I set my alarm 30 minutes earlier to get a good start on the days ride. Would you believe about 15 mins after I’d got up it starts to rain. So the day started by packing up a sopping wet tent.
I’d meticulously planned my route the night before, hoping that I wouldn’t get any problems with cycle routes. I’d basically planned the route to stick close to towns, these usually being linked by cycle routes.
I started with a guess route down a road that I thought was in the right direction. Turns out I was correct, not only that but the sun had started to come out.
From here on in everything went to plan. I followed all the cycle route signs perfectly all the way to Rotterdam. The good thing about doing it this way is that the signs show short distances between towns, so you think “That isn’t too farĀ” and of course it all adds up. The cycle network really is good here. I take back what I said previously. Although the odd sign missing here and there is a bit of a pain.
I went through some lovely little towns with the typically painted window shutters and miniature windmills in the front gardens. As well as riding along part of the network of canals.
I really liked the look of Utrecht – it was alive with students and looked a really cool place to spend a few nights. I got told off for cycling up the high street after 11am. Apparently I’m supposed to push it after this time. They were nice about it and I only had to push it a couple of hundred metres.
I’m not sure how far I did today but it seemed a very long way indeed. I’m glad I made it though and have a day to look around tomorrow. It’s an easy ride all the way back to England now. I’ll be covering shorter distances to Antwerp, Brugge and Calais.