We might have been ultra quick getting on the ferry but by 'you know what' we were the last buxxers' to get off it!
btw...lovely picture of the clean chocolate box (2nd bike).
Note to self - next time negotiate with Captain for a quick disembark. It was 10am before we finally got off the ferry and headed to Amsterdam.
Why dont they have the City next to the port? 16 bloomin miles before we reach the centre of Amsterdam!
Amsterdam is sooo busy with cyclists, pedestrians and folk that should be paying more attention especially the woman on a scooter who rammed Alan from behind and knocked him off his bicycle while he was stopped at traffic lights and sent his backpack flying up in the air! The woman was apologetic and Alan (after dusting himself down) was not happy to say the least especially as the mounting for his backpack was now bent! At least he only he had a few scratches and a look of bewilderment. After a bit of DIY we managed to get the backpack on securely and carry on - the woman on the moped was nowhere to be seen by this point.
For future reference please be aware that mopeds can also use cycle lanes in Amsterdam adding to the chaos of over thousands of cyclists (and they don't wear helmets to boot).
According to my fellow cyclists the back streets and canals were interesting with the strong smell of cannabis from many of the local shops but I couldn't smell a thing.
As Craig appeared to be checking out his homemade waterproof phone cover, the sign above Alan's head was an omen for the following day.
This wasn't a good day for Craig (well, at least in centre of AMS) as he discovered that once putting your tyres into a tram track it was difficult to steer out of them... and... bang... down he went. 2 cyclists down in the space of 10 mins - who was next?! It was a sore one but Craig is a man and was not to be defeated with a throbbing left arm as he got up quickly before any tram thought he was a midday snack.
One thing for sure, you can't go to Amsterdam without making sure you are in front of it!
At this point we met up with a friend of Mike Quinns. Danny (who lives in the Netherlands) was a great guy who is a seriously good cyclist and excellent pace maker. He must have been wondering how 5 hackers were gonna get to MC.
I personally thought he was our guide for the day and we could switch the satnav off but then discovered he does all his cycling to the east of Amsterdam and he hadn't ventured darn sarth of AMS before. Satnav back on.
A good day followed and the miles flew in. We saw 3 boats with a wedding party on board. Looked like fantastic a way to attend a wedding. (luckily for them the weather had turned for the better as they were in a number of unprotected boats exposed to the elements boats).
As we cycled south down the side of the canal we crossed over at Uithoorn, Veer Nessersluis. Quite bizzare taking a ferry for a few mins (I think it was 50 cent each but I gave him 1 Euro and told him to keep the change!)
Further down the road we stopped at a cafe for burger and chips and fizzy juice - so unhealthy - so what!
We headed down through Wilnis and Kamerik and down to Schoohoven where yet again, it was back on a short ferry across another canal - this time it was 1 Euro.
Many hours had passed and it was becoming apparent that cycling in the Netherlands is great - it's completely flat!
The weather was getting warmer and the sun was coming out - about time too!
You can't go through the Netherlands without taking a photo of a windmill - so here is one!
By 6pm we were now cycling on top of a dam with an hour to go and eventually made the Tulip Inn hotel in Oosterhout by 7pm.
They were expecting us and were good enough to have a room set aside for our 5 bikes - result. We said our cheerios to Danny who set of in an easterly direction to see his in-laws and headed to our rooms. Posh bathrooms btw and a Domino's Pizza restaurant on site - another result.
A good 90 miles in and day 3 over… nothin happened.. lol
Brussels tomorrow (well, maybe....)
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