Day 8 – The last leg!

Back on home shores for a the last leg up the Tyne to home. It’s seems surreal cycling from the Charles bridge to the Tyne bridge and the sense of achievement is realised. 

Obligatory stop off at the Cycle Hub for a coffee and a bacon butty to keep the legs spinning for the remaining 23 miles; must admit looking forward to the home comforts!

We have been so lucky with the weather and no bike problems!

Thank you for all your kind comments, texts and messages of encouragement! Especially with the unexpected welcoming home street party on our return; big thanks to Anne for organising. Perfect finish to the journey!

So in total we clocked up 700 miles with our ‘leisurely’ holiday and back to work for a rest! 

The biggest aknowledgement must go to our dear friend Morgan Blue!! 

  
   
    
    
    
 

Day 7 – Exploring Holland

The beers must have been strong last night as we set off 10 miles in the wrong direction! After the scenic detour we headed up the coast to Marken, Volendam and Edam. The quaint villages are the real Holland compared to the craziness of Amsterdam. 

We have been so lucky with the weather, not a drop of rain and glorious sunshine all day long (albeit pretty unbearable at times).

After sitting enjoy a coffee and beer in the sun we realised that we still had a fair way back to cycle to catch the ferry. So the Williams steam train flew across the country clocking in 62 miles! 

Sailing back on the ferry to home soil, reminiscing on an incredible week! 

https://www.strava.com/activities/364713604
   
    
 
These cycling shoes in Holland are not up to much!

      
    
    
 
David found a BRIElliant girl with a flowery bike. But she said she was feta and too mature for him 

   
 

Provisions 

Day 6 – Onto the cycling capital of the world, Amsterdam

After early breakfast and the staff mentioning how much we ate we set off on the flat plains to Amsterdam, it is almost boringly flat compared to the hills of Northumberland.

Today is really the final day of the challenge as we had a day to spare for any problems along the way; so we rolled into Amsterdam with 73 miles in the legs! 

After passing the usual Dutch houses, scenery and windmills we passed Noah’s ark. In the garden there was 2 kangaroos, 2 turkeys, 2 peacocks, 2 dear and 2 horses all in the same field! Where on earth do you buy a kangaroo from!? 

When booking a hotel last night we didn’t know that it had only been open a day. We apologised that they would have to defumigate the room after we had christened it!  

On our ‘holiday’ day tomorrow we have decided to do some cycling with a spin around to Edam to load what space we have left in our panniers with cheese and head back to the port! 

Off on a night out in Amsterdam to celebrate! 

https://www.strava.com/activities/363302224 

    
    
    
  

Day 5 – Over the border to Holland!

The days are starting to get easier for us as the terrain flattens; today we cycled over 90 miles with a jaunt around town. That brings us over 400 miles in 4 days! 

The heat rocketed back up today to 40 degrees and ended up shoving our heads under a tap in the pub to cool down; drying in minutes! 

We upped the average speed with the flat terrain and crossed the border into Holland with 50 miles on the clock by 11.30am. This meant we got a bit of an earlier finish and a chance to get off the saddle! 

Next stop Amsterdam….. Hopefully there won’t be as many pink balloons and rainbow flags! 

  
    
    
    
  

Day 4 – (BIG DAY) Herzberg to Bad leburg

Unfortuantly, the hotel restaurant could not accommodate us last night as they were so busy, so we certainly made up for it in the morning. The Germans may pinch the sun beds in the morning but we beat them to the breakfast! 

  
We knew today was going to be the biggest day as a 114 mile route was planned. However, to avoid the unsuitable footpaths we had to take diversions and ended up with a MASSIVE 125 MILES! This is the longest both of us have cycled before, but loved it! 

The scenery today was lovely with German rural villages and the further West we travel the better and better the cycle paths get; however, Germany has a ridiculous amount of traffic lights!

We have had very traditional German food today with Bratzwurst sausage for lunch and Snitzel for tea, washed down with local beers. 

We were going so well today, it took the police to stop us as apparently there is a speed limit on the pavements! 

It was David’s turn for the impressions, we pulled into a pharmacy to ask for some Savlon. 

“Is it itchy, hot or sore” said Helgar 

It took Geoff to stop David pulling his bib shorts down! 

https://www.strava.com/activities/361977407
   
    
    
    
   
  

Day 3 – Weibenfels to Herzberg

Got off early from the hostel at 6.45am  to get the cooler miles in! The planned milage today was meant to be 86, but the German cycle paths didn’t suit touring bikes; so one of the easier planned days turned into another 97 miles (however a little less hilly than yesterday).

We stopped after 20 miles for breakfast in a small village. We have found that no body speaks English in any of the non ‘touristy’ places we visit, so conversions resorts to the Germans shouting louder to try and make us understand and us putting on an even more of a German accent! The best was when Geoff tried to order a slice of ham and ended up doing Karate chopping impressions without success! 

We must have drank about 6 litres of water each trying to beat the heat, but the sun flower fields looked good! 

The roads today varied with busy roads and idealistic cycle paths. The room tonight is a lot more up market with a setee! We are building up for a BIG day in the saddle tomorrow ……

https://www.strava.com/activities/361039951
   
Not the best cycle tracks

 
Breakfast

   
    
I did order XL beer

 Geoff is having the breast time… Local tradition

   
 

Day 2 – Chonotuv to Weinbenfels …. Over the German border to the heat!

Breakfast at 6.30am to try and beat some of the heat. The climb over the border took us to almost 3000ft. 
The 100 miles and 6000ft of climbing was made harder with the 40 degree heat, having to stop regularly to get the fluids in!

https://www.strava.com/activities/360388669
   
  
Trying to get off main roads didn’t always work

  11 O clocks   
    
    
Another light snack

    
Spot the cyclist!

 

Day 1 – Prague to Chomotuv

Arrived in Prague on the 12 hour overnight sleeper train and went sight seeing. Timed it perfectly to see the Astronomical clock, Charles bridge and up to the Castle, sampling the local cuisine for breakfast.

Enough of sightseeing and the real adventure begun! Left Prague at 11am in the baking heat; the Garmins recorded 34 degrees! Cycled through the real little villages of the Czeck Republic, cursing the cobbles stones at every village! 

Found a local restaurant and they had a BBQ going! As the menu was in jibberish and nobody spoke English we just pointed at meat and waited to see what turned up… 

I thought I was going to have to call A+E after the hottest mustard known to man had Geoff in bits!! 

Pedalled 66 miles to Chomotuv, even with the low mileage, the heat zaps all the energy!  

https://www.strava.com/activities/359700357
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 

Travel via Ferry, Bike and Train

10am arrival at Ijmuden port and a flat 18 miles on the immaculate cycling roads of the Netherlands! 

On arrival into Amsterdam we were greeted by rainbow flags and our Lycra attire seemed to fit in well. We soon realised that it was Gay Pride ….. So it was rude not to join the party! 

Tip: We can recommend the window shopping in Amsterdam! Couple of hours site seeing and onto the train to Prague. 

There was a coupe of hours change at Düsseldorf, which gave us a chance to have a quick spin around and recommendation by Marcus to visit the promonade at sunset over the Rhine was brilliant! A quick carbo load in Düsseldorf for what lies in store! 
The European trains are much more cycle friendly! Trying to get as much sleep as possible in the sleeper cabin to Prague!

   
    
    
    
    
   

Europe bound at last!

After waving goodbye to Juliet (a week of peace for her) the black clouds stayed away and we pedaled 23 miles along the Tyne to the ferry port!

Overnight ferry to Amsterdam now and ready for the long train journey tomorrow!