The day before our departure from the ITR was wet, so we took a rest day and readied ourselves, our bags and the bike for the return journey from Tecklenburg, across the Netherlands and onwards to home.
Day 18 Tecklenburg to Epe
45 miles (638)Back to sunshine! Rain on the Friday prompted us to take a day off, but Saturday was bright and fresh. The climb up to Tecklenburg was easier than expected – our legs were conditioned by now! Once through the town the descent off the Teutoburger ridge had the brakes cooking up nicely, then it was pretty flat for the rest of the day.Our route to Epe took us further south than the outward route…A closed road had us on a minor detour, but when we rejoined the route, it looked like the works were complete and we probably could got away with ignoring the detour…then again, I have past experience of how officious the German Police can be sometimes, and it wasn’t that far. We then stopped in a bakery in Saerbeck for coffee and cake, but the place was full of wasps, which made for a less relaxing break.
Day 19 Epe to Lochem
39 miles (677)Back into The Netherlands. This was a Sunday and the roads were blissfully quiet.The obligatory windmill.Mid-morning we stopped for a coffee at Boekelo. We’d seen quite a few of these little ‘e-choppers’ on our outward leg across the Hoenderloo… presumably hired like these.Coffee and apple pie at Boekelo.Next to the café was this rail crossing. Museum Buurtspoorweg (MBS) is a museum railway line between Haaksbergen and Boekelo. The train was due in a half-hour or so, and I was tempted to wait, but we had to press on.Running alongside the ‘Twentekanal’ on our way to Lochem.This little velomobile passed us a couple of times… he overtook us then must have stopped for coffee because a few mile on, he passed us again.On the outskirts of Lochem we spotted the velomobile again, and the rider was chatting to the crews of a couple of other tandems, also on their way home from the Rally! We pulled in and joined them so I could find out a little more about the velomobile and its rider.Peter (Tandem Club Chairman) and Jenny also on route back home after the ITR. Both tall they share an impossibly small tent while touring!
The French gent in the velomobile had ridden from France to Norway and was now on his way home. Even though the cab was open, it must have got pretty warm inside on hot days. We stayed and chatted for about 15 minutes then we all needed to push on. The other tandem pairs were off to a nearby campsite and Karon and I were headed for our hotel just outside Lochem. We had stayed there on our outward leg.
It was while unpacking the bike that Karon realised she had left her insulin pack in the shower at the previous night’s hotel back in Germany! It’s in a ‘Frio’ bag that is kept damp and keeps cool as the moisture evaporates. As it’s wet, hanging it it the shower or leaving it in the sink is standard procedure but on packing everything up, we’d both missed it. I phoned the hotel, thinking I might be able to hire a car to get there and back that evening, but was told the hotel would be closed from 15:30. Odd, but still. So I had to wait until the following morning and with the help of our receptionist found a local car hire company, rode there alone on the Pino and left the bike there while I drove the 30 something miles back to Epe and return with the insulin pack. The car hire cost about 42 Euros, so wasn’t too bad. I rode the Pino back to the hotel, we loaded the trailer etc. and were on our way.
Day 20 Lochem to Oosterbeek
35 miles (712)
After our late start we headed for Arnhem, stopping along the way at the village of Bronkhorst, quaint and popular with tourists it was a recommended place to see. Most of the eateries were busy with full patios but we were happy to sit inside in the cool where there were plenty of seats. After a late lunch we wandered the village a little before setting off for the ferry to cross the IJssel and put us on the north bank for Arnhem.
Cloudy but still warm. Heading for the wetlands alongside the River IJssel.Bronkhorst village. After a late lunch we walked to explore a little.Bronkhorst village.The ferry across the IJssel at Dieren – 2 Euros for a tandem.Passing through Arnhem we saw several memorials.Our hotel was set back from the river not too far out of Arnhem– one of the better places we stayed at. It was big but had all the facilities like excellent bike storage and a luggage dolly for getting all the bike bags up to our room.
Day 21 Oosterbeek to Schoonhoven
53 miles (765)Not long after setting off, we passed this memorial to the Paratroopers of Operation Market Garden. The gun is a six pounder.Much of the day would be spent riding atop the riverside dykes.At Grebbeberg, after a stiff climb away from the river, we passed a cemetery and stopped to pay our respects. Wijk bij Duurstede. We resisted stopping here as it was busy and decided to press on. As well as available cafés, our stops are often dictated by Karon’s blood sugar levels. If they are ok, or high, we don’t need to stop. Once they go low, it’s coffee and cake or she takes a sip of Glucose that we carry for such eventualities.Despite a longer (for us) ride of 50+ miles, at Schoonhoven we had time to shower and change then wander into the picturesque town for a nice ‘strong’ beer before going back to the hotel for dinner.Schoonhoven.Schoonhoven.
Day 22 Schoonhoven to the Hook of Holland
43 miles (808)I remember this day as being particularly hot. On the riverside dykes there was nothing to provide any shade but being up a bit, we caught whatever breeze there was.At Krimpen aan der Lek we spotted this old barge being renovated. The couple invited me on and gave me a quick tour of the living quarters – which was pretty tight…It even had an old Victorian stove – not original but it looked just right.On the outskirts of Rotterdam at Krimpen ann den IJsel, we were faced with this. Rather that unload and haul, we took a lengthy detour to find another way up onto the bridge. We stopped for some lunch in Rotterdam, at a strange café which seemed to be more of a business facility but we had cold drinks and a bite to eat. Later, as we had plenty of time, we stopped again at Maassluis. It was outside but under some shade, so we managed to escape the worst of the heat and killed some time while enjoying a drink.We arrived at the HoH at about 18:00 and couldn’t board until after 20:30 so went into the town and found a pub. Later we joined the queue and along came Shirley (one of the couple who had spotted us at Delft, on our outward journey). They were parked just a few vehicles behind! We met them later on board when we went up for some food after changing.
