Message from Basecamp (25/08 – 11.25):
We are in Hildesheim, about half way we believe. First half has included 2 punctures, a few kilometres of cross country and numerous bucking-broncho impressions from Neil.

Message from Base Camp:

Just got to Harsewinkle* about 35 miles from Munster. About a third of the way to Hamlin. Quick water break then back on.

*Not to be confused with Arsewinkle; Nathan’s favourite bar.

Message from Base Camp (13.45):

Great roads through Germany, apart from the towns. Ben has been barking orders from the back, telling us all to go faster despite a steady 22mph. Sean has fallen off through not un-clippling again, Greg has realised he can’t turn and look at traffic whilst peddling and Boz has a very sore bum!

Day 3 – 101miles

Last leg of Holland and across the border to Germany, it’s safe to say we were all a little bit sad to say goodbye to Holland. A nation of very proud people with GREAT cycle paths. Once across the border (which took, what seemed, an age to get to), we were immediately confronted with a big van on the cycle path and crazy motorists looking to knock us off.

Weather was fair to us most of the day until the torrential rain that was met with some strong winds… not pleasant for cycling. One thing that did cheer us up though was watching a German (maybe Dutch) man forgetting to lift the handbrake on his van and us lot watching the van start to roll and laugh at him chasing it.

Munster brought us joy with the AMAZING Factory Hotel, comfy bean bags, great beds and a good shower, only other thing we could want was great food and would you Adam and Eve it, we were in for a treat, Schnitzel and CurryWurst. We all went to sleep with big smiles.

We rolled off the Ferry bright and early and almost immediately got ourselves really, really lost in Rotterdam.  Just as it looked like we’d found the road out of the city we found our way blocked by security barriers and motor racing stuff that had taken over the city to spoil our day.  Having spent about an hour going in circles we resorted to the trusty technique of getting out the compass and going east until we got out of the city.  Worked like a charm and we were under way again.

Holland was fantastic for cycling through, great cycle routes, separate but parallel to the roads meant we were flying along through the flatlands and covered the 103 miles in time for a beer in the hotel bar before heading into town to refill the fuel tanks.

Message from Base camp (07.32):

103 miles completed yesterday with lots of sore bums (Add Sean joke) and sun burn. A very hot hotel has caused a few lost hours sleep but otherwise everyone is looking forward to Munster, Germany

Message from Base camp (12.21):

Puncture No.2: Nathan, just outside Aaltern about 15km for Germany.

We left from Saint Nicholas church Great Wakering beneath clear skies and in high spirits, backed by our Wakering to Harwich outrider – Dave Hill (thank you for that Dave hugely appreciated) – making good time between Wakering and Battlesbridge where we met our first hiccup.

Nathan contrived to run over a piece of debris in the road causing a puncture but with Neil’s expertise and a spare innertube we were soon off and running again. We made good time and reached the Queens Head Inn in Tollesbury for a pub lunch, a luxury we would not be able to afford on subsequent days. After which we left the Queens Head and made for Harwich, which despite for a couple of wrong turns was a relativelty uneventful journey. Until we reached Harwich itself – which by the way has the highest concentration of take aways and kebab houses i have ever seen – (even more than by Rob’s flat at uni) where Sean achieved the feat of falling off twice in almost as many minutes while we all curcum navigated the town twice before eventually betraying our gender, admitting our mistake and asking for directions. Only to discover that there were two Mayflower pubs were we were due to meet Hannah and Laraine fortunately finding then at the first attempt.

Upon reaching the Mayflower we dined like kings and sank a couple of Pints of Guinness and prepared for the crossing. Unfortuately by the time we left the pub to board the ferry darkness had descended which made our race down the curly ramp all the more dangerous and thus exciting. WE boarded the ferry and set sail for the continent aided by “additional wind from Boz’s backside” (Lea, 2010). We attempted to get a good nights sleep in preparation for our invasion of Fortress Europa.