It was hard to believe that this fantastic journey was already coming to an end! Not that we were home yet, far from it, but we were starting our return journey and for many of us it felt like the beginning of the end.
With our panniers full and the room left empty, we trooped downstairs to claim our bikes and get them packed up and ready to go. We clamoured for the pump to gas up the tyres and once again excited chatter filled the air!
One by one the teams assembled ready for the off! We wished each other well for the days first leg... the teams wouldn't meet again until lunchtime!
We set off the way we had come, through the trees and along the paths of Fondel Park. This time there were no family barbeques, no music, and no children playing. It was Monday morning and the rush hour was upon us!
Rush hour in Amsterdam is so different to the UK - their rush hour is busy with bikes! Loads of them, everywhere you look! They ride along the woodland paths as if it's a highway! Dressed to impress the riders wear business suits and we even saw a briefcase balanced on the handlebars!
Ladies in chique long skirts and fitted jackets seemed to pedal effortlessly along with surprising speed! It was quite surreal! They of course knew exactly how to use the road and who should give way to whom at crossroads... we didn't and there were a couple of near misses - which were only misses because the Dutch cyclists were so adept at manoevering!!
Once out of the park we found ourselves back on the streets, weaving in and out of the traffic and watching for stop lights which broke up our lines!
As we left the bustle of the city behind we rode along without break or interruption. Back along the canalside, cycling once again past those immaculate houses... but this time there was nobody to honk at! No smiling faces sitting in the sun, no happy laughter from families messing about in boats!
In fact one of the few people we saw that morning was a skater, in-line skating his way along our length, passing us at speed and then coming back in the other direction! It seemed he was using this stretch of road as his track and he glided smoothly along exchanging hellos as he went! We must have passed him several times in each direction before we were off his training route...
We stopped at the small cafe we'd found on the way in and were glad to stop for tea! I was having a gloves issue resulting in tingling fingers, a problem I'd not felt before, so was pleased to take them off! I left them off when we got going again but wished I hadn't as the pressure on my palms wasn't good! I put them quickly on again at the first opportunity!
Back through the towns and along the canals, looking for the familiar sight that was Valkenburg Meer. And then there it was! We had made excellant time and the water was as blue and sparkling as it had been that first time! This time we were first to arrive and we had the pleasure of honking and whooping as the other teams rode in :-)
Soon we were all together again, sitting, chatting and munching :-)
An hour passed and lunch was done and it was time to set off again! Honky horns sounded as we waved and cheered! Pedalling ferrywards! Passing open countryside and windmills as we went...
The afternoon was kind to us and the sun shone brightly. Occasionally we had shelter from the canopy of trees but often the sun was relentless on our backs!
It didn't feel at all like we were speeding along but once again we made good time and we surprised ourselves as we arrived in Delft for afternoon tea!
Perfect! Sitting in the sunshine outside a small cafe, enjoying coffee and cake, chatting with friends - how amazing is this??
After what felt like ages we had to hit the road again, heading closer to Rotterdam and the ferry home...
We had just nine miles to go to reach the small ferry, then another nine miles to the big one! As we pedalled on there were more and more people about and the honky horns ruled once more!
Bikes once again prevailed as we saw students leaving school. They asked questions and wished us good luck. At one point we were cycling along a narrow path, bordered on both sides by green fields. The path was obviously a popular route home from school and as we passed a line of boys, cycling in the opposite direction, they held up their hands and we hit high-fives as we passed!
Soon the familiar red brick roads came into view and once again we rode along quiet residential streets, just the occasional honk this time to an unsuspecting bunch of workers paving the road!
The houses soon disappeared and we found ourselves alongside the turbines, slowly turning way above our heads! Under the underpass, winding around, we knew we were close... and then there it was...the ferry terminal with the Pride of Rotterdam gleaming in the sunshine!
Being the first to arrive and needing everyone present before checking in, we decided that the only course of action was to find a pub! So we did! There was plenty of outside seating and it gave us chance to sit and relax with a great vantage point for when the other two teams rode in!
The buzz was huge! The other customers realised they were being invaded and so we soon had the patio to ourselves! We chatted and laughed and took photos! We rang home and passed the news!
Now I had one more challenge to face before the day was over! The ferry ramp! It had beaten me at Hull and now I was determined to get all the way up, on my bike, pedalling ALL THE WAY!
Passport control wasn't too bad and we got through without incident. I took a deep breath and started pedalling! The ramp is a killer! It is so steep and that bend halfway just about finished me off! I just kept pedalling, forcing my feet to push one at a time! It felt like I was going so slowly that I would just wobble off!! But somehow I made it! WooHoo!! I honky-honked the ferryman at the top - he must have thought I was crackers!
As we unloaded the bikes we were told to lash them to the railings with the rope which was sitting in bundles along the row. We looked at each other and guessed we were in for a rough crossing!
We collected our baggage and made our way from Car Deck 7 up to Cabin Deck 10. Different cabin but same beds and same routine!
Showered and changed and ready for tea we headed to the restaurant. 'Do you know what?' we asked ourselves, 'WE DESERVE CHAMPAGNE!' and why not? We ordered not one but TWO bottles of bubbly and had the waiter serve it at the table...
The meal was excellant and we were truly stuffed! Too full really to go dancing but somehow we managed it :-) The showbar was where we headed next and a great gaggle of girls (with the occasional ride guy) made for great company! The chatter went on until the early hours, making good use of the time difference (we gained an hour going back!).
I headed off to bed a little before the others, and did in fact wish I'd stayed a little longer, but I took the chance to write once again in my journal, notes for the day...
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1 comment:
I think I'm going to have post-blog depression when you finish!!!! :o/ x
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