Day 4 cycling the Rhine -197 kms completed

Tucked up in our wooden box meant we didnt have to face the glassy eyed birds in our bedroom all night and we werent awoken by Liberation day festivities.Everywhere Dutch flags were flying and bunting across the streets very colourful.

Sunshine was wonderful I know the misty grey watercolour look is very dutch but it was nice to see a blue bright sky again. Saturday seemed to the day for peletons of cyclist and not just 30 in a pack 100s coming at you on a narrow cycle path…agghhh.A few close calls as we left Amerongen. It meant we needed an early coffee stop at Rhenen.to recover, any excuse.I like the tea here you get presented with a whole box of different teas to choose from.

That persistent head wind was still with us hubby grumbling that h’ed never trust me to check wind direction for a ride again.I know it was not meant to be an EASTERLY!

Then we also encountered hills yes hills we are in Holland flat and supposedly cycling next to a flat Rhine river. The hills were actually quite nice as took us out of the wind and through scenic forest.All was going well till we found ourselves in the midst of a cycling race and they were all heading towards us and not just hundreds like this morning but millions of them ok not quite millions.

We actually got ourselves on the time cameras but we know where we’ll come in this race.It is almost impossible to see turn offs through a 100 bodies and bikes going full pelt so we missed a castle and the turn off to the airborne museum.

We decided we wanted to look around Arnhem I figured a Dutch hotel would have a place for bikes and sure enough they stowed our bikes away safely. Friendly managers carrying my luggage up for me did I look that nackered .We were shown the door for coming in after midnight i asked him if he was being funny and was told Arnhem has a great night life…I wont be advising on this.

Arnhem totally devasted in 1944 so interesting to see how well reconstructed apart from the Eusebius Church they rebuilt in soft stone so its now falling apart…Time for a chill out till tomorrow…