The first day of cycling and Paul's trip through the Netherlands just had to coincide with a local bank holiday.
After a very smooth ferry crossing, and an embarrassing number of return trips to the dinner and breakfast buffets, I was full of fun and ready for the off.
At the Passport check, the young Dutch lad asked me where I was going, and when my answer started with "Well, that’s a great question…" he cut me short.
He did press me on my plans on get home though, and when he worked out that it involved cycling in Italy, he shook his head and said, "Be very, very careful my friend… I just don’t know what those Italian drivers eat for their breakfast yeah?!”
Anyway, the morning passed uneventfully over the beautiful dunes - and because it’s Kings Day which is a national holiday, I shared my ride with about 1.8 million other Dutch folk as well.
Now, Kings Day… it’s just a bank holiday to celebrate the king’s birthday. Basically, imagine an entire nation shutting up shop and then drinking in the street and smoking weed for about 12 hours straight - without the violence (UK) or the singing (Eire)…
It’s just good natured celebration in its purest form.
And that’s what they all do - including the ferry operator who did not, in fact, operate the ferry I was depending on - and forced me to ride a 5 mile detour at the sweaty end of my day.
When I finally made it to my lovely B&B for the night after 84 miles, they were out - in a street somewhere, drinking presumably - but they had kindly left me a massive pile of penne, bacon, cheese and onion - and an ‘honesty box’ fridge full of Heinekens. "Happy Kings Day to you too," I muttered as I popped open my third well-earned can as honestly as I was able.
The day itself was marred by an annoyingly noticeable headwind - whichever way I went - and the fact that I had to make-do with another McDonalds lunch. They score the maximum for ease, speed and familiarity - but a part of me dies when I hand over the euros that were originally intended for a local culinary artisan. Hey ho.
Tomorrow looks like another day of cold, damp and windy weather as I attempt to cross into Belgium.
Will it be chocolate and waffles and a celebratory Trappist beer at the triumphal finish?
Or will it be miserable and shit like all the evidence suggests? We shall see!
P.S. tomorrow I aim to address a few technical questions I KNOW you’ve been wanting to ask me. Lucky you….x
84 miles down just another 1,100 to go.
