Old enough to know better? Obviously not.

It will probably come as no great surprise to learn that after cycling 28,580kms,instead of getting on to the ferry at Imjuiden when we got there ,we found that we really had been stupid enough to commit ourselves to a lunatic extra circuit of the Netherlands,at the end of October,for no very good reason at all [a.k.a Jane and Garys half term cycling holiday].This was despite warning them that their idea of joining us somewhere in “northern Europe” could be the very worst holiday idea they had ever had.But as there’s no fools like old fools, here is Gary’s version of events.






Some might say that, having got to within 100m of the Newcastle ferry at IJmuiden, it would be mad to then turn round and head off for one final week of cycling in The Netherlands. We are very glad, however, that Jon and Nic came up with the ridiculous plan to finish their adventure with some flat-land wheeling and to invite us to share in their adventure.

We met them on Sunday morning and immediately set off northwards, into a brisk northerly wind. The hail was only intermittent but we were glad it had stopped by the time we set up camp in lovely quiet woodland near Bergen.

Cycling on the flat may sound easy but there is no respite, no downhill. There is also a mental challenge as you can see your road disappearing miles into the distance – as was the case on the 30km Afsluitdijk across the Ijsselmeer.

Big Hans is as big as he looks!!!! Gary hasn't shrunk any more....


One bonus of joining Jon and Nic for the week was that we got to meet Hans and his brother. Hans first met them in Mongolia and lives in Groningen. His brother Simon farms at Blokzijl on one of the original farms on the new polder created around 60 years ago. They were both really welcoming and Hans joined us for the ride south to his brother’s farm.

We had by now experienced the amazing cycle-friendly nature of travelling in the Netherlands but at Gronongen we got a feel for the first time of how popular and ‘normal’ cycling is for the Dutch. We continued south against what had now become a strong southerly wind until we finally reached Amsterdam. Eating, drinking and culture replaced pedalling for a day or so before we had to head back to the ferry.