It was a cool start to the day but it didn't take too long for things to heat up at least verbally ! First when we cycled 5 ± kms to complete a 1 km distance journey over the river and secondly when a Dutch guy went to great troubles to tell us that `WE` English make a great habit blocking cycle paths ( which we were doing at the time wed stopped to ask him for directions ...arrogant Boer !
Back on track we crossed a wide expanse of water and headed further south on great bike tracks only spoilt by us constantly zig zagging back and forwards after regularly missing hard to find turns particulary when our map ran out !
The same headwinds appeared at regular intervals to slow us down and we were even forced to take lunch at a service station as the day was a religious holiday in Holland
Not long after lunch and while deliberating at an intersection about which way to turn again we were treated to a classic example of why all bike riders should wear helmets
(not compulsory in Holland)
While Kev and i were talking ( me with Kev in a headlock ) a husband and wife pair collided at our intersection with the wife going down heavily on her head and spine - attended by Dr Henley the lady came good but will no doubt have many sore parts tomorrow !
The day finished after 94 kms ( about 11.4 if you take off all our wrong turns) when 2 weary bike riders reached picturesque Hilvarenbeek (lovely church) not far from the Belgium border.
Even KH had a couple of beers acknowledging the tough day !
The challenge tomorrow is to enter Belgium without a map and relying on our tablet GPS and a good sense of direction - hmmm !
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