Well, Katherine has written about the first two days. Tom writing now. We have realised that we have not been setting about writing our blog in the best way. Getting to an internet connection is going to be intermittent; best to write the text as we go along and paste it across when we get internet access. So I am writing this at the end of day 3 without knowing when it will be added to the blog. Maybe tomorrow, maybe later.
The ongoing bicycle workshop. For (relative) techies, it was the front derailleur, which never worked once a 3-wheel chainset was in place. This was, in my judgement, essential for the low gear it gives, for Norway and Scotland. It started to be difficult in the Netherlands, but as Katherine said the country may be flat but the dunes are not. The cycle track is well made – one is not cycling in sand – but it follows the contours of very large sand dunes and can be quite steep. In den Haag (the Hague) we went from place to place but ended up at a cycle shop where the correct diagnosis was made, the chainwheel axle was too long and should be replaced by one of those built in axle-and-bearing things. It did take me a long time to get this done,including forgetting about a reverse screw thread, but it got there. Then had to change the changer unit from my bike to hers, because the one we had been miss-sold in London is, well crap. I can cope with than on my bike because I do not have a clicky gear change but will try to get a better one for me later. Right now, I am fed up with it and the moving workshop is closed.
OK back to it. Things that struck me in days 1 and 2. The wind struck us both with some force. We should have handled our unplanned visit to the Hague better. When we planned this trip, we reckoned that spending time in Dutch cities etc was not worth it, as we would get to further-away places later and should use our time there. But as we did end up in the Hague, well it seemed an enjoyable place, but we did not have time for that. It is amazing how many cyclists there are around; this week is a holiday week, for the liberation at the end of WW2, but still hundreds of people going the other way and overtaking us the same way. There are what we call “the fasties” who are suitably attired and shoot past at high speed. There are the family groups . There are the older people who used also to overtake us at first, but as we have become fitter and with less gear trouble, we can now match their pace. There are assorted kids and younger people. There are all sorts, all along the cycle tracks. The cycle tracks are superb, whether next to roads or going off through the woods, or the dunes or wherever. By now I don't really want to see another sand dune (or a cycle way through one anyway) ever again, but the paths through other country are great.
We have come through very prosperous part of Netherlands, with grand houses, neat village centres, etc. Of course the Netherlands is a wealthy country anyway, but some of the mansions we passed, with there gardens.... We also came past an enormous steel works, now Tata steel, at the end of the Noordzee Kanal, which reminds one that this s very industrial country. The canal links Amsterdam to the sea. We crossed it on a little ferry that could take a few cars but actually carried an unlimited number of bikes (with their riders). That was yesterday evening and we ended up in a little rural campsite on the flight path for Amsterdam airport and in earshot of the steel works that made those sort of noises all night. But slept very well!
Tonight, we are in a vast campsite. Our tent is 250 metres from the restaurant where I am typing this, and that is less than half way across. Lots of family groups. Years ago we stayed in another large Dutch campsite where there were permanent chalets with truly magnificent collections on gnomes. But no gnomes here.
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