Day Two - Schmoke and a pancake?

After our really rather lovely evening in The Alma (added bonus I learnt how to drive a skate for the first time ever ….the fish you understand) we cycled the last 3 or so miles round to the ferry port. Realising that we should probably pick up some supplies (read beer) we found a Lidl on the way and by pure luck arrived at 2059 just as they were closing.

As we queue for the ferry and start to board it’s clear that this is a different calibre of ferry compared to our previous experiences (Venice to Athens…..ugghh!). There is something of the Overlook Hotel to the corridors and scale of the place but once settled in our really rather posh “two person, sea view cabin” it’s time for the first TMAAT negroni.

We are tucked up in our cabin, exhausted from the days effort shortly after the ship / boat / ferry / vessel. (I mean honestly who either knows or cares what the correct terminology is!). Putting the multiple tinkle trips aside the next thing either of us are aware of is volume turned up to 11 bird song, followed shortly afterwards with “ Bienvenue and Wilkommen, it’s 530 in the frickin morning”!

Once we have actually woken up and the ship / boat etc etc has actually docked / landed / parked (blah blah blah….why is it so complicated!) we descend the eight decks back to our bikes, saddle up, disembark/ get off / leave and head into Holland for our first ever time.

Actually important to note that as we collect our bikes we get chatting to a guy with his two kids who were travelling on a “Goodies” style three person tandem and are taking 3 months to cycle to …..Mallorca!!! Maximum kudos to all three of them!

The first 45 to 50 miles are, as you might expect very built up and industrial and “city’ish”…..the bonus however is that the cliche about the Dutch and their cycling is 100% true and we spend around 80 of the next 86 miles on traffic free cycle paths …..it really is extraordinary!

For those of you that doubt packing is an issue can I please draw your attention to exhibit A which is the picture of Marc below, having not shaved for two days, with all his luggage!

Without wishing to stereotype Holland or the Hollandaise (somehow that doesn’t sound quite right?) there is a lot of water here, rivers, estuaries, canals, lakes, big puddles and staying the right side of them is pretty tricky. Today’s route plan includes a very short ferry trip across one such puddle although of course when WE turn up no such ferry exists. We wait five or ten minutes and then give it up as a bad job……a 10 mile detour also feels like a “bad job”.

As we cycle the additional 10 miles around the ghost ferry we pick up a new friend who cycles and chats for the whole detour.

We stop for some food at a small bar next to the canal (some might call it a canal side bar!). They are not completely open so it’s a good ten minutes before we pick something from the menu they can actually bring us but whatever it is it has many eggs and much cheese and it is good.

It’s entirely possible that you could read all of this and look at the photos and think “what a jolly old time they are having” ….well yes and no! Of course this is an amazing experience which we chose to do and yes that means overall I am “enjoying it” but I have to tell you that, inspite of the multi egg lunch, by mile 50 I am completely bungalowed…..it’s a long time since I have done + 85 mile days back to back and it’s really hitting home. It’s not helped by the fact that it is eleventy billion degrees in the shade (it’s actually around 27 but you get the drift). I can’t describe how much everything hurts and how hot and exhausted I am ….this let me tell you is a tough day.

Eventually, and with about five miles to go, we roll into a small town called “Middlebeers”….well honestly how could you not? We find a bar and order two of there finest “Triple Carmeliet” giggle juice and immediately feel better about the world. A quick visit to the supermarket to pick up TMAAT pasta dinner and we are off and then roll onto Eurocanp Vessem around 1800