I can’t praise the hotel I stayed in enough last night, the owner was super helpful, gave me a free upgrade to a better room and delivered me a fantastic breakfast this morning on my pre reserved table literally right outside my door. Not only that, but he also brought along a bag and told me to make up some sandwiches etc for the journey. Of course the thing that really impressed me, was his refusal to take any more for the beer I had last night !
If only the weather could have been as nice, the day started with rain and then cold mist as I made my way up the coast for the last time. A quick stop to look at the R.J Cleveeing sluices at Lauwersmeer, a final glimpse of the North Sea, well at least the harbour and it was off away from the coast
The ride inland took my alongside the Lauwersmeer National Park. Up to this point I’d been roughly following the Kustroute one of the Netherlands long distance cycle trails, now I was on the Saksen route, after a few miles the paths split and I was truly heading inland.
The route took me through lots of farmland and pretty villages and sling a ridiculously narrow cycle track !
Highlight of the day was all the bridges I had to cross, as I move Inland there seem to be a lot more canals. For the first time I was held up at a bridge while a flotilla of little ship and barges passed through
It was getting towards early afternoon by the time I hit Groningen, my lunch stop for the day. The route took me in and out of this pretty but very busy town on canal paths
Another hour and half saw me in Vries, my destination for the night. I checked into the hotel and showered and changed for an early dinner. At the owners request I left the Surly in the bar !
I should apologise for the next section, but one of the things that happens when cycle touring is you develop an obsession with food, it’s almost impossible to get enough of it. I’m under orders this time to make sure I eat. So here’s the update, large breakfast, mid morning sandwiches and coffee, toastie and salad and 0% beer at lunch. Chicken satay followed by huge ice cream for dinner. I may also have a couple of mini waffles before I turn in !
Steady Pedals 