Emmelord – Arnhem 103km
One of these WW2 related film titles was going to be apt for today. We were heading South and the lack of accommodation meant it was a choice of destination between Appldorn at 70km or Arnhem at over 100km. On an unloaded bike 100km wouldn’t be an issue, but with 14kg on the bike and 5 days of back to back riding in the legs, we were both unsure about aiming for Arnhem, especially as I knew the area North of Arnhem was a little lumpy. On the plus side there would be no headwind today and perhaps even a small tailwind.
We decided over breakfast, not to make a decision ! We’d see how far we got by lunchtime and then decide, but first breakfast, after the health yoghurt and granola it seemed wrong to pass up the chance of pancakes, with bacon and syrup of course.
After finishing off a couple of small croissants and several cups of tea it was off into the polders again. The gentle tailwind with giving a helping hand. Before long the polders gave way to farm land, and long open roads.
With a little help from the wind, it wasn’t long before we arrived at Kampen, a small town but home to a rather pretty “ lift bridge” with wheels painted with gold leaf , it also had a fairly impressive town gate and church but otherwise looked quite ordinary from what we saw.
We were soon entering the province of Gederland, and with it another change in landscape. Now the area was much more heavily wooded, with more towns and villages.
We made good time and by late lunchtime hit Appledorn. A long chat over lunch and we decided to push on. Much of the cycling was now through forests, many if the protected nature reserves.
I was definetely tired and the increasing number of hills didn’t help my mood, but it brightend as we neared Arnhem and we got the payback for all the hard work, with a long downhill into the city.
So for me the longest day, my first 100km + ride of the year.
