After eating, getting showered and having just over 4hrs sleep we were woken up for the 2nd day.
Bleary eyed and with tired legs me and Adam were off heading north out of Maastricht for day 2.
The route headed into Germany for a short while then followed the Maas up through the Netherlands before going back into Germany again and skirting around the Dusseldorf area before crossing the Rhine and riding through the Naturpark Hohe Mark.
The routesheet and GPS seemed to match on this section and the great weather meant we were flying along deciding to use garage controls along the way for a quicker turn around.
Oirlo - Rhade passed quite quickly and we were just wondering about a garage control when we passed a car in a field, Adam shouted to me as we passed that it was a control.
It wasn't a control but was a stop where we could fill up our bottles and rest for a bit, after a section with a bit of climbing this was most welcome.
Another stop at a garage at Hengelo for more food and clothes for the evening section it was back on the bike for the last section of the day to Zwolle.
The ride through the National park area south east of Zwolle was great, just a shame it was dark and nothing could be seen.
The roads were still good and traffic free but with no moon it was pitch black, we managed to keep a reasonable speed up due to the track on my GPS showing corners and me calling them out to Adam in front. The hills there were slowing me down though and Adam had broken his front gear changer so was on the big ring for the rest of the ride.
The only dodgy section on this part was the recently gravelled surface for what felt like ages (probably only about 1km) that was really hard work to keep the bike upright on. Every false move had the back wheel squirming all over the place.
We were glad to get to the town and the lights of the hall at 02.20 on Friday morning.
Rough calc's showed we had about 35hrs to do 280km, we were quite pleased with that.
Showered, feed and find a mat to sleep on all by 03.00.
Day 3
Another day awake at 07.00 and away for 07.30 to head northwards this time to Groningen.
We'd not gone far when Adam had a puncture, easily fixed and away again through the picturesque villages. Great looking but annoying cobbles!!!
The only way to ride over them was as fast as possible but with 900km in your legs this is easier said than done.
After turning right along another canal we had a stonking tailwind which meant we were cruising along at 40kph with ease finding ourselves at Groningen at lunchtime, again well ahead of schedule.
More food and water and it was then into the wind along a long section of canal. It seemed to go on for ages and the wind didn't let off all the way to Wartena (S/E Leeuwarden)
The control was in a football club and the food was cooked for us when we got there, we even had a shot of some spirit that definitely warmed us up.
We discussed staying there getting drunk, sleeping and still having time to ride in the morning and finish :-)
We thanked the controllers though and pushed on back into the wind for the final section.
Again another tiring section not helped by the deluge we got from another storm as we passed by a huge lake and over another dyke. Nowhere to hide across there we just put our heads down and rode over. The finish was in sight and after another soaking we arrived back at Zwolle at 21.11 on Friday evening.
Just under 17hrs still of the time limit left so we were both happy, I think we may have been the first foreigners (non dutch) to get back and about midfield.
Shower food and sleep was really needed now.
I got up at about 9 on Saturday morning and riders were coming in all morning.
I had a leisurely breakfast and headed for the station for a train south.
A quick call home was made and arrangements for the evening were made with family in Monster about 10km north of Hoek van Holland.
I managed to get out of Den Haag and find my way there with a few phone calls for directions, a great evening of Chinese and red wine was had then it was up and head south for the ferry the next day.
The crossing going well but quite long, we had hoped for a quick departure off the ferry and a sprint to the station for the train. The timings of the ferry and the trains here aren't good and it was an hrs wait for the next one.
Adam headed off to London and me towards Ipswich at Manningtree, another long wait couldhave been on the cards there waiting for the next train to Needham Market but there was one to Stowmarket about to leave.
A short ride from there was better than a long wait so I jumped on.
It wasn't long before I was at a friends having cider and a welcome bed for the night.
Back on the train again the next morning, this time heading for Cambridge and the 75km ride home from there. All uneventful but a bit slower than usual.
Total riding for the week was about 1400km, I was feeling ok the next day so it was back on the bike for a weeks commuting all be it a bit slower.
GPS track 2
GPS track 3
More photo's from my ride companion Adam.
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