13 Another big push to Rotterdam

If you'd asked me before last night my favourite European cities from a very short list of a non traveller it would be: 1. Barcelona 2. Paris 3. Nice 4. Amsterdam 5. Milan But after only an hour pushing my bike and luggage around and an hour eating out in the main square..... this, Bruges, is definitely in the top 5 .... probably at number 3. After only a couple of hours here. Lovely ambience, great architecture abounds and seems to have escaped the ravages of war. Will definitely be back. 10/10. Today's plan is to get a plan! Or should I say map. Then head for Breskens where I will need to catch a ferry to Vlissingen. From there it is straight on over islands connected by bridges to Ouddorp. If I can manage that then that puts me in place to complete the ride to Rotterdam and as time is against me, to catch the ferry I will probably need to catch a train to Beverwijk and pedal back over to IJmuiden. I had completed Amsterdam to Rotterdam in 2011 on the Snooker Club ride DCT1 so by getting to Rotterdam it will complete my "circle" of the North Sea English Channel and Bay of Biscay by cycling lands end to john ogroats, and the mainland European coastline from esjberg Dk down as far as Santander ES But lets see how it goes today. Crossing the sea at Vrouwenpolder - you are really exposed to high winds!

Traffic fee cycling is wonderful in this part of Holland

Safely in Rotterdam after 100 mls without a map! Can hardly think Im so battered by headwinds and rain. Too late too tired to go out to eat. I'll recover and report later.