Cycling North After Winter

[purplebargeken]

Are you there* yet?

 

You mad fucker. Enjoy!!!!!

[loserone]

That 911 is very pretty.

 

If I can avoid spending unnecessary money for 15 years I might be able to afford one.

[Twiggy]

I wish I had the balls to do this !  Good luck, and stay safe.

[DVee8]

That 911 is very pretty.

 

If I can avoid spending unnecessary money for 15 years I might be able to afford one.

hahahahahahahahahhashahah  not a chance..

[DVee8]

How many miles/km's have you covered so far? Are you keeping check?

[Bucketeer]

I have nothing to keep track of distance. I do know that today is going to be a very steady 35ish km from the Hook into Rotterdam. I've booked a really cheap hostel for the first night, a bit of luxury before I break out the tent.

I'm currently sat having a coffee, about 5km from the centre of Rotterdam.

 

I would have been quicker but a few Kms of canal path . . .

 

 

. . . ended like this. So I had to turn round and go back.

 

 

And now I'm nearing the centre of the city I'm running into traffic.

 

[Bucketeer]

Oh and I keep stopping/detouring to pap chod obvs, so that slows me down too.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bucketeer]

The prevailing opinion was that Holland wouldn't be great for spotting opportunities, but I've been here about six hours now and it looks pretty hot for spots to me.

 

[SiC]

Someone likes Saabs. Saabnuts dutch retreat?

[Guest Hooli]

If you spend several weeks cycling through France, a country West of Mainland Europe, obtaining water is your smallest problem.

Your chances of survival are very slim indeed, unless you cycle along the borders with neighbouring countries, so you can nip across whenever you need anything.

 

Indeed, the best thing to do in frogshire is leave.

[cort1977]

Loving that 75 Pontiac but who signed off on the rear side window?  Looks like two different cars welded together.

 

Some great spots, you're winning already.

[Bucketeer]

The quality of the photos isn't great 'cos it's absolutely siling it down, and my camera (and me) are getting soaked.

 

 

 

[Junkman]

Loving that 75 Pontiac but who signed off on the rear side window?  Looks like two different cars welded together.

 

That was the exact intention:

 

 

If you now remove the padded vinyl and its surrounding trim and paint the entire roof a different colour than the rest of the car, you end up with a truly half arsed look.

[Saabnut]

Loving the Saab pics - keep 'em coming! Hope you have dried out a bit!

[Mrs6C]

Your Volvo has arrived ahead of you, in anticipation!

 

Brilliant spots already and a country full of more great scenery and culture to explore, all pretty much 'on the level'!

[tapir]

have a fantastic trip, very jealous! keep the pictures coming

[Bucketeer]

Rotterdam does good lights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been a decent first day. I got soaked all day, but this evening has dried out and it's been very pleasant sat by the side of the big canal watching the ships coming in, and going out again.

I've got a bit of a sore bum but that's no real surprise. It'll toughen itself up.

I'm very glad already that I started off in Holland. The flatness is going to be a massive blessing whilst I build up fitness and hopefully shed some weight from the proper heavy trailer. It's noticeable just on very small inclines that's it's gonna be a proper slog getting that up some actual hills.

The bike and trailer have performed pretty much faultlessly. I am very aware of every little noise, wobble or whatever with the bike. The stresses the trailer put on it give me slight concern too, but all this will pass soon enough when I get to trust the 'unit' fully.

 

Backpacker hostel experiences are always guest dependant. This one has many loud obnoxious young public school sounding sounding Brits trying to impress Argentinian ladies. But it's warm and dry and I've got a bed, so there's that.

 

I've not done much/any research in to routes. There's a massive cycle path network so I'll just head for Nijmegen picking them up whenever possible and pounding the roads when not.

Rotterdam to Nijmegen is 120kms. Google maps says that will take 6hrs by bike. I think I can safely say that it'll take me comfortably longer than that. As long as I get myself out of Rotterdam and into good camping landscape then I'll be happy. I'm in no rush. It might take two days, it might take a week.

[AnthonyG]

Hadn’t realised you were off Alex, good luck and stay safe. Also keep the pictures coming!

[richardmorris]

I’m glad you’ve survived the first day.

 

Have a look at http://www.eurovelo.com/en for possible routes.

[Kringle]

[mothering]Hope you're keeping wrapped up out there, wouldn't want you coming down with something! [/mothering]

 

Chodspeed btw

[hairnet]

Alex you fucking loon

 

Eat and drink well

 

Enjoy it if it gets too much do fuck all for coupla days and rest then carry on

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

Good luck. Are you on Strava? Would be fun to see your progress. It will also tell you how far you've cycled and how fast which might help you judge efforts. Calories burned and wattage will be totally wrong with a trailer on the back of course.

 

Do less than you think you can and you'll be fine. If you pick up an injury it's so hard to heal on the road.

[Bucketeer]

I think I have finally sussed out how to get online away from WiFi.

 

Testing, 1 2 1 2.

 

[NorthernMonkey]

Who said that?!?

 

Yep, loud and clear

[320touring]

Huzzah, Pug 205 spot brightened up the morning commute here:)

[Bucketeer]

LIVE RED HOT TENT DISMANTLING ACTION

 

[The Moog]

I can't see a red tent #clickbait

[Mally]

I'm a bit late because stuff, I did offer Xmas lunch in Fuengirola, but that's off now, because stuff.

However good to see you are on your way, if you need any shekels just ask.

[richardmorris]

LIVE RED HOT TENT DISMANTLING ACTION

IMG_20181210_083549525.jpg

Still in Holland?

[Bucketeer]

To catch up, Saturday I left Rotterdam and headed east. Plenty of nice cycle routes and a lovely strong tailwind.

 

 

 

I raced a barge for a couple of hours.

 

 

 

Saw some spots.

 

 

 

It rained quite a lot of the day, but obviously that doesn't come out so much in the pictures because I don't really want to get my camera out when it's raining.

 

Found a nature reserve to search for a camping opportunity.

 

 

I had to do my first bit of offroading.

 

 

Savvy selfie with a windmill - CHECK

 

 

I found my own little private island and made camp for the night.