t28&29 c25 May 13&14 Hoek van Holland 38k1479 Sawbridgeworth

Here's town centre twin level bike parking in Holland.

Took the overnight ferry from the Hoek to Harwich  - -  what an improvement from 30yrs ago !
On a cold blustery morning cycled 20miles W, and in Colchester, met up with Mollie to get a lift home.
End of trip.
Highlights will be posted.

t27 c24 May 12 Rotterdam 33k1440 Hoek van Holland

Short ride to the ferry town, but into very strong headwinds.
Thought I should take a pic of one of these before I left.

Cycled the last 10k along the sea dike, on the bank of the Rijn, the northern edge of the Rijn delta.

Only 7k to go in Holland, and then another 2k to England.

t26 c23 May 11 Utrecht 77k1408 Rotterdam

Made several navigation errors which added about 12k to the ride.
Started out against headwinds and drizzle then it got worse.    Ten minutes of hail was unusual.   Tried cycling along the sea dyke but the wind was too strong.    Very low average speed.

So, ignoring all that, here's my digest of the relationship between people and bikes in Holland.
I HAVE SEEN (A-G):
A) more than one person on a bike
- 2  obviously 1 on the saddle
       and 1 on the rear wheel either astride or side saddle especially if dressed formally
- 3  usually a mum and kids
      as 2 - plus 1 in a basket either over the front wheel, or between the cyclist and the handlebars
B) 1 or both speaking or txting or exercising their smartphone
C) carrying by one arm
- a ladder
- a magnificent bouquet
- an crocodile (artificial, I think)
D) carrying on one or both cyclists' backs
- musical instruments
   - guitar in a case
   - trombone in a case
   - drumming equipment all over the bike
   - haven't seen a double base yet
- fishing gear
E) people cycling under umbrellas
    this I find amazing because it's usually with A)
F) with 1 or 2 dogs
     quite often on a leash or else in a  front or rear basket
G) one person cycling a bike plus steering another solo

So there's the way to relate to your bicycle.
Caution: not all combinations are safe.

t25 c22 May 10 Rhenen 45k1331 Utrecht

Just a short ride today to give me time to explore Utrecht,
the city where 300yrs ago the treaty was signed by Spain, France, Britain, Portugal, Savoy, and Holland,
to settle borders (for a while).
Most of the ride was through forrest.   In this part of the world bicycle travel is separated from road traffic.

Vehicles on the main road to the left, and cyclists on the two way road on the right.
Commuters cycle to their village station, then take the train into Utrecht.

Here's one of two cycle parking sites at a village 12k from Utrecht.

While in the city, toured the museum of virtually all the inventions of Dr Strabismus of Utrecht.

t24 c21 May 9 Kleve D 71k1287 Rhenen NL

Lazy start while the rain eased.
Back on the Rhein at Emmerich.
Weather improved enough to shed rain gear.
Crossed into Holland at 11:30.
The Rhine starts to split into its delta rivers here, the Waal and the Rijn.
Stayed with the Rijn/Rhein/Rhine.
Stopped at the first (and as it turns out, the only) hotel in Rhenen, and got the last single room.
(no pics today)

t23 c20 May 8 Krefeld 77k1193 Kleve

Headed approximately N, not following the river bends because I wanted to leave the industrial Ruhr by today.
Briefly visited the remains of the Roman frontier garrison town at Xanten.

Good weather for cycling except the last 7k in rain and headwinds.   Found in Kleve the last Kölsch pub before the Dutch border.

t22 c19 May 7 Koln 85k1116 Krefeld

Sunny smooth riverside cycle path 15k down the E bank into town.

Now I entered the very industrial Ruhr region, and  switched to the W bank to avoid Leverkusen.
The one major obstruction on the W bank is the Ford factory  - -  a familiar site for me.
A cyclist from Bayer guided me round its perimeter and back to the Rhein, a route I knew from my business visits there.   In fact we passed an office I had worked in during the 1980s.

Followed the winding Rhein N into greying skies and eventual rain.
Acieved the prime objective of ending N of Dusseldorf.

t21 c- May 6 Koln

Day off from cycling.    Had a day trip into Koln by tram, and visited some old haunts.

Fortunately it was too early in the day to over indulge.
Had a super patio dinner on a warm evening at K&B's.
My penance will come with next morning's cycling.

t20 c18 May 5 Andernach 70k1022 Koln

On route down the W bank, passed the ferry to Bad Honningen,

passed through the 1000k this trip,
and crossed by bridge to the E bank of the Rhein shortly after here.

I was welcomed to Koln by K.U., an ex Ford colleague, for a two night stay.

t19 c17 May 4 Loreley 65k952 Andernach

Morning view of a 115m barge avoiding the Loreley rocks

Approaching Koblenz

t18 c16 May 3 Mainz 64k887 Loreley

Escaped from Mainz industry after about 8k, then a short stretch of rough pathways, then great news.   Along the L bank, for the rest of the ride was on a smooth cycle way, close to the Rhein and mostly between the railway and road on the L, and the river on the R.

Entered the fairytale section of the Rhein valley
with the vines on the E side
and barely visible, a string of rocks to be avoided.
How's this for an island escape ?
Met a Brit, Alan, cycling S to Rome, at a roadside cafe.   We chatted over a late lunch of bratwurst.
Stopped for the night with a view of the Loreley, the 120m high rock in the narrowest part of the gorge.
From here the Rhein maidens lured their victims onto the rocks. 
Didn't spot any.

t17 c15 May 2 Worms 66k823 Mainz

Warm enough for the first day in shorts for a while.
Cycling up the left bank, I emerged from industry after about 10k, then continued on the Rhein embankment for most of the day.   Its surface was muddy, or rough chippings, or what finally caused the puncture: bricks with gaps.   Tried the almost parallel B9 road, but too dangerous: many trucks, no cycle lane.

River traffic becoming busy  - -  mostly Dutch barges (115m x 11.75m) punching upriver laden, or coasting down light,

plus a few tourist liners.

In Mainz I was directed to a decent altstadt hotel by a taxi driver.  
I relaxed with a beer in the sunshine and wafting blossom, by the Gutenberg museum

(Gutenberg bible:  1450s  first book printed by moveable type in the West.)

Later, observed the river bank evening strollers were heading in one direction, followed, and ended up at a wine festival.

t16 c14 May 1 Heidelberg 52k756 Worms

Set off on a misty morning.   Looking back across the Neckar at Heidelberg, could hardly make out the castle.

A good example of architecture en  route

Avoided Mannheim so added a few k to the journey, and rejoined the Rhein at Worms.

A barge working up river and a tourist liner (registered in Malta presumably to evade onerous tax or safety regulations,   Beware!)
Crossing the bridge into Worms, had a view of the cathedral through the arch of the toll gate.
So, finished up at the site of schooldays joke (in English), about the 1521 assembly which declared Martin Luther wrong and not to be followed.