3/08/05 Hoek - Numansdorp
Enjoyed watching the film 'Batman Begins' which made the ferry journey on the HSS seem quite short. We arrived at the Hoek in rain and a very overcast sky. A quick trip into the centre of the Hoek to find a bank and supermarket for some food for our evening meal. By the time we had got to the fiestpad by the side of the river it had stopped raining, the skies had cleared and the sun had come out.

4/08/05 Numansdorp - Dorst
Crossed Haringvlietbrug although the cycle route was seperate from the main carriage way there was only a barrier between us and the traffic, the gusts from the passing lorries shook the rigs as they went by.
Went into Willemstad which is a delightful fortress town with a star shaped moat around it and a small harbour with a windmill at the end. Klundert skirted around Zevenbergen, Langeweg took wrong turning repedalled back under motorway to Terheijden heading SE over the Markkanal to what we hoped would be our campsite. It turned out to be a golf course so we moved on. After some interesting navigation along some sandy tracks we ended up at a large and very noisy campsite. We decided that as there were 2 others a little further on we would continue on. When we reached the next campsite with a very tempting pannekochen restaurant, we asked if we could stay, the lassie said that it was for people staying 3 months or more! But said that there was another one only 1.5km further on.

5/08/05 Dorst - Safari
Decided that we needed somemore maps, so a direct route was planned for Tilburg. A cross wind made the pedalling a little hard for the 12km to the centre. As we got to the centre there was the sound of sirens and blaring motor horns as a old fashioned fire engine came rushing out of the church followed by several cars,someone in the fire service had just got married. Unfortunately there isn't a lot left of the old town due to the fierce fighting in 1944 when the town was finally liberated by the 5th Scottish Division on 27th October 1944. There is a memorial to the Scots Division in the new rebuilt centre.
Frank was in need of some sustainance, so we found a nice cafe the 'Katterug' and had their Uitsmijter special and it was delicious. Just up from the cafe was a book shop and bought our maps as we left the main square we spotted an outdoor shop and bought some gaz.
As it had started raining we decided that it looked like it was set in and headed for the nearest campsite which happened to be next to a Safari Park. Moved tent due to rubbish and litter went for a swim but swimbad full.

6\08\05 Safari - Lommel
Woken to the sound of lemars calling. Packed and headed for Hilvarenbeek to find a supermarket as it was Saturday and we wanted to be certain of getting food for Sunday. Hilvarenbeek had a nice windmill. Through Diessen to Baarschot where we came across a wedding party in traditional gear with a horse and cart. Westelbeers. Just before Casteren stop at a picnic table for lunch in hail showers so Vole run across road. Hapert windmill next to a housing estate. Pleasant countryside long fiestpad with concrete surface through wood alongside the heath at Cartierheide. Weebosch, Luyksgestel two windmills then over the border in to Belgium. First campsite was a CentreParcs but the next one at Lunastrand was excellent.

7\08\05 - Rest day

8\08\05 Lommel - Houthrlen
kattenbois had great confusion with the route numbers until thc penny dropped that it was like Orienteerinq and these were numbered points not numbered routes. 264 to 265 Then on to 255 and past the Druits Militalre Kerkhop where 39,100 fallen German soldiers are buried in16Ha 40 acres 20000 crosses. 272 to 257 to 258 then in to Hechtel-Eksel to find a bank but no bank. 05 to 309 obviously an old railway. Took main road into Helchteren to find a bank and supermarket found both and a hardware store than sold gaz canisters. Lovely grey tabby kitten.

9/08/05 - Houthalen - Zudental
left campsite to 75 decided to head towards Hasselt to find out more info on campsites. 74 to 79 nice ride through woods to our emergency lunch stop at a bench just before 91. On to the side of the Albert Kanal at 98. Tough ride into the wind up the side of the canal to 97 and then into the centre. Found the tourist information Bureau and got somc info on camping sites and asked for directions to a bookshop where we got new maps bought ear torch and more gaz. Coffee stop before heading back out of town to find a supermarket. Asked a policeman who gave us directions to an Aidi which turned out to be wrong. We gave up in the end concluding that we could always use our emergency meal. Headed back to the Albert Kanal anb had fun watching a huge barge navigate the locks. Followed the canal all the way down past 98, 82,83 to 69 where there was a steep climb up a short slope to the road and over the canal bridge to our campsite. Nice chap at reception opened the camp shop specially for us so we managed to get some milk and something for our meal.

10/08/05 Zudental - Borlo
Faft around a bit trying to get my cycle computer going so didn't leave until 11.30am. 69 to 84 shoped at Bilzen 108 stopped for lunch at a lovely valley spot. Through Werm to 109 & 110 on to 107 a nice ride into Tongeren stopped for coffee although it was 5.00pm we still though we would get to Oteppe. We pressed on from 116, 117, 118, 127 to 133 the terrain was yery hilly and we where cycling into the wind so were making slow progress. By thc time we had passed through 157, 158 & 160 and got to Batsheers it was 7.00pm and at that rate we would have made the campsite by 10.00pm at the earliest. We were both getting tired so decided that it was either a farmers or a B&B, the map showed a bed sign at Borlo a little way on and I remembered that the map came with a booklet with details of B&B accommodation. We decided to phone to see if they had room, they did indeed so we were booked I told them we were on bikes and about an hour away. Just after we set of just at the end of the lane was a sign sayÔng B&B 0.3km oh well we decided to press on as it would be less to do the ncxt day. I'm glad we did as the 'Pachof' was really lovely 2 cats one was a tabby that looked like our cat 'Mrs Chippy' and a black and white one that looked like our 'Mallory' it was quite uncanny.

11/08/05 Borlo - Oteppe

12/08/05 Oteppe - Combain-la-Tour
Lovely ride to M

13/08/05 Combain-la-Tour - Sougne-Remouchamps

Woken at 8.00am by some idiot from the static caravans playing his radio far too loud. Turned out to be a wrinkly with a hifi system in his awning and he was listening in his caravan, we concluded that he was hard of hearing. Sussed a route out of the campsite along the river which pleased Frank as she didn't fancy the steep track out of the campsite. In the village we found that there was a cycle path that followed the river to Combain-au-Pont. It was a lovely ride
along side the river, when we got to Combain-au-Pont we saw signs to 'Grotte' decided to have a look but didn't realise that it would be up such a steep hill with several hills.

14/08/05 Sougne-Remouchamps -

15/08/05

16/08/05 Robertville - Hammer

Woke to a slight drizzle but a least the Dutch couple were right there was blue sky appearing. Unfortunately we didn't have much for breakfast so as soon as we had pack we set off to find the bakery that the campsite owner said was in the village, couldn't find it but found a charcuterie that sold bread, cheese and ham. Frank was starving so we sat on a bench outside the church and had a brew and an early brunch. As ever it was a pull out of the village. We decided that we had enough of traffic so I planned a route through minor roads to Monschau. We headed north through minor roads to Bosfagne where at the old railway station we headed into the forest. What a refreshing change as it was on tracks through a nature reserve and then up a lonq steep hill although it was a tough climb it was to do it without the worry of cars! At thc top we had a breather and noticed wild raspbeeries and bilberries, they were absolutely delicious with a much nicer flavour than their cultivated cousins. A quick check with the compass showed us that we were indeed on the correct track. It was a delightful ride down through the Kchelscheider Wald met some Belgiums out for a walk taking a group shot, so I offered to take it for them. We were soon in Kalterherberg and you could instantly tell that you were now in Germany. Again our route took us through beautiful tracks alongside the Rur to Monchau. What a beautiful old German town to stumble across.

17/08/05 Rest Day
So much for a rest day, after spending the morning doing the washing we headed for Simarath. What a climb out of Hammer! It just went on an on with several false summits, weren't we glad that we had decided to stop and hadn't tried to do this with a full rig! Luckily for us there was a post office to send our parcel home and we found a book shop that sold maps we needed for the next bit. The ride back to Hammer was a cracker at one point I looked at the speedo and we were doing 34mph!

18/08/05 Hammer - Niddegen
Woke again to a beautiful day and set off along the Rur route, first on the road but then on some lovely tracks through the woods alongside the river punctuated with the occasional steep section. Pumping house that looked like a church. Lake, Stopped at the top of the climb to wait for Frank and old German couple who I had just past told me that the climbing was done and that it was level and down hill from there. Whether it was my bad German or the relief in my voice but they laughed when I said 'Das ist gut'. Caught up with them a little further on and had a further chat with them, it turned out the old guy had been born it the town across the lake and that him and his wife had lived there for 60 years. The route alongside the Lake through the trees was really beautiful and you caught glimpses of the lake where there were breaks in the trees. Bikers cafe

19/08/05 Niddegen - Rosenhal
Easy cycling following the river graduallyno campsite

20/08/05 Rosenhal - Roermond
After a very bad night where the owner allowed the music to go on till 3.00am even after I complained to her at 2.00am. Perhaps because we were so shattered we slept through it until it must have become louder just about 1.45am and woken us, the joys of camping! In to Effeld to find some a shop breakfast, nothing doing there

21/08/05 Roermond - Helmond
We woke to quiet a misty morning and had a little difficulty getting going this morning as we were tired even after a good nights sleep. Our destination was Helmond where Frank's uncle Roy lived so we rallied ourselves and were soon crossing the bridge over the Mass and taking a photo of the 2 windmills in Horn. Again it was cycling by numbers, so we found 45 and on through pleasant tracks through woods past 46 & 49 to the small town of Roggel where we stumbled across a couple of street entertainers entertaining a crowd of Dutch cyclists. They were Noa and Uri from Israel and they were excellent. We then threaded our way north through 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20 to 10 where we crossed the Noordervaart and headed to Meijel. Decided that we had better push on a bit to get to our campsite and eat in time to visit Roy & Margarette so hacked it along the cycle paths allongside the main roads through Liessel, Deurne and Bakel. By the time we had cycled into Helmond and back to see Roy & Margarette we had ridden 53 miles which was again another long day!

22/8!04 Caherciveen - Glenbeigh
It was a bit of a gray start as we left Manix point and headed into Caherciveen. The cycle route takes you over the Valencia river to the Doulus Head peninsular. Just after the bridge Frank asked me to stop as she was having problems with her chain. I popped the bike on its new stand and it promptly collapsed! I must admit when I bought it I wasn't that convinced by the guy in the bike shop that it was a strong one. Frank just laughed again and said "that didn't last long!", oh well that's stand number 6! We pushed on and were soon crossing the main N70 at the now defunct peat burning Deelis power station and carried on down quiet lanes to the Foilmore bridge where we stopped for a quick brew. It was a steady climb up from there to cross the N70 again before a lovely twisty turny run down to Kells. At Kells you join the N70 which has been widened most of the way and there is a good sized hard shoulder to cycle along. It was a shame that the weather wasn't a bit better as the Dingle peninsular was covered in cloud. Part way a long you pass the O'Connell viaduct which is about all that remains of the dismantled Faranfore to Caherciveen railway line. At Mountain Stage the cycle climbs up again before a steep descent to Ross-Behy. I guessed by the moans from Frank about the fact that the cycle route always takes you up the hills while the main road goes on the flat, that she was getting a bit tired and in need of some sustenance. When we got to Ross-Behy I suggested a cupper and a bun to cheer her up. There were only 2 places to choose from, a rather dubious looking fast food kiosk and the Ross Inn. I assure Frank that they would do tea as the advertise food all day. We went in and I ordered a pot of tea for 2 and some Dutch apple pie that was on the blackboard. Well when the Dutch apple pie arrived it was gorgeous and very nicely presented with swirls of raspberry cooli. I couldn't help looking at the other food that was being served, and suggested a change of plan. We could stay at the campsite at Glenbeigh which was only a couple of miles further on rather than go on to Killorgin and have tea at the pub as the food looked so good. As Frank was so tired she didn't take much persuading. I think the lass behind the bar most have though us a bit strange, as we had just had pudding and tea and were now ordering main courses of seafood chowder, oak smoked Killorglin salmon and 2 pints of Guinness! It was a good move as the food was lovely and we just had to round it off with 2 more pints of Guinness. Perhaps the 2nd pint was a bit of a mistake as at 5.00pm it certainly made the ride to Glenbeigh quite interesting, Frank couldn't stop giggling. While we were in Glenbeigh buying some milk, I got talking to an English couple and they gave us the latest on the Olympics, with news of Matthew Pincents gold medal and Paula's unfortunate collapse in the marathon. It's a shame that we always seem to be away when the Olympics are on, for the Sydney Olympics I remember we were in Poland! The campsite was well appointed but the only non boggy pitch left had some awful midges, but our early tea gave us an opportunity to seek the sanctuary of the laundry room to do some clothes washing and charge up my PDA and phone.

22/08/05 Rest Day

23/08/05 Helmond - Alphen
Good early start as we were away by 8.50am. Drizzly morning which did get a little heavier at times and it was just that bit too warm to wear waterproofs. Once we got to ? we followed the Wilhem Kanal and the LF13 Adjusted Franks barbaq attachment as having adjusted her handle bars last night her barbag had servere drop. Unfortunately

24/08/05 Alphen - Bergen Op Zoom

25/08/05 Bergen Op Zoom - Arnemuiden

26/08/05 Arnemuiden - Rockanje
After a windy, rainy and thundery night we woke to broken skies and a bit of sunshine. The farmer came over and invited us in for a cup of coffee and we sat and had a pleasant chat with him and his wife about farming and all things Dutch!
As we were now heading north we now had the wind behind us which made pedaling a little easier. Got into a Clarkeson along the ? and with the wind behind us we were cruising at 24mph. Kite surfers

27/08/05 Rockanje - Hoek van Holland
1633 windmill Brille