The Netherlands - North Sea Cycle Route (May 2018)

Journey up to Edinburgh was good - arrived 16.25 . Caught the 17.00 to Queen Street which arrived at 17.50. Quickly went down to Central for the Larkhall train but when I got there realised trains were only running to Rutherglen. Particularly annoying as I'd checked the Scotrail site on the way up to Edinburgh and bought a ticket online for Central to Larkhall. Anyway I took the train to Bridgeton and cycled home from there via Hamilton and Quarter - it was a nice night for it. Arrived back at 8pm  to a great welcome from Linda, Murphy and Freddie. Enjoyed the trip but it's great to be home.

That's the bike stowed on the train and me seated - just waiting for  it to leave.  Picked up the bike at Euro Despatch with no delay and headed straight for Kings Cross. Was here by 10.30 in time to catch the 11.00, 11.20 and 11.30 to Edinburgh. Never mind, the 12.00 gave me time to have something to eat.

Leaving a dull Brussels on the 8.52 Eurostar. Arriving St Pancras 9.57.

Arrived in Brussels around 5, having come into the city via the canal and docks - 60 miles from the campsite. Not too scenic but it avoided any traffic. The town centre though was mobbed. There was also some sort of festival on with a procession of folk dressed up - all setting off from the main square. Had to walk the bike through it. Went straight to Midi station to see if they would take my bike before tomorrow. They would - so that's my bike away. The Ibis I'm staying in is just across the road from the station. Perfect - standard Ibis decor and clean. The area around the station is anything but - certainly not Brussels at its finest. Well that the bike ride over - really enjoyed it and it did exceed my expectations. Certainly didn't expect the variety of landscapes and the weather was great although too hot at times. Tomorrow I'm on the 9am Eurostar arriving London at 10. Then on a train from Kings Cross at 12. All being well I should be home by 7pm.

Something is going on - not clear what it is. All the streets in the centre are closed. 15 miles north of Brussels.

In the woods near Antwerp. Sign says Dre Rietvissers III, Oelegem

Remember these places Linda.

Looking the other way.  A much cooler approach. Not even a Netherlands sign.

Crossing into Belgium. I couldn't miss all these signs. Nice start to the day calm and sunny.

Camping tonight just outside Chaam, a couple of miles from the border with Belgium. It is between and below Breda and Tilburg. Came across this statue as I passed through Chaam - lists all the winners of a race I think is called Acht van Chaam. Lists of well known names - Chris Froome won it in 2017. A good easy day again today - just over 50 miles and nice weather, not too hot or windy. Last night in the tent tonight - staying in an Ibis in central Brussels tomorrow as I have a 9 am train to catch on Sunday

On a cycle track running along the top of a dyke. Just passed an accident- bikes and a moped seem to be involved. Cyclist down  the side of the dyke and ambulance just arrived.

The cycle routes are well marked here and every now and again a map like this is provided. Waypoints are given numbers and at each waypoint directions are given to other waypoints, identified by their number. The cycle routes themselves are not numbered (except for the long distance LF routes) just the waypoints. It works well.

The second of several crossings today, this time on this rope ferry. Free this time - haven't worked out why some charge and others don't. A nice river this one , used by a lot of pleasure cruisers.

The Waal is the main branch of the Rhine. The crossing here at Zaltbommel is a major one with both motorway and rail bridges. A nice day again- wind seems to be favourable.

Lovely campsite, in amongst the apple trees. The area leading up to here was full of orchards.  A short day, only 45 miles so had time to eat along the way and still get in by 5pm. The day started off drench but brightened up soon enough. Temperature about 10 degrees cooler than before though and I had a wind in my face most of the time.  Tomorrow I'm planning to head for the Belgium border - as today, mainly heading south. I have to cross the rest of the bits of the Rhine that make up the Rhine delta. I predict more ferries!

Impressive. This isn't the full width, there are a couple of locks beside this structure. looks like some sort of barrage that the can slide down into the channel.

A two minute crossing of this northern branch of the Rhine.

This time in Wink bij Duurstede on the Rhine and Amsterdam Rhine canal. Nice wee place. Aiming for a campsite just ten miles up the road so I can take it easy.

Crossing this large forested area. Decided to take the trails.

Weather change overnight - started raining. The sun is coming out now but was a bit dreich  and breezy earlier.  Having a stop in Amersfoot for something to eat and to route plan. Generally heading south now but need to watch campsite locations. Waiting for a waffle supreme to arrive.

It is as tasty as it looks.

That's today finished.  Camped in a forest just outside Zeewolde, which is at the south of Flevoland. Fleveland itself was reclaimed from the Zuiderzee in the 1950 and 60s. You can tell by the new town look to the buildings. It's also pan flat so I managed a decent speed over the last 20 miles. Late start (10.30) and dawdling through the Amsterdam area meant I had to push on to get to camp in time to find somewhere to eat. 65 miles done today and felt fine - didn't seem as hot as other days .

I Know where I'm going - just that the route numbers keep changing.

A nice quiet rest stop after the noise and bustle of Amsterdam.

A few shots of Amsterdam coming up. Last time I was in this street was with Linda when we came over for the day on the Newcastle ferry.

Gave a bit of misinformation earlier. I'm not staying g on LF7 all day but changing to LF20 here. The Amsterdam was fairly straightforward to get through. The route goes right through the town centre. Hardly any cars, the biggest hazard is bikes, mopeds and pedestrians

Ferry across the main canal to Centraal Station. Mobbed with bikes. Like the ferry yesterday there was no charge and two ferries are working in parallel

I've now joined the overland long distance route LF7. I'll be following that for the rest of the day. Makes a change from LF1 the North Sea route.

Wow I've suddenly gone from a dutch tourist to a foreign tourist area - loads of asians and americans. Only lasted a few hundred metres, now I'm back to dutch territory.

On the outskirts of Amsterdam. Decided this morning to head inland through Amsterdam towards Flevoland. I'll turn down towards Brussels tomorrow. Means that I have time to cycle the whole way back without catching a train.

That's me settled in for the night. Staying at another 'nature' campsite. I now know what you get- a nice location, special rates for cyclists (treker rates) and a trekkers area, mostly tents, no statics and a relaxed atmosphere. It has been a great and varied day. Starting off working my way through Delft and The Hague, watching of for tram lines etc.. Then immediately after leaving the Hague into the dunes that went on for about 30 miles with the odd break to pass through a seaside town. The surprise was the 10 miles before the Nordzee canal when the route followed the inland edge of the dunes - all of which was thickly wooded with pine and deciduous trees.  Now after crossing the canal and passing a Tata steelworks I'm in a flower growing area. Around 60 miles again today and as before I flagged in  the afternoon heat.  Tomorrow I'm not sure yet of my plan. Time to turnaround or keep going and train some of the way back? I'll study the maps tonight. I'...

My first tulips! There are plenty more where I'm staying tonight, the area around the campsite seems to specialise in flowers. Lots of greenhouses and tulip beds. It is hemmed in between the dunes and the town of Heemskirk.

Long sandy beaches in this town and also this inlet, that seemed to offer fairly safe swimming. There was a barrage at the end of it- under where I'm standing.

I'm heading to another 'natural' campsite which is about 8 mile north of the Nordzee canal. This canal serves Amsterdam which is only about 15 miles SE of here. There are two ferries which constantly go back and forward. It only takes 5 minutes to cross and it's free for bikes and passengers. At least I think it is - no-one asked me for money. I'd thought I was in for a day of sandy beaches, dunes and beach resorts (after the Hague that is) but the last 10 miles has been through wooded dunes, quite a contrast. This led me to the Ferry crossing at Ijmuiden to Velsen Booed.

On the coast beside Leiden. Quite a beach holiday town. This is the main street - today's lunch stop (out of a baker).

This time from the same spot looking back to The Hague.

Quite a few dunes around here. I have around 10 miles of this terrain to go through. Notice the ships waiting to go into Rotterdam

In the central park in The Hague. Turning up along the coast now.

Started the day with breakfast in Delft main square. Now h eading back to the coast at The Hague. Looks like another hot one.

It was a hot day - I was really flagging in the afternoon. Temperature had reached over 29 degrees, good though for my solar charger that's keeping my phone and Garmin going. It was a great day though, initially following the coast over the delta project constructions and then heading slightly inland to Delft. The cycle paths are amazing - perfect surface and rarely close to traffic. Plenty locals out using them and many of them touring. Also met three folk from Scoland who had taken the ferry to near Amsterdam  from Newcastle and had been touring for a week. Did around 65 miles today.  I'm camped about 3 miles outside Delft in another 'Natural campsite'. Means I've got to cycle that back from here in Delft after this beer and a few.

Hadn't really planned to come this way but decided to head to Delft. That means I have to skirt round Rotterdam and take the tunnel under the new Maas had lifts and escalators to take bikes down.

One for Stewart Robertson. A great feat of civil engineering.

This is quite something. For about thirty miles there are barrages likes this and dykes - all build after floods in 1953 devastated nearly 10 percent if the country. Really impressive the way that they have controlled the sea - and access to it by old fishing ports on the other side of the dykes and barrages.

Proper beach huts! They even have an upstairs. Near the first of the delta project barrages. ..... and the beaches aren't bad.

Another lovely day - bet it's going to be hot.

In Veere - near the campsite.

This time of Middelburg - half way between here and Vlissingen.

Decided to call it a day around 4.30. I was starting to feel the effects of the sun so thought it wise to seek out a campsite. I'm in one of the nature camping sites near Veere. It is in the woods in a lovely location but I'll need to head back out in search of food. Today's distance was only around 52 miles with only 144 metres ascent. It was also strange to see the altimeter recorder below zero, -5 metres at one point. Interesting ride though with plenty to see and good cycle paths and lanes.

Now t hat's the way to store bikes on a ferry!