2015 JUNE NETHERLANDS - AND THE WHEELS KEEP ON TURNING!
We travel inland away from the windy coast - Holland into Belgium.
04.06.2015 - 06.06.2015
Thursday 4th June 2015 (day thirty-one)
Oostkappelle to Groede 23km
Last night it was freezing cold in the tent! We woke to a beautiful blue sky all suffering from a cold or snore interrupted sleep.
We had to be out of the campsite by 10am so it was an early start and pack up and we actually managed to be on the bikes at 9.55am. Not that far to go today we rode inland to the town of Middelburg just in time for lunch and lucky for us the weekly market was on. Lekkerbek fish was as usual a popular choice and we joined the rest of the crowd for fish for lunch, and as usual it did not disappoint, it was yummy.
This was finished off with a tompouce and a coffee at the Hema. The Lemons and Sarah made a few extra bedding purchases, but to tell the truth Lyn & I just don’t have the room to carry anything else, so it will be just put on as much clothing as possible to sleep in and hope we are warm enough.
The fresh produce for sale at the market looked delish and was all too tempting and we purchased an assortment fruit and vegies which we then had to find homes for on our bikes. Food was hanging everywhere off all our bikes as well as the Lemons washing from last night which still needed drying.
Our ride continued to Vlissingen where we caught the short ferry ride to Breskens where we rode into town to buy some further food supplies before looking for a campsite for the night. I found a tourist information office and was advised about a campsite only 5km away so we headed for that. So tonight we are in Camping de Woordhoeve in Groede which costs us a better price of E4.75 = $6.70 each, we had a beer at check-in, in celebration E1.75 = $2.45.
The riding was much easier today, with hardly any wind at all. The brilliant blue sky also adds to the enjoyment. Today I rode in shorts and singlet top, big change from the previous few days where we have been rugged up.
Tomorrow we enter into Belguim.
Bike computer stats for today:
Time cycled: 1 hours 41 mins
Distance: 22.54 km
Average speed: 13.2 km/h
Max speed: 22.3 km/h
Calories burnt: 198
C02 3.38
ODO 129
Friday 5th June 2015 (day thirty-two)
Groede to Sluis to Damme to Bruges 30.5km
I think we were all a little more comfortable in our tents last night. I did not seem to be as cold as previous nights and we were rugged up better.
The morning looked a little overcast and dull, but soon turned into a clear blue sky and actually a very hot day. I wore shorts and singlet top today. It was an easy ride today, and as we farewelled out campground hosts they advised it was an easy route to our lunch destination of Sluis – the last town in the Netherlands before we cross over into Belguim. It was good and hot by the time we made it here just in time for lunch. A table by the side of the canal was the perfect spot to eat. This being our last stop in Holland, Lyn & I stocked up on droppies (salted liquorice).
The remainder of our ride today was just under 20km from Sluis to Bruges. This is a beautiful ride along a bike path that follows a canal all the way. I have ridden this path before and it’s still a lovely ride. There was hardly a breeze, which made the air even hotter. A very pleasant ride.
Just 5km outside of Bruges is a nice little place called Damme where we stopped for a cold beer before hitting the big town. Today sure was a scorcher.
The last leg of the ride the weather started to turn, that lovely hot sun we had been enjoying all day had turned to a sad grey sky. The wind blew up a bit and threatening rain lingered in the air. As we hit the outskirts of Bruges it was almost necessary to stop and put on a jacket, but we rode on instead. We had to find the centre as I knew the way to our B & B from there as Lyn & I had been here on 2 occasions before.
Only after a little bit of circling around on the cobbled streets did we finally find the correct way and were greeting by Lady Jane B & B owner Hugo. Our bikes were lifted into the hall way of the old building and we were shown to our lovely rooms. The next two nights are going to be luxurious. The Lemons are in the romantic Lady Jane room, Sarah and I are in the Japan room and Lyn is sleeping in the library. We have a sitting / dining room that we are all able to use as well.
By 7pm we were all showed and settled in and were about to go out to find food when a storm hit. Hail stones the size of marbles bounced around on the roof as we watched out the window. The storm did not last very long and within an hour we were out on the street and could see no sign of the aggressive storm that had just drenched the streets. Lyn, Sarah and I had a hankering for frits (hot chips) so we headed for the centre square to feed our craving. Toni & Shawn opted for pizza & pasta from a local Italian place.
Chips and kroket eaten on the main square was a real treat. We washed down our greasy pleasure with a cold beer, only because beer costs just cents more than a coke, so it seemed silly to have a coke for E2 when a beer is E2.20. The food was hot and the beer was cold, eaten with a view, a nice end to an excellent day.
Bike computer stats for today:
Time cycled: 2 hours 18 mins
Distance: 30.57km
Average speed: 13.2 km/h
Max speed: 20.4 km/h
Calories burnt:257
C02 4.58
ODO 159
Saturday 6th June 2015 (day thirty-three)
Bruges
I woke up just as Hugo was delivering our breakfast. This is a real treat, having breakfast delivered to us. Rolls, cold meat, cheese, sweet rolls, yoghurt, fruit, OJ, tea & coffee, we were certainly spoilt. Everyone had slept well, warm and on a soft comfy bed.
We had a free day in Bruges today and so did hundreds of other tourists. The town was packed with canal to canal tourists and it’s not even high season yet. So glad that yesterday evening we had the town to ourselves as no one seemed to hang around after the hail storm. Today was another perfect sunny, warm, slight breeze day and I guess due to it being Saturday also brought in the crowds.
We all did a fair bit of walking around today enjoying the beauty of this amazing town, finishing off another great day at the Café Vlissinghe which this year is celebrating it’s 500th anniversary. Absolutely unbelievable having a beer or two in a pub that has been serving for 500 years! That sort of history is just too incredible to comprehend, so we had to have another beer in celebration!
No bike riding today.
Posted by Cindy Bruin 02:38 Archived in Netherlands Comments (2)