sunstone121266
Registered User
This touring is so addictive. Just got back from 6 days touring but not quite so far as last time, only managed about 1300 miles this time. We went through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Luxemburg.
Set off from Devon in the rain again at about 0530 in the morning and headed for Folkestone to catch the Channel tunnel. We left a bit earier than we needed to in the hope of catching an earlier train. Due to some technical problems with a train we were delayed later than our booked time. We get to Calais and turn left and head for Brugge for a 2 night stop over in an Ibis hotel. We find the hotel and are happy with the hotel and its location which is within easy walking distance of the city centre. Good parking for the bike with railing to chain it up to. Always take my bike cover so that i can cover it over and hopefully out of site, out of mind! Brugge is a great place with a nice relaxed attmosphere about it. There is so much to see there and great historical buildings. The food is quite expensive around the square but cheaper places can be found in the many back streets. They did have a market in the square one day which was good for stocking up on fruit and snacks. Well worth a visit if you have not been there before and not far from Calais. The weather was fantastic for us again this trip once we were away from England.
After our 2 day stay it was off to Amsterdam. We had booked a 2 day stay here again in an Ibis hotel. It was so hot from Brugge to Amsterdam with 39 degrees. We went into Rotterdam on the way and saw the temperature outside a chemist. The visit to Rotterdam was unplanned my wife thinks it was because i took a wrong turning but i like to think it was a nice detour! Got stuck in traffic on the motorway which took about 2 hour to travel 4 miles in 39 degrees. |I have never been so hot! Had to take helmets and jackets off when we were stopped. We were drenched in sweat but a nice car driver gave us a bottle of cold water to keep us hydrated. How kind is that. Finally get to our hotel just outside Amsterdam near the airport. Quick shower and change and we catch the bus into town. OMG what can i say about Amsterdam! Its a bit different to the sleepy Devon town we come from! The first thing we noticed were that everyone seemed to be gay. Nothing against gay people and i know a few but some of these were scary. Leather straps and hot pants seemed to be the latest fastion. Turns out it was gay pride week over there with a massive canal carnival on the next day which i must admit we did go along to see it. They certainly know how to throw good parties thats for sure! We were disappointed with Amsterdam as it can be quite seedy (ok we did venture into some different places!) The smell of drugs is everywhere you go through the streets, i think thats why we ate so much as we constantly had the munchies!
I will write up the second half of the trip in the next couple of days and add a few pictures.
Set off from Devon in the rain again at about 0530 in the morning and headed for Folkestone to catch the Channel tunnel. We left a bit earier than we needed to in the hope of catching an earlier train. Due to some technical problems with a train we were delayed later than our booked time. We get to Calais and turn left and head for Brugge for a 2 night stop over in an Ibis hotel. We find the hotel and are happy with the hotel and its location which is within easy walking distance of the city centre. Good parking for the bike with railing to chain it up to. Always take my bike cover so that i can cover it over and hopefully out of site, out of mind! Brugge is a great place with a nice relaxed attmosphere about it. There is so much to see there and great historical buildings. The food is quite expensive around the square but cheaper places can be found in the many back streets. They did have a market in the square one day which was good for stocking up on fruit and snacks. Well worth a visit if you have not been there before and not far from Calais. The weather was fantastic for us again this trip once we were away from England.
After our 2 day stay it was off to Amsterdam. We had booked a 2 day stay here again in an Ibis hotel. It was so hot from Brugge to Amsterdam with 39 degrees. We went into Rotterdam on the way and saw the temperature outside a chemist. The visit to Rotterdam was unplanned my wife thinks it was because i took a wrong turning but i like to think it was a nice detour! Got stuck in traffic on the motorway which took about 2 hour to travel 4 miles in 39 degrees. |I have never been so hot! Had to take helmets and jackets off when we were stopped. We were drenched in sweat but a nice car driver gave us a bottle of cold water to keep us hydrated. How kind is that. Finally get to our hotel just outside Amsterdam near the airport. Quick shower and change and we catch the bus into town. OMG what can i say about Amsterdam! Its a bit different to the sleepy Devon town we come from! The first thing we noticed were that everyone seemed to be gay. Nothing against gay people and i know a few but some of these were scary. Leather straps and hot pants seemed to be the latest fastion. Turns out it was gay pride week over there with a massive canal carnival on the next day which i must admit we did go along to see it. They certainly know how to throw good parties thats for sure! We were disappointed with Amsterdam as it can be quite seedy (ok we did venture into some different places!) The smell of drugs is everywhere you go through the streets, i think thats why we ate so much as we constantly had the munchies!
I will write up the second half of the trip in the next couple of days and add a few pictures.