Leaving the campsite, everyone warned me about the hills. I’d had a sampler at the end of the previous days ride. Markus, Thomas had both said it’s going to get hilly and that my target to Ingolstadt was a tough one. A quick descent to Pforten. Easing the brakes on the way down after overheating…
I wasn’t fully awake, still bleary eyed and feeling tired after only managing 3.5 hours sleep. The crossing on the Trelleborg to Rostock ferry had been smooth enough. After being boarded last, the best spots to lay a camping mat had already been taken. First I tried a nice looking landing with polished wooden floors.…
Watching the rain through the window in Güstrow, Germany. Just had my first proper day off since leaving home. Spent it looking around town, looking in all the shops, getting my hair cut and updating the blog. Thought I was going to see a band tonight, but it’s not on. 🙁 So after having some…
Having reached Skagen and then Grenen, riding through a grey gloomy morning and finally I reached the tip of Denmark. There were only a few other people milling about. The coffee shops weren’t open until 10am, so I went back to a Lidl, bought some pasties, brewed a coffee and then I rode South to…
After using a shelter for the night I continued to head North. The gloomy clouds hovering the day before had dissipated. At least for now. And I set off along a well used gravel track. This soon turned back into tar. I looked to my left and saw an elephant! And then a rhino, a…
Riding through Germany reminding me much of England. Obviously I couldn’t understand most of the signs and written word, but the hills and topography in some areas was much like home. Agricultural land tended to be a mix of arable and dairy, with the odd pig farm thrown in. I stopped early after leaving Bremen,…
My last day in the Netherlands was my birthday. I awoke early, had a strong coffee, packed up and was ready to hit the road early, before the wind got stronger. Generally the wind is not strong first thing. On the way through Muntendam, I thought I’d get some more cash. Not all Dutch supermarkets…
In the previous post I had finished up with, I was meeting Josh again to watch the football and see Amsterdam. I think most touring cyclists are not great fans of cities, that not to say all, but most. Cities can be stressful to stay in, will someone pinch my bike, will I lose my…
As I cycle through Norther Holland, I am seeing several memorial plaques and signs for downed allied aircraft and with them, a link to the information about the crash and crews. I have put one below. Lancaster bomber DV267 The deadly flight of the Lancaster bomber DV 267 ended in Tolbert The aircraft departed Mablethorpe…
After leaving Brugge, it was only a short ride to cross the border to Holland. There was no fanfare or fuss. No special signs. A simple barrier and the signs changed style. Previously I’d been in touch with Rênas, a German cycle tourist that I met in 2014 in Spain. I asked him if he…
A short days riding from my Warmshowers host’s Fabienne and Peter at Auchy-les-Hesdin to the east of Aire-sur-la-Lys. I have been contacting Warmshowers hosts in advance of arriving at places and had a response from a host in Poperinge for the next day so looked for camping spots about halfway or so. Camping La Petite…
Today on my cycle tour, I have visited In Flanders Field – Museum. Last time I visited hear, both of my sons were young, they are now in their mid twenties. On entry you are asked to pick a person to follow their story throughout the museum, it is displayed on a map, you drill…
Off the boat and into Dieppe. I’ve been on lots of ferry’s with bikes but first time for the Newhaven Dieppe. Booking in easy. Called onto boat first. Although I was changing out of cycling gear and nearly missed my call, as they loaded us nearly an hour before departure. There must have been almost…
I’m writing (most of) this sat on the ferry. Third day in, having ridden from Devizes to just east of Winchester, then onto just North west of Newhaven and then on to the ferry terminal in Newhaven. so that’s about 120 miles. . I’m sat at the front of the ferry to start with, next…