Monday 6th July

Sudlohn to Warendorf

Arrived for breakfast at 7.30 After a fitful night's sleep. Derek is expecting his second grandchild's birth to be announced any second. Unfortunately my phone is the only one that can be used for communication so I am also on edge. No news from hospital yet but will keep all blog followers posted!
Set off at 9.00 and continued our leisurely pace through gentle rolling countryside.
I am managing to 'go slower, stop more often and enjoy the ride'. Derek is still rather incredulous that the new regime is lasting into the second day. (I am a little fearful because yesterday Derek suddenly announced he was stopping for a rest at THIS bench. If he continues to take such liberties and sees my new outlook as a weakness then we may never make it through the mountain stages).
Anyway, I digress. Today was beautiful, mostly sunny with temperatures reaching 30 degrees and a gentle breeze helping us along.
We stopped about every 20 miles for a prolonged break. Firstly at Darfeld where we ate plunderstuck and coffee in the local K&K supermarket,

secondly at Havixbeck where eiscafe and eisschololade were greatfully consumed

and finally in Munster where Derek made himself 'a little green about the gills' as he stuffed down an enormous strawberry sundae. I was most restrained and ordered my customary espresso.

After visiting the Dom and Rathaus in Munster we made our way out of town and decided to continue for a further 20miles to a campsite in Warendorf. This is 15 miles further than planned but will give us some leeway later.
Rather tired as we set up camp and home cooked food was on the menu as we couldn't be bothered to cycle into town.
Problems with photos but hopefully these will follow tomorrow.

It is now 22.00 and no new arrival has been announced. Tune in tomorrow folks.

Total miles cycled today - 64.9          

Sunday 5th July

Arnhem to Sudlohn

Audentes fortuna iuvat.

After a wonderful nine hours sleep we woke up at 0630 refreshed and ready to go.

Derek putting shower keys in safe

Wheels were rolling by 0740 and we were immediately on magnificent Dutch cycling paths wending their way through the Veluezoom National Park.
We love Holland.

Derek was astounded as, true to my word, I suggested we go off route to visit the oldest village in Holland, Bronkhorst. This information was given by Dutch cyclist on the ferry crossing the River Ijssel. Not only did we stop but we sat, had coffee and tea and relaxed. We had only done 22 miles. (Mind you we didn't know at this point that the day would require another 60 miles of cycling).
We LOVE Holland.

Despite a couple of heavy showers we enjoyed a further 23 miles of idyllic cycling ( we love Holland) and arrived for lunch at the lovely town of Borculo. We sampled our first beer of the day together with a 'special broodjes'.
WE LOVE HOLLAND.

After 65 miles we arrived at our selected campsite as shown on the map only to find it closed down! We love Holland???
We entered Germany and as there were no other campsites within a 30 mile radius we decided to head to Vreden and find a hotel. No hotels in Vreden so bit the bullet and cycled a further 8 miles to Stadtlohn. Unfortunately a religious convention had booked out the only hotel. The proprietor kindly directed us to the nearest accommodation available which happened to be 5 miles SW of our route. We eventually knocked on the door of a bike friendly hotel in Sudlohn where beer and food were served.
We love Germany.

Total miles cycled today - 81.9

Saturday 4th July

Dunkirk to Camping Kooningsveld Arnhem.
(by van)

Graviora manent  (more severe things await)

Disembarked at 0630 to join an immediate traffic jam within the port. Then followed a long hot day on the road which included more traffic jams and a total motorway closure.
Before arriving at our campsite this evening we did manage a .....

Cultural Highlight.
This was the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek which detailed the story of 'The Bridge too Far'. This explained the failed allied attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem.
We leave the van here for 12 days as the Grand Depart starts at 0800 tomorrow.

Friday 3rd July

Ad initium (at the beginning)


Skelton to Dover via Rutland Water.
(405miles in the van)

Set off to pick up Derek for 11am. This week he has been on a crash weight loss programme - otherwise known as gastroenteritis - so finding his bike ready packed and waiting on the driveway was a nice surprise.
Made our way to Rutland Water stopping at Wetherby services for Derek's first bathroom break. Whilst enjoying my double espresso I told Derek I wasn't taking my coffee pot because this year I was going to 'go slower, stop more often (for coffee), and enjoy the experience'. Derek was flabbergasted and wondered what the hell kind of trip this was going to be.
My resolution lasted only until I drained the last of my coffee and began thinking of the consequences. Have decided to do an about-turn. Coffee pot and coffee from the van are now stashed in my side pannier. I am feeling better already.


Prologue.
Arrived at Rutland Water at 1645 for a circuit of the reservoir.

The 23 mile round was completed on a combination of rough and some tarmac track in just over 2 hours at an average speed of 10.3 miles. What would it have been like fully loaded? We will no doubt soon find out.
True to my new resolution we had a cultural stop at St Edmund's church Egleton. A 12th century church with marvelous Romanesque carvings and a double chamfered round arch.

Supper was taken at the White Horse, Empingham washed down with a pint of Grainstore Rutland bitter.

Proceded on our way to Dover where chaos reigned. After waiting 2 hours we managed to check in on the 2am ferry which eventually left at 03.15. We were just about to settle down for a couple of hours sleep when the Italian school party decided that we looked safe enough to sit next to.
Roll on tomorrow.

The Plan

Following our previous cycling trips to Prague and Copenhagen we are again planning a bike ride to our third European capital. Each year we have a time scale of about a fortnight, door to door, to complete the adventure. Having chosen Berlin as our destination this year we decided it might be a good idea to try to follow the European R1 cycle route from Arnhem in Holland eastwards to Berlin. A total of approx 950km.
Our intention is to drive to a campsite outside Arnhem where our van will be left, then set off by bike to hopefully arrive in Berlin at lunch time on our 10th day of cycling. If things go well we will meet our wives at the Hotel Melia and spend two days with them sightseeing before we return by train to Arnhem to pick up the van and return home.
Cross fingers all goes according to plan!