Holland / Netherlands

other tips, hmmm..let me think

• we stayed at the Lace Hotel in Brugge which features at the end of the first video. Bike friendly with overnight secure bike storage http://www.lacehotel.com/index-en.aspx

• we sent a box of stuff by courier to the Lace Hotel to save us carrying too much. Again in the first vid note only one of us is carrying a rucksack. The other two of us have nothing. The box was an A3 photocopier box from work and contained some t-shirts and footwear, grundies, washgear etc. most of which we used then threw away or carried on us the next day. Split between 3 the price was less than £20 per head.

• we pre-booked a table at Ribs n' Beer in Brugge. We went for the all you can eat option and given that we had left Epsom at 4 a.m. that morning and ridden to Dover and then Brugge we ate a lot. So much in fact that they started making excuses about not being able to serve us anymore

• on another trip we pushed on past Brugge and stayed in Sluis, trying to find the name of the hotel but I'm pushing the bike out of the door at the start of the second vid. Again bike friendly, secure storage and a massive breakfast the next day. Very reasonable price too

• if using the ferry from Dover to Dunkirk really, really try not to miss the ferry. We did on one trip due to a mechanical and the ferries are 2 hours apart meaning a pleasant late afternoon arrival in Brugge turned into a mad dash to make it for 9pm

• again if using the ferry pay the c. €14 upgrade for the lounge. it's quiet, you get a very comfortable seat and all the tea, coffee, pastries, biscuits etc you can eat, charging points for your phone, Garmin etc. and a chance to shut your eyes for a few winks during the crossing