Day 4 catch up

Got to a rest stop on Texel an island off the Dutch coast. Sun is shining and we haven't fallen apart.

We started the first day in Holland in time honoured fashion by making the wrong turn off the ferry (come to think of it we just did again!) - nevertheless we can now claim to have actually seen the hook of Holland which is, amazingly, shaped like a hook. Despite a lack of sleep we soldiered on into the headwind past greenhouses, dykes and dunes. The cycle ways in Holland are amazing - totally seperate and safe. On the other hand they do like to wind them up and down the dunes so rumours of Holland's flatness have been exaggerated.

We ran out of steam after 70 kilometres and camped in a sandpit in Zandvoort. I think it beleived it was a luxury campsite but as the amenities included drunk stoned central european drug dealers I would take issue with that.

Day two was wonderful however. Cycling up to croos the NordZee canal at Ijmuiden and then on through National parks full of birds. We ran out of steam this time after 57 kilometres - the strength of the headwind was increasing. NB we have discovered that multi pannier-ed bikes have the aerodynamics of a brick.  By luck we ended up in campsite in Schoorl which is just gorgeous - a bit like New England but full of friendly Dutch people somewhat inebriated as it was The Queens birthday. Lots of kids in orange teeshirts on bouncy castles - probably adults actually. The campsite was as lovely as the previous night's one was horrible. We are now much less grumpy. Our neighbouring caravaners gave us camping chairs and a table and we had a good picnic and then our first night of sound, long sleep.

Day 3 to Texel - 51 kilometres. Our distances are shrinking! Right - here comes the excuse: the headwind was amazing today - slowing us to walking pace. When it was a cross wind I had the sensation of leaning sideways into it - I looked at Jills bike and she actually was! Beautiful scenery again and bright blue skies. Jill now wants to retire to Holland. The National parks turned into a hilly landscape of dunes alongside beaches with swathes of golden sand. We also cycled past tulip fields. So- all worth the headwind really. Now staying in a hostel so we can do some washing but as long as the sun shines we are happy campers.