I remember cycling through Rotterdam and its outskirts 39 years ago (my first longer bike trips (two nights away) with friends and no parents)- what a nightmare! There were no bike paths along multi-lane car roads, no signposting, etc. Totally different experience this time! Cycling through the conurbation of Rotterdam was actually totally relaxed – … Read more
Nearly form the second largest port of Europe to the largest today. Crossed several rivers (or arms of a delta) and the only climbing was to get onto the bridges or out of the tunnel. Cool. Today was flat and rainy rather than hot and hilly – for those that know me well no surprise … Read more
Turned out I was the only tent on that camp site, so I did not disturb anybody by packing up early. What is it with people on camp sites, that they do not seem to get up before 9:00? I did not have the patience for my tent to dry, so need to make sure … Read more
As it was raining at 8:00, I had breakfast at 9:00, an arrangement with the landlady. So managed to avoid the rain by setting off later. The roads were still wet, and it got really muggy, but the sun was not out. My first goal of the day was Libramont, from where there was a … Read more
Spent some time in the morning looking around the culture in Esch -sur -Alzette, which in general is fairly desolate on a Sunday morning. I will not upload too many pictures, as I do not have WiFi in the depths of the Ardennes, where I am staying. Of course I also had to go to … Read more
I was gone form the camp-site before I saw any of my neighbours get up – as usual, trying to beat the heat. The first bit along the Saar was quite nice, and I actually managed my first climb of the day in reasonable conditions. Managed it much better than I had expected, but I … Read more
Got started at 7:45 and was really glad for it later, another hot day. The route from Landstuhl to Saarbrücken was mainly along a main road, but he bike path was quite good, and on some stretches it was not too busy. Saw a lot of little brown lizards scampering into the dry grass after … Read more
I stayed at a youth hostel last night for the first time in years. Since I had a single room, I actually found it a very pleasant experience – especially since the Mannheim hostel is on the banks of the Rhine. Alex and I had noticed it the day before already: some of the worst … Read more
Funny, how every day starts with breakfast, but it is a very important meal for cyclists – this time in a cavernous hall, that seemed far too large for the hotel. Lex‘ and my main aims for today were to have a look at Speyer and understand some of its history, meet up with one … Read more
I forgot to report two things form yesterday:– While cycling on one of the Rhine dams in France we saw two motorcyclists racing along the bottom of the dam on a dirt track, which were followed by a police car on the top o the dam (tarmacked surface) in such a way, we literally had … Read more