Bodhbh
Guru
Well in the end I didn't manage to pick up a book in time, despite passing thru Rotterdamn, but I didn't try too hard, was a little nervous about shopping while leaving the loaded bike parked up. Initially, I headed down the Rhine in Holland anyhow, but then thought the Rhine route took in alot of cities and didn't really have the time or money to do them justice. My general route went down the German-Dutch/Belgian border, something like Hook - Rotterdamn - Ultrect - Nijmegen - Kleave - Venlo - Aachen - Eupen - Trier - Saabruken - Karlsruhe.Andy in Sig said:Let us know how you get on. The Bikeline books are about 10" x 4" as they are designed to fit in a bar bag. The front covers are largely blue.
Main regret was lack of proper rest days, only got 1 day off in Trier. Highlights were the pretty dutch villages, winetasting, coming over the Ardennes, the country side between Trier and Karlsruhe particularly the view coming down out the Pfalzwald all the vineyards and Rhine plane stretching out for miles.
Germans have to say were extremely helpful and friendly. Numerous times got people offering direction when studying the map, suggestions, and alot of general interest about where I was going and what I was up to. Seemed often to be from Germans who'd done some touring themselves. Didn't go out my way to follow a particular cycle path route, but ended up on them probably 50% of the time, the rest mostly following the paths by the road side.
Only beef with the cycle paths is they sometimes finish and dump you on the left side of the road, which for a Brit is a very easy place to remain, till that HGV comes at you head on and you wake up...