5th May in Holland

This is a very brief blog to say we are in Holland and peddling slowly against a strong wing in the wrong direction.  We are also attending to the things we didn't have time for before leaving: getting fit, getting Katherine's bike working, the gears are giving problems and buying the things we forgot. 

Here is a short account:
Monday 2nd May booked on the overnight ferrry from Harwich to Hook of Holland.  Being bank holiday there were engineering work on the line.  David and Felicity kindly drove us there.  We left too late to have a nice meal with them in Harwich, so ate on the boat.

Tuesday 3rd May: Hook of Holland to Katvijk  40km
Woken on the boat by a cheerful whistling tune.  Would have preferred to sleep longer.  Among the last off and cycled about half a km before Tom realised he had left a bag on the boat.  Went back and retrieved it and did the first of the bicycle maintainances fitting a cycling computer to record distance.  Cycled to Den Haag and spent most of the day going round the city (20km in all) to find a bike shop and camping shop (Tom haf left his sleeping mat a  a second cycling comuter behind).  We didn't leave till 6pm and had another 20km to go before our overnight stop in Katvijk,  An icy wind was against us and yes it was hilly.  Holland may be flat but the path went through sand dunes and they are hilly.  Katherine's gears were not working and instead of the supposed choice of 21 gears most of the time there was only one. About 10km before our destination there was an expensive looking hotel and restaurant in an idyllic setting.  I was very tempted but we went on and fortunately the campsite marked on the map was still there and with space.

Wednesday 4th May Katvijk to Wijk aan Zee  48km
Tom spent the morning trying to get my gars working.  Had a nice fish lunch from a stall on the beach then set off.  Still cycling though sand dunes with the wind against us.  You have to be careful not to have your mouth open when there is an extra strong gust.  I now have about 5 gears working.  The route goes along a cycle path by the sea but most of the time there are high dunes between the path and the sea.  The guide book suggested going inland in spring to see the tulip fields.  We did.  Most of the tulips were picked but the villages were pretty and we passed through woods and nice country side.  And the more wooded country meant that we were often sheltered from the wind! The campsite in Wijk was hard to find but people here are very helpful.  The campsite owner even brought us a blanket because it would be a cold night and he thought we might need it.  It was quite welcome.


Sorry this is rather brief and dull.  We hope to get better organised before long with a working bike so that the mornings aren't spent in repair. Either I will have a superbly working bike before too long or both bike and I will be knackered.