GB AND THE FINAL SOAKING

My welcome back home started at GB border control in Dunkerque where I mis-understood an instruction to go round a barrier and got a  severe telling off for what was considered a serious breach of border control. It was a startling contrast to crossing every other border in Europe without any checks.
I was the only bike on the ferry and the bike place was on the lorry deck, when it was time to get off I returned via the same doorway to be faced with a wall of lorries 3 deep, I tried weaving through them to find my bike but they were all starting their engines and it felt a bit intimidating. I retreated and on another deck found a crew member who took me by an easier crew only route. I had to wait until everything was off the ferry and find my way safely through the terminal, no easy matter. Finally emerged at the large roundabout that takes you onto the A2 or A20 neither of which seemed a good option. Eventually found my way to the town centre and a better route   to leave Dover. I really wondered what cyclists from Europe must think of their arrival here.
After staying with friends near Canterbury I went via an overnight stop to family in Dorking. The last day from Dorking to home looked like a promising weather day and I set off happily on a 70 km route. Using national cycling route 22 seemed a good plan but was pretty tough as a lot was off road on narrow steep rough paths, very overgrown with nettles and brambles. At one stage I got quite despondent when having done nearly 20 miles I saw a road sign that said Dorking 11 miles!  There was nothing to do but get on with it and I finally arrived home with rain to keep me company for the last hour.
The whole trip had been 3272 km, which is 2033 miles.

Thank you all for reading my blog and encouraging me along the way,  join me next year for a ride across Australia.

Photo below after Dover.

IF IT'S TUESDAY IT MUST BE BELGIUM

I hadn't entirely appreciated how short the Belgian coadtline is, barely one days cycling. I knew I would be entering Belgium at some point in the afternoon and was happily battling through the North Sea wind along the smooth Dutch cycle paths when the concrete path turned to gravel. Even through the middle of fields all the cycle paths in the Netherlands had been paved so I checked the map and found I was in Belgium. The remaining 3 hours cycling didn't really get any better including a 3 km stretch on cobbles, seriously who thinks a cobbled cycle path is a good idea?
Last day today before crossing the channel tomorrow morning.

NETHERLANDS CYCLING

Well into The Netherlands now, just west of Amsterdam. As expected cycling here is easy as completely flat (though I miss the variations that a few hills give) and of course miles and miles of cycle lanes. It does mean of course that loads of people cycle so you have to maintain lane etiquette or get mown down.  The cycle signs are the best I have seen and could navigate through the countryside just with signs. My nemesis still remains large towns and cities where I still get lost.
I had a glorious day cycling along perfect smooth trails through fields and along canals without a car in sight.
Torrential thunderstorm yesterday had everyone running for shelter, I cut my losses and found a cheap hotel.
Be crossing the channel in about 4 or 5 days.

NETHERLANDS

Hopefully will cross into The Netherlands today though the weather has changed overnight from stifling hot to steady rain, reason being I bought another short sleeved t shirt. There is a clear connection developing between garment purchase and weather!
Will miss the German bakeries but not the difficulty with communication though it seems to have improved the last day or so. Trouble is using my few German words means people babble on enthusiastically and then I look blank and say I am English and they look vaguely disappointed. There is a short ferry from Bremerhaven to cross the Weser river and arrived as they put the barrier down followed by another couple on bikes. They commented in German how annoying to be 1 minute late and I repeated what they said in German and then much confusion when I couldn't take the conversation further. Luckily the ferry people took pity on us and let us on so I was able to share our mutual pleasure with the German couple regardless of language.
Now over 2,000km!

GERMANY

Quick update as no wifi for some days and have had to resort to McDs. Have been surprised how much less English is spoken in Germany than Scandinavia.  People are very willing but struggle, my tiny bit of German helps it along but still much more difficult to get information to plan routes and find campsites etc. However the cake shops compensate for it, I will make up all the weight I have lost!
3 more days and will bei Netherlands.

CYCLISTS

Although I have seen lots of other touring cyclists in passing it is only in Denmark that I have met them on campsites. Previously I was often the only tent on a campsite but certainly no more than a couple of others. The Scandinavians certainly like their campervans. In fact in the Swedish campsite brochure it says only 5% of campsite visits are in a tent. There are also a huge number of static caravans with all the trimmings - awnings, gardens, huge flat screen TVs visible in the awning area etc.
Anyway have had a couple of nice evenings chatting to other cyclists.  There was Manuel and Jan, 2 German guys who had met up a few days earlier and were travelling together for a while. Manuel had a recumbent bike which looked really comfortable and wasn't as low as some I have seen. He also had a device on the bike to charge his phone which looked very useful, will look into that when I get home.

Last evening I met Janine who is the first woman I have met who like me is cycling on her own. Coincidentally she also cycled the East Coast of  America the same year as me but earlier and in the opposite direction. It was great to share experiences and agree what a safe activity it is for women to cycle on their own compared to the popular idea that women are at risk on their own.

NORTH SEA CYCLEWAY

My plan from getting into Denmark onwards was to roughly follow the North Sea Cycleway. Theoretically that should be easy as it is well marked. However quite big sections are on off road tracks some of which have good surfaces and some very rough which is hard work with luggage. The parts I have done have been really lovely though you can't always see the sea as the dunes are in the way. I stayed at a campsite next to the beach, though it was so huge it took me 4 minutes to cycle from where I was to the beach end, and as the evening was so hot I was even tempted into the water! It may be the first and last time as it was pretty cold.
Earlier in the day I went to look at a display of sand sculptures based on a Viking theme. They were absolutely brilliant,  my favourite was Brunhilde.

But they were all superb and stay intact right through the holiday season.