After unloading from the ferry, we headed for Delft. It was early morning and we needed some breakfast. I knew there would be open cafés in the main square by the time we got there. As we sat under the cover of large parasols and ate, there was a short shower – the first rain we had seen for what seemed like weeks! Shortly after leaving, while still in the town, we were flagged down by a couple of tandeming friends from the UK… also on their way to the Rally, by camper van. They had stopped off for some sight-seeing and spotted us coming up the road.
Day 7 – 47 miles (248) Just look at that height profile!!!Navigation was fairly easy through the Netherlands as there are a series of numerical markers at almost every junction, so it’s just a matter of connecting the numbers. I preprinted lists for each day as backup to the map on my phone. As long as we followed the numbers, we were fine, but now and then we’d miss one and overshoot.Such a contrast to the UK. Nicely surfaced cycleways, away from the traffic for much of the time, and a flat landscape to pass through.Benthuizen. Karon makes some new farming friends.
After checking into our hotel we showered and changed then went for a walk into the old town. Not much seemed top be open, but we found a bar with a lively atmosphere then wandered back to the hotel for dinner. The restaurant was closed (this happens a lot) but there was a place just along the road a little and a well-polished procedure was in place to book us a table.
Day 8 Woerden to Barnveld.
Day 8 – 54 miles (302)If there’s no separate cycle path, the smaller roads are often marked like this. Away from the towns, there’s very little in the way of traffic and you can ride for miles without seeing a car or truck.At Breukelen we missed a turn and should have crossed this canal. As it was, we were enjoying running beside it so carried on to the next bridge, then doubled back to pick up our route again. It added a few miles to our daily total but wasn’t unpleasant.Our first taste of Dutch off-road. This path ran alongside a single-track lane and we could have used that, but this surface was very good and it was something different.Our B&B in the barn at De Hooiberg near Barnveld. Without the hills, it’s easier to cover bigger distances and we arrived at Barnveld mid-afternoon. We were both hungry so stopped by a fast-food place and had an early ‘dinner’ to save having to come out again later from the B&B. Our hosts had Netflix, so we spent an evening enjoying a bit of TV for a change.
Day 9 Barnveld to Lochem.
Day 9 – 48 miles (350) The height profile shows Holland isn’t entirely flat.Farmhouse breakfast – warm croissants, fresh fruit, yoghurt, cheese and cold meats. Plenty for a good start to the day which was probably the most enjoyable of our outward leg.Today’s route took us along the perimeter of a large area of heathland, used as a military training area, then across the Kootwijk and Hoenderloo Forests.At Kootwijk we detoured off the route slightly to take in ‘Radio Kootwijk’, a 1920s radio station originally built to communicate with the Dutch East Indies. It is now an events venue.Radio Kootwijk. Nearby there was a small village, built at the same time as the station, to house the workers.After leaving Radio Kootwijk our path crossed a huge area of open heathland. Fortunately a hard path had been laid to avoid having to ride over loose sand it went on for miles, across the open heathland, then winding its way through some inland sand dunes and finally threading its way through the trees of the forest.The Weeping Elephant by artist Jantien Mook. Designed to highlight the plight of the African Elephant, the sculpture is moved regularly to a new location. We were lucky to see it in this setting, miles from any other distraction.The cycle path bypassing the dunes before entering the forest. We eventually arrived at the town of Hoenderloo where we stopped for a coffee.Crossing the Ijssel at Zutphen.At Vorden we had time to stop at the windmill, which was being kept as a working example of a flour mill. Karon stayed on the ground and chatted with a friend of the miller while I took a guided tour. From here it wasn’t far from our hotel on the outskirts of Lochem.
Day10 Lochem to Gronau (Germany).
Day 10 – 35 miles (385)Shortly after leaving our B&B it started to rain, but it was never really heavy. The mill at Geesteren.Taking a bit of time out from the rain in a roadside café/bar near Rietmolen. Coffee and apple pie was welcome! Nav notes came in handy a little later, as the connector on my phone had water in it, so the phone refused to charge. We relied on the notes for a dozen miles before the connector dried out. Our overnight stay in Hotel Driland was just inside Germany and very popular with cycling groups. The underground garage was pretty full. Enjoyed some good food in the evening.
Day 11 Gronau to Tecklenburg
Day 11 – 46 miles (431) Tecklenburg sits at the top of the lump near the end of the day’s ride.
I drew quite a bit of interest as I loaded the bike prior to leaving our hotel and spent some time chatting to a group on solo e-bikes also getting ready, but they were heading into Holland. Once all loaded and sorted, Karon joined me, we mounted up and were waved off to cheers and applause!
Wrong filter on camera… Repurposed old building – now a designer outlet with shopping malls behind. We stopped here on our return for some lunch.Rheine. Coffee and ice-cream.
At Rheine we joined the river Ems for a short stretch. It was aSaturday and the town seemed to be having some kind of festival. We both needed a coffee but all the tables were occupied. An old gent was sat on his own and we asked if we could join him. Karon disappeared to find a loo and I sat and chatted with the chap while he consumed a large ice-cream cornet. It was pleasant just to sit and watch the world go by for a while.
In Germany we continued to stick to farm roads and quiet lanes wherever possible.Nice cycle path through some woodland.Schloss Surenburg, set among woodlands.In the afternoon we ran alongside the Dortmund-Ems canal for a few miles. This was the last truly ‘flat’ part of the day’s ride before we turned off and headed for Tecklenburg. It was a stiff climb to get up to the village and would have been hard enough without all our gear. In the village we found a supermarket and stocked up on some food to tie us over for breakfasts. We planned to make use of the restaurant on the campsite for evening meals when we could.On arrival at the campsite – still smiling!Micha, in the red T with mic welcomes the rally goers.
