Experience and in doing so really learn Beyond… just Knowledge.
Pleased to Meet You!
How much more dutch can it get? Water, Windmill, Bicycle and Clouds so loved by famous Dutch Painters!
