And now we're in cycling Nirvana. Yesterday was a much different sort of cycling, as we'd moved inland. After Frank found us shortly after the start, then it was all just about perfect. In between towns we were either on separate cycle lanes running near to the road, or using a completely separate network of effectively little lanes, although they're also open to scooters. So we were just rolling along past lovely little hamlets, and fields divided by a multitude of little waterways.
Occasionally in towns, it wasn't clear exactly which way to go, but generally if a road had a path both sides, you're supposed to use the one on the right.
What was a bit mind blowing was the fact that often (although not always), when the path crossed a road, the cyclists had priority, meaning the cars had to stop. This was indicated by a solid white line across the road. It's a big change from the UK when you wonder if that car zooming at you will bother to stop.
It's been getting quite warm, so plenty of sun tan lotion going on and the cyclists' tans are re-appearing.
Yesterday's coffee stop was a very posh golf club - apparently golf clubs don't have bike stands as everyone drives to play golf! Then it was a bit more nice cycling for a couple of hours onto our lunch stop where they'd rolled out the red carpet, especially for us.
This was in the heritage Kinderdijke area with loads of windmills which was an amazing sight to see.
At this point Rebecca & I left the others as a boil on the top of her leg was starting to rub, so we had a plan B to get a ferry across to Rotterdam meaning only another 8km or so to then get a train, rather than another 50km. Sadly we got caught by their bike ban on trains which runs from 16:00 to 18:30, so we ate in Rotterdam, and then got the train to Utrecht and then a nice little pootle across to our B&B which has a jacuzzi & sauna. Luxury!
Today is a rest day, but I think we'll be going for a wander around Utrecht, possibly on Dutch bikes......
