14 The 2014 tour ends....

A lovely nights rest after 13 hours on the bike, 11 of them pedalling from Bruges to Rotterdam in one stage. My bike is in an underground car park here at Holiday Inn Central Rotterdam and its shackled but I had to remove all the bags for security. It looks like an explosion in my room. I cannot believe Ive cycled all this stuff from St Malo to Rotterdam. Having completed my circular loop of Europe, I am awarding myself a rest day and a train ride to Amsterdam where I catch my ferry home tonight.

Thoughts? Definitely the most challenging of my four long distance tours. Camping was the wrong decision. It is virtually impossible because of the time taken to erect and disassemble the tent and pack then do 80 or so miles. The headwinds were tough and over open sea on the Dutch Dam systems especially difficult. Breakfast today was my first food for 24 hours apart from an emergency Home Bargains Pasta bowl from the bottom of my bag. Thanks Janet Crosby for that treat! I think Ive just eaten 24 hours worth of calories just now....fresh orange x2, muesli, fruit yoghurt, banana, ham cheese egg and tomato bap, cafe au lait x2. And I made another sandwich for later. Have a great Friday or for my Aussie cousins a great weekend. A short train ride now up to Beverwijk then a short padal back into Ijmuiden to catch my ferry. The trains here are cycle friendly too, bicycles having their own space and seat belt!

Met a lovely french couple waiting to board. They speak very little English and me even less French but it is interesting to try to communicate. They are bikers touring Scotland for the first time so I have been able to give them some routes and places in the Highlands worth a look. Can't wait to get home and put some fresh clothes on. These have been handwashed and stuffed in bags for 10 days! Tot ziens!