2017 Dutch Cycle Tour: July 2017

Saturday, 29 July 2017

2017 Tour over

After 270 miles, 430kms of cycling in five days, we have left our friends in Holland behind for another year and are now just off the coast of Teeside and fast approaching our arrival into North Shields.

Its been a good week with plenty of effort all round, six hours plus daily cycling on the longer routes and the shortest day being over three hours.

We've burnt off thousands of calories and replaced them with some good food and great crack.

Our final day in Holland was a short 30 mile ride through the sand dunes forming the two National Parks of Noordwijk and Kennersduin and we were greatly assisted by the tailwind, Messrs Crosby Bell and Woods reaching speeds of +30mph on beautiful clear smooth surfaces.

Thank you Holland and Tot Ziens.

Some people are on the pitch, they think its all over

Just the procession into Paris aka Ijmuiden remains. It should be a leisurely 30 miles with south westerlies helping out towards Katwijk, Zandvoort, Bloemendaal and onwards to our 5pm ferry at Ijmuiden.

Here in Leiden its raining. It shouldn't dampen spirits after a great week's cycling.

Now, where did we leave our bikes?

Friday, 28 July 2017

Breda to Leiden

We all enjoyed the town of Breda on Thursday with its leafy town square and lots of bars and restaurants which were very lively with people having a good time.

This part of Holland is quite near Belgium with Antwerp being quite close by.

The Friday ride took us via Dordrecht and Rotterdam skirting Delft and Den Haag arriving in Leiden through a lovely quiet Nature reserve called Vlietland.

My phone will need replacing when I get home. It has an issue connecting to 4G so only access to maps etc has been via wifi hotspots.

Even a factory reset failed to improve things but lost all my photos for now.

Dutch champions

At the home of the Dutch champions, Feyenoord of Rotterdam. About half way to tonight's rest upin Leiden. Everyone good here.

Thursday, 27 July 2017

Beautiful Breda

We enjoyed a great Steak last night @ Guachos in Breda. It is a lovely relaxed town.

Early start today for the 66 miles 100kms to Leiden via Dordrecht and hopefully avoiding the bustling Rotterdam if we can as we always get lost in big cities.

Weather here sunny again.

Long day in the saddle over

67 miles today, into headwinds, from Nijmegen to Breda via Hertogenbosch and Tilburg. A round of applause for teamwork as we all encouraged each other through difficult and sometimes painful moments. Two detours taking us the wrong way by missing bike signs.

Too tired to type much today on a day which was not the most interesting of routes, straightlining alongside busy roads but separated from the traffic.

Recovery in the bar then dinner soon. Can't wait.

Lunch stop on Day 04

Todays lunch stop was just under half way at Hertogenbosch. 30 miles completed into headwinds three or four in the wrong direction unfortunately. Fresh raw fish salad for lunch was superb.

And onwards during the afternoon for a tea time break in Tilburg. 50 miles so far. Everyone doing well so far. About 15mls still to do to Breda.

Early start today

An early 8.30 start for the Tour today heading out from Nijmegen into south westerlywinds heading for Breda.

Today's ride is100km or about 65 miles. It is blustery but mix of sun and cloud.

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

Wednesday's summary to Nijmegen

A very warm day in the Netherlands today and just a short ride from Amersfoort via Barneveld, Ede, Arnhem and on to tonight's destination Nijmegen (pronounced Ny-may-gun)

The day started with a guard of honour for debutant DCT rider Kev Peterson whose longest previous bike ride was 20 miles and he has now clocked up 100 in two days. A great effort rewarded with chaffing in the worst spot imaginable.

Todays easy 45 miler took in some lovely countryside at an easy pace with the peleton sticking together at a leisurely 13mph.

We stopped and paid our respects to fallen heroes at Oosterbeek where the Battle of Arnhem 1944 ended so badly for the allies. The airborne museum was very special in recreating those events.

Lunch was eaten in Arnhem after finding a Jumbo store which is always good for their deli counter. Unfortunately there was a language barrier when TC persuaded the boys to buy fruit milk shakes and they turned out to be exceptionally concentrated fruit cordials!

We are going for dinner very shortly as we are comfortably installed in the Mercure Hotel Nijmegen right next to the Central Station here.

Some snaps from today.....

Midweek jaunt out of Amersfoort

Leaving Amersfoort at 9.15, we pedalled a few miles and stopped for breakfast in De Glint a very small village. Our route then followed Barneveld, Ede and onwards to lunch at the Airborne Museum in Hartenstein. The story of the Battle of Arnhem is told here. Many hundreds of allied paratroops lost their lives here

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

The lost church

A beautiful church steeple marks the spot where a church was flattened during WW2.

All that is left is the towering steeple peering high over Amersfoort.

Now there is a town square vibrant again with eating places for guests of the town.

Just about to go for food

After 55 miles some carbs would be welcome. A wet Tuesday night in Amersfoort means most places are closed. Pity, its a lovely place in sunshine. Looking forward to some pasta.

Centre of the Netherlands

This is the centre point of the whole of the Netherlands marked by a cross in the pavement

First day completed

A great day in the saddle apart from the fall by Richard. 55 miles 89 kms covered in good time from Ijmuiden via Haarlem, Halfweg, Amsterdam South, Amstelveen, Driemond, Hilversum and finally Amersfoort. Weather was good all day until rain swept in at Baarn about three miles from tonights hotel the Lange Jan in Amersfoort, the centre of Holland is marked in the pavement outside our stay tonight.

Richard becomes first casualty

The first injury of the your was our cheerful Snooker Club host with the most Richard, taking a tumble in roadworks in Amstelveen due to sand on the cycle track. A medicinal brandy needed tonight and a sterile dressing.

Arriving Ijmuiden

Fairly choppy crossing but all survived a night of cabaret on the boat. Today about 80kms or 50 miles to Amersfoort.

Just arriving in port. Its a mix of blue sky and grey.

Monday, 24 July 2017

Its a bit rough tonight

https://youtu.be/uOhT8pDuoqU

All aboard

The five cyclists taking part in this years Tour de Netherlands are safely on board. Combined age is 243 years! TC is the oldest at a spritely 61 and Michael Bell a mere 26. Looking forward to dinner on board at 7 some entertainment in the nightclub and then an early night. 😊

On my way!

DCT 7 Day 01 Time Trial to the ferry @ North Shields

My bike is fully loaded, five sets of cycling wear, two sets of casual gear for evenings out, wash kit, first aid, a bit of music and a book.

It weighs a ton but better on the bike then on my back, apparently.

We're heading off about 3pm towards the ferry landing for a 5pm sailing. The weather here is cold, grey, windy and threatening rain at any time.

There are five cyclists on the trip and three spectators who intend to follow us around Holland on the train. "Per Spoor" by Guus Meeuwis will no doubt be heard in many towns around the Netherlands as we take in Amsterdam, Amersfoort, Nijmegen, Breda, possibly Tilburg to watch England's womens football team in the EUFA Cup, then Leiden, our fave place!