Day 14: Final destination BONN!

I made it! I really made it! After 14 days and roughly 750km on my bike, I arrived in Bonn today and got a fabulous welcome by Nina & Markus! Thanks guys, you are the best!

I dedicate this last day of the journey to Oma. I know you would have been proud of me.

Day 13: Uerdingen to COLOGNE!!!

After 75km against the wind, with a few raindrops and a 2nd breakfast with good old Thomas in Düsseldorf, I finally, finally arrived in Cologne!! :-) It was an emotional moment when I saw the Dom after the final corner of the Rhine. 

I still can't believe I made it! Its just another 30km to Bonn, my last stop, but having a Kölsch in Cologne does already count as being home :-D

My sister picked me up at the Dom and we are now enjoying a lovely evening on the balcony. Happy days!

Day 12: Ooij to Uerdingen

I cycled an unbelievable distance of 125km today and am now only 75km away from Cologne and a night with my sista! Wohoooooow!!! It was a very enjoyable ride along the Rhine, passed the German border first thing in the morning (not very spectacular, I only recognised it as the border because the Dutch kilometer sign was suddenly at 0), more sunshine, more fields, more animals on the way, not as many other cyclists as in Holland, all together: happy days!!!

I stopped for a lovely asparagus lunch on the way, had a good old Puddingteilchen for afternoon tea, aaah, its so good to be in Germany! :-)

I still feel pretty ok after that serious cycling the last days. My legs are a bit heavy in the mornings, but thats all forgotten after the first 10kms of the day. The route is pretty much flat all the way, but still, today I started at 8:30 and finished at 17:30, only stopped an hour for lunch and a bit in the afternoon. So basically I am sitting on the bike all day long, starting with the sun in my face and finishing with it in my back ;-)

Day 11: Utrecht to Ooij

Eva joined me for the morning ride and I have to say, it is much easier and more enjoyable cycling in great company! Time and kilometers flew by till lunchtime. 

Thanks Eva for a great time and a great cycle, you are still my best cycling buddy ever! Peace! :-)

The weather is really good, its around 20 degrees and the only breeze happens while cycling. I am fascinated by the Dutch cyclenetwork and all the well signposted Knooppunten with maps every couple of kilometers. You can not get lost and always have good idea how far you have gone.

I did roundabout 100kms today! New record ;-) I am now just 10kms away from the German border, so I will enter homelands first thing tomorrow morning. Strange feeling, after so many days I will finally be in Germany... I am getting there!! :-)

Now I will enjoy my last night in Holland. Dank je, Nederland, het was weer een plezier! Tot ziens!

Day 10: Utrecht

A little 15km morning cycle brought me into Utrecht where I had a lovely sunday chillaxing day with a few beers and a lovely dinner & catch up with good old Eva :-) A really enjoyable day in Holland. 

Eva will join me for a good bit of the journey tomorrow. Very much looking forward to good company and someone to cary my luggage ;-)

Day 9: Hook van Holland to Ijsselstein

A RECORD DAY!!!

First time ever on an overnight ferry: slept surprisingly good!

Best weather of the trip so far: sunshine all day long, only slight wind! Hot hot hot!

Most applications of sunscreen in one day: 4!

Best cyclingpaths ever! EVER!

Longest distance done in a day: roughly about 90kms!

Highest number of other cyclists seen in a day: 1 Million! All Dutch ;-)

I could have stopped for a picture every minute. The whole day has been really great and thats not just because of these beautiful, beautiful cycling paths. ;-) The whole area of the country is just lovely and very picturesque. I stopped for lunch in Rotterdam. Very nice city, good mix of old and new. I said hello to Father Rhine and left him to cycle all the way along the Lek to Ijsselstein. There were a million little farms along the way, lots of cattle just grassing between houses. Nice integration of farming into normal life, I like that.

Everybody was out on their bikes. I forgot how mad the Dutch are about cycling. It was a pleasure cycling with so many people around, it feels much better than trying to beat the weather and the crazy mud paths by yourself in the UK.

Here are the top pics of the day:

Day 8: Wolverhampton to Harwich by train

Well, that was quite a relaxing journey on the train. Changed trains about 4 times, all went smoothly and my bike had always a nice place to rest. The sun greeted me at Harwich port, how nice and how promising for the next chapter in Holland. :-)

Check in starts in a bit, I am very much looking forward to my little sleeping cabin on the overnight ferry.

Thanks for all your supporting messages along the way, it made espacially the rainy days a bit easier ;-)

Happy Friday everyone!