Terribly Very Flat, Holland

 I decided to try a new entry point to the Continent of Europe for a short visit to Mrs N who was working in North Germany. P&O Ferries sail daily overnight Hull-Rotterdam. The cost of taking a motorcycle was not too unreasonable. This route would circumvent the awful drag of driving south in congested England.

 

Here is the sun deck of the ferry-some bikers have started boozing:  next morning on arrival at Rotterdam the Dutch police were breathalysing us all!

Expensive crisps and the Humber Bridge.  Hull port is a convenient journey from Knutsford at 130 miles compared to 240 miles to Dover or Folkestone

This represents Dutch scenery at its typical except there is no windmill in sight.  The carefully prepared Tomtom route failed at Utrecht in ever decreasing circles searching for an errand way point

Dangast sea side North Sea German style.  About 260 miles from Rotterdam, I arrived Friday evening to nice weather.  This little town is somewhat spoilt by the campsite.

With the tide out the mud frolickers appear: Watt Wanderung!

We are here in a bosom: Friesland, Lower Saxony with views of Wilhelmshaven

Superb Dutch style rental bicycle weight 300kg, 7 gears and a bottom cosseting seat

Cycle tracks around the groynes

1kg of fish dinner (for two)

Varel market

I'm very taken by the panoramic mode of my new Panasonic camera (thanks Sonja and Roland!)

The way it was - carefree young flying boat spotters in the '30s

Penny farthing selfie

No scene without a wind turbine

Shrimps and egg dinner - I thought Krabbe would be crab....

Blazing sunset over the camp site (I wish it was)

For some reason there is a phalus on the beach

A posing chair

Gay flags

Day trip to local light house - as the sea is rarely in evidence and I was concerned about the return trip across the mud

Mrs N waded through the mud to get a frontal view and advised that this was some perverse lesbian ornament - I recall Antony Gormley

Camouflage

Fisch Brotchen snack

fish frikadele aka fish cake and potato salad

The Dutch do not seem to approve of civilised motorway service areas serving proper coffee and providing a seat so I make do with €1.20  machine coffee and an improvised cup holder

The Tomtom provided me with an impromptu tour of Rotterdam

Who said that the roads in Holland were straight, flat and boring?

We departed Rotterdam into a strong gale - the captain announced that stabilisers would provide comfort

To celebrate the use of stabilisers I succumb to baked camembert...

...followed by expensive fish and chips and mushy peas..

...before settling down in my cabin.