Nederland

Days 42 – 46  15/8/16 – 20/8/16

Day 42, Monday 15/8/16
Left campsite and had a funny feel to the back wheel, stopped to check and found the quick release skewer was loose, I must have caught it while I was loading the panniers I crossed the border after about 10 km but not sure where as I was on the coast cycle path and no signs. I bought a map and found a campsite to plan my route for the next day or so. Total distance today 36 km.

The campsite even had a dog bath.

I went for a 5 mile walk in the afternoon to give Pippa some exercise

Day 43
10 km ride to Bresten where I had 1 ½ hour wait for the ferry. Approaching the ferry terminal I received a flat tyre on the trailer, I replaced the innertube on the ferry but felt uneasy as I was in the Netherlands and every Dutch person watching me must have changed hundreds of tyres, I hope I did it right. I checked the tube but could not find a puncture, I checked the tyre, inside and out, but could not find anything so I just replaced the tube and decided to check it properly this evening. In town I found a tourist office to buy more maps, and an Aldi for food. 2 km up the road I had another puncture in the trailer wheel, but I had no more tubes, so time to fix two punctures. This time I found the hole, so I narrowed the search for the hole in the other tube to 2 places. With a guide from the puncture I also removed a sharp stone resembling a fossilized shark tooth from the tyre. At the campsite near westkapelle haveing cycled 36 km. Pippa had a fan club of over 10 children, I was given a beer later, from the dad of one of the group’s of children, proberly for giving him some peace for a bit.

Day 44
A nice ride along the coast, but with a headwind all day, over a 2 km bridge with sea either side then onto an 8 km dam, I stopped by a little cafe half way across for a cold coke, then 6 km later I made the 1000 km mark.

I stopped in the woods at Boswachteris Westenschouwen to have a brew up by a bench, then decided from the map that there would not be a campsite for at least 7 km, so wild camped and slept on the bench. 37 km today and a total of 1004 km.

Day 45

Up at 6 in the morning and backtracked to a car park that had a toilet. I made it to the car park at half past 6, but the sign on the toilet block sign said open at 8, I tried all the doors and the disabled door was unlocked. I saw a small herd of deer then cycled up the coast a little and stopped for a tea and my morning porrage. Stopped for an second breakfast at 11. Another long dyke with a headwind. At Ouddrop tourist office I bought a map book with maps around the whole country and camped at Stellendam. Today 49 km.

Day 46
Another dam to cross with more headwinds a looking for a campsite for an easy day, but no dogs so I carried on to the port at Maasvlakte, where I got another ferry to the Hoek van Holland where I checked into the campsite for 2 days as I needed a rest. It rained very heavily during the night and I thought the site might flood. Today 41 km, total 1094 km, 3 ferries and 2 punctures.

Belgium

Days 39-41
Day 39 12/8/2016
I made Belgium at about 1130 hrs after 14 km riding and saw no border checks on either side, the French side had 4 police officers 1km into France, standing around smoking and talking, not paying attention to the cars passing them in France. It made me wonder why I had heard on the radio that armed French police were being lifted by helicopters onto cross channel ferries in case of terrorists from England but anyone could drive into France from Belgium.I stopped in De Panne to buy a map then found a campsite and washed my clothes again as it was a scorching hot day and they would dry by dark.Cycled 28 km today. Now I’m out of France I should be able to get that French song out of my head, the one that goes “ matches, box of matches, matches, box of matches, “, I have been known to get lyrics wrong before.
Day 40
I cycled further then I expected today as I had a problem finding a campsite, sites 1, 2, and 3, no dogs, site 4 no tents, sites 5, 6, and 7, full, site 8 expensive, but I was tired so I stopped, as it was a built up area near De Haan. I am going to have to slow down as I’ve covered half of Belgium’s coastline in 1 day having cycled 54 km today.
Day 41
I planned a short day today or I would pass through Belgium to fast, but the 1st 3 campsites were full and ended up near Knokke near the Dutch border after 36 km.

Day 28 – 1/8/2016

Left campsite at 9am and paid for last night, then cycled through the marshes that I like as it means flat roads, followed Euro Route 4. I’ve come to the conclusion that anything over 20 miles a day is ok. There is no point on just racking up the miles if your not seeing anything and not having a good time. What is the point of doing a Mark Beaumont and going around the world, missing half of it out and cycling from dawn till dusk. Stopped in the afternoon to buy food including dog food for Pippa, the plan was to feed her the same food that I was eating but I’ve developed a cycling tourist appetite, that means my saucepan are just about big enough for me. I tried tieing Pippa to the handle bars on the flat and she can pull me as I ride but the leash was not long enough and I had to keep hitting the brakes so as no to run her over. I camped at Fort Mahon which was an expensive campsite but I was tired 45 km today. This campsite had squat and drop toilets, I feel I am in France now.

Day 29

Rest day

Wet day, rain and wind, decided that it would not be fun cycling so stayed in. Went for a walk into town, found cash machine and market, saw a few other Bichons and I think Pippa needs a bath. In the tent I have to arrange things as Pippa has to stay in the vestibule when she is wet and she needs a place.

Day 30

Another rest day.

Very heavy rain last night and this morning, I’ve discovered the hydrostatic head of my tent is not quite good enough. It is not that I am a fare weather cyclist, it is I get no pleasure cycling in the rain and I have no time limit e.g. visa or work to get back to.

Day 31

Dry day so struck camp and left with the wind behind me, took a detour into Berck and a break on the beach then off to Le Touquet, another big detour off the direct route. North of the river estuary I found a campsite and as weather was good for the next few days I booked in for 2 nights as I need a good clean, my clothes need washing and Pippa needs a bath. In the toilet block I tried to spend as long shaving as I could to charge my tablet, then showered. I feel comfortable standing up wind of people now. I then washed my clothes and I think I need to buy some cleaning products as the best thing I had to wash them in was Pippas shampoo, I will smell of dog now, but a clean dog. While cycling I saw my first snake on this trip. My total distance today was 50 km cycled.

 

Day 32 – Friday 5/8/2016

Went for a walk to the local supermarket then gave Pippa a bath. Went to the bar for a beer and try and use the inter-web but very slow, as I was returning my glass I heard dog screaming from outside, Pippa was tied to my chair and decided to follow me, only the chair was chassing her.

Day 33

Left the site at Ettables about 1030 and followed the D940 into Bolounge. Camped just before Wimereux. Today I realised that my bum had broken in my heavy Brookes saddle, from now on it will only get better. Cycled 33 km today.

Day 34

Stopped in Wimereux to use the cash machine again then pushed the bike up the hill out of town. Stopped at Cap Griz Nez beach to have lunch. About 1 km south of Wissant I stopped to wild camp down the side of a corn field as I still had just over 2 litres of water left. 28 km cycled today.

Day 35

Struck camp and cycled to Wissant then a 1 km push up hill, nice down hill to Escalles then another very steep hill with hairpin bends with lots of pushing breaks, even Lance Armstrong on a heavy drugs day would not have been able to cycle my set up, up that hill. Then downhill to Sangatte, I looked for the jungle but it must have been further back from the coast road I was on. In Calais I looked for a book/map shop but the French do not open shops on Mondays if they are open on Saturdays, except bread shops and tobbaco shops. Stayed at campsite in Les Hemmes and had a drink in the bar and a smoke as well. 42 km cycled today.

35 days, 748km and a ferry and I’m only 50 miles and an hour ferry ride from where I started.

Day 36 – Tuesday 9/8/2016

I had a late start and planned on reaching Dunkirk but had some rests during the day so decided to wild camp so I could get an early start in Dunkirk. Set up the hammock for the first time, had it low so I could use it as a chair as well. Very comfortable but at about midnight I had to get my sleeping mat out as my back was cold. Today only 27 km.

Day 37

Rained slightly at night but lucky I had my tarp set up. Half way to Dunkirk it started to rain so I took shelter for an hour then doned my waterproofs, Sun came out as I arrived in Dunkirk so removed them, then it started raining again so put them on again. I think the last member of my family to go to Dunkirk was great uncle Mick, but he made a quick exit in June 1940, and I family tradition I made a quick exit as well but my reason was the rain. At the campsite I pitched camp in the rain and fell asleep at about noon, only to wake boiling hot as the Sun was out at 3pm. Sowed Pippas pillow again as well as my saddle cover. Today only 20 km cycled.

Day 38

Rest day

It was raining in the morning, went shopping in town and slept from 1pm to 6 pm.

 

 

 

Day 25 – 29/7/16

Another rest day. Last night Pippa discovered she could seek into my sleeping bag, she snuffled in turned around and stuck her head out the top, been feeling a bit run down, I’ve been getting enough protein and carbs but not enough fruit and veg, so I took a half hour walk to the local shops to go shopping. I even remembered my French lessons from Mr Powel about 35 years ago, although he never taught us what methylated spirts was. Alcool a bruler according to Google translate. And they sell it in practically all mini super markets. Still very tired I slept the afternoon listening to radio 4 on long wave.

Day 26 – 30/7/16

Left the campsite at st Martin en champane and found the D313, nice easy road alongside the big D925 trunk road. I saw some french cyclist signs.

I made it to the campsite at le Treport, and had a walk into town, lots of people with dogs but they did not want them to socialize with Pippa or any other dogs so no sniffs for Pippa. Today’s cycling was 25 km.

Day 27 – 31/7/16

After taking the wrong road, but very scenic route I found some nice back roads and after pushing my bike up a steep 1 1/2 km hill out of a valley I stopped to make a cup of tea and early lunch. I arrived at a campsite having cycled 38 km today, but the office was closed so I wheeled the bike in and found somewhere to put up my tent. I then walked around the site trying to look like a Frenchman who was supposed to be there, quite easy if you have a fag hanging out of your mouth and just say bonjour to anyone who looks at you.

 

 

 

Total for July

550 km or 341 miles

17 days cycling and 10 Rest days