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TTM
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Off the back of a great Eroica Britannia, I've just returned from a magical
730km London - Dover - Calais - Amsterdam - Hook of Holland - Harwich -
London 'Tour of Bruv' with my brother who is over from NZ.
It's been a pretty tough few years for our family with the loss of both
parents so was magical to reconnect under more positive circumstances with
great company, great scenery, food and beer/rum.
Did it over 5 days unsupported staying at budget hotels & camp grounds.
Got the routes off Ride with GPS from a company that specialises in cycle
holidays and adapted them to suit.
Day 1 - 127 km London - Dover. It's a fairly hilly route this one but it
most importantly misses the A2 and goes down some magical lanes. Caught
the 5.30pm ferry over to Calais and stayed in a £60.00 per night Ibis.
https://www.strava.com/activities/617291817
Day 2 - 175 km Calais to Westkapelle. Early start with thunderstorms and
much rain. Breakfast in France, Lunch in Belgium & Dinner in the
Netherlands.. Rain turned into glorious sunshine. Stayed at a lovely
beach hotel.
90% on lovely bike paths following dikes etc. Headwind the entire way.
https://www.strava.com/activities/618411611
Day 3 - 180km Westkapelle to Amsterdam. Amazing going over some of the sea
defences. Truly wonderful engineering. Quite a bit of our planned route
was on the same route as the Dutch national road racing course which
happened to be on at the same time! Shame we couldn't stay round to watch
as we had such a huge distance to chop. Stayed at the wonderful Camping
Het Amsterdamse Bos which seemed to contain every European teen that liked
high energy trance. Met my girlfriend and daughter who had flown in from
London to spend Saturday and Sunday with us.
Day 4 - 109km. Amsterdam to Hook of Holland. Late start. A lovely
meandering route through Sand dunes along the North Sea Route. Caught the
overnight ferry back to Harwich. The ferry is first rate and would
thoroughly recommend to anyone!
https://www.strava.com/activities/621572168
Day 5 - 137km back to London. A fairly direct route back to London but
could have been worse. Would have rather taken some nicer lanes and taken
a longer route.
https://www.strava.com/activities/622470225
What a fantastic trip. 90% of the continental cycling was in dedicated
cycle lanes that were great for covering good distances relatively quickly
not like the cycle lanes here which I avoid like the plague.
10/10 - Go on plenty of adventures before you're too old. So so good.
The Ride with GPS files are here:
Day 1: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13940897
Day 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14558197
Day 3: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14569122
Day 4: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14567451
Day 5: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13945583