David Eales ride to Amsterdam

  • Highlights

    • Beautiful, easy going rides through countryside including
    • Real warm easy going bunch of riders with regulars and new see album
      • How everyone came together when one of us had a bad crash including fortune of having an experienced nurse at hand!
    • Ghent Trekhostel - check it out
    • Watching the local street ball games event in Antwerp over here
    • Dinner in Uthrecht at Silk Road (Central Asian mixed cuisine)and beautiful restaurant area
    • Ferries into Dunkirk and overnight ferry back from Hook to Harwich
    • Family of 4 (parents and two young boys )tandem riding with two of these Hase Pino side by side image_1755078982223_0.png
      - Amazing tunnel rides including one out of Rotterdam with wooden escalators(!) and split levels for pedestrians and cyclists
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      • 2025-08-13-11-26-23.jpeg - Seeing statue of famous Humanist Erasmo in Rotterdam who said “whole world is my homeland”
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  • Lowlights

    • In Holland..
      • disappointing to see drivers behaving dangerously with cyclists
      • trains not really being any better with cycles. Seems its discouraged to take cycles on trains
      • congestion in Amsterdam with cyclists, pedestrians, cars, trams albeit was a beautiful sunny day
        • lost my helmet! (needed swapping out anyway)

  • Itinerary

    • Aug 2nd, 2025 Day 1 London to Canterbury - I skipped this ride and did a coastal ride from Whitstable instead
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    • Aug 3rd, 2025 Day 2 Dover to Dunkerque
      • The Adventurous ride from Canterbury to Dover is a pleasant 55km (35 miles), with a long slow climb up the cliffs of Dover via the Syklark Trail, and a rapid descent past Dover Castle at the end.
      • People skipping the UK segment should take their bikes by train to Dover around midday on the 3rd, and everyone should aim to take a 2pm ferry.
        • 20km route
        • Hop On / Off train options
          • Canterbury
          • Sandwich
          • Deal
        • 3-4 Duinkerke L'Escale, Dunkirk: Info, Photos, Reviews | Book at Hotels.com
          • Dunkerque, there are sockets in the bike store.
    • Aug 4th, 2025 Day 3 to Brugge
    • Aug 5th, 2025 Day 4 to Ghent
    • Aug 6th, 2025 Day 5 to Antwerp
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    • Aug 7th, 2025 Day 6 to Breda
      • 74km (45 miles): Antwerp to Breda, via Baarle.
      • 7-8 Breda Campanile Hotel Breda, Breda: Info, Photos, Reviews | Book at Hotels.com
    • Aug 8th, 2025 Day 7 to Utrecht
    • Aug 9th, 2025 Day 8 Amsterdam
    • Aug 10th, 2025 Day 9 Explore Rotterdam and Back Home
      • Coastal ride to Hook
    • ** Travelling back by Stena Ferry
      • Hook to Harwich: Stena Line operates a ferry service from Rotterdam to Harwich. The cost of a one-way ticket for a passenger is less then £100 from here , depending on the type of cabin and the time of booking. You can book these tickets on the Stena Line website. [3]
        • £167 with cabin
        • 97965797
        • Arrives 6:30am
      • Train - Eurostar from Amsterdam to Brussels and Brussels to London in 2025
        • Did NOT choose this cause of odd rule that ticket must be bought BEFORE a cycle can be reserved
        • seat61 Long wordy detailed description of travelling by train with bike
        • £162 for train ticket
        • £30 for Netherlands - Belgium per Eurostar Website
        • £45 for Belgium UK
        • Total £230
        • Eurostar accepts fully assembled bikes on certain trains between Brussels and London, specifically those departing Brussels at 07:56, 08:52, 12:52, 14:52, and 17:56 When you arrive in London, your bike will be handed back to you on the platform, so ensure you can carry it safely
        • To book a bike space, you must first purchase a Eurostar ticket and then contact Eurostar Travel Services to check for bike space availability. The booking process can take 7 to 10 days, so it is advisable to plan ahead
        • As of 2025, the surcharge for taking a bike on Eurostar trains between Brussels and London is £45 if booked more than 48 hours before departure, and £60 if booked less than 48 hours before departure
        • Amsterdam to Brussels: Cannot use Eurostar direct trains from Amsterdam to Brussels. The cost can vary depending on the time of booking and the class of travel. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing, you can visit the Eurostar website or use a ticket booking platform like TheTrainLine. Standard class tickets typically start from around €50, while Plus and Premier class tickets can be more expensive.
        • Brussels to London: Eurostar also runs direct trains from Brussels to London. The cost again depends on the time of booking and the class of travel. Standard class tickets usually start from around €50, while Plus and Premier class tickets can range from €100 to €200.
    • Aug 11th, 2025
      • Harwich to Harrow 8:08am to 10;50am via Colchester and Liverpool Street
        • Grabbed first direct to Liverpool and conductor and station hand just let me through! Despite actually having booked cheaper later train
        • Harwich International Station is located next to the ferry terminal, making it convenient for passengers to board the Stena Line ferry The station is situated opposite the ferry and cruise terminals, providing easy access for those traveling by rail
        • The train journey from Harwich to London is served by Greater Anglia. The cost of a one-way ticket is typically around €20 to €30, depending on the time of day and whether you book in advance. You can book these tickets on the Greater Anglia website or at the station. [3]
        • If you’re travelling on an ‘InterCity Mainline’ train, then you’ll need to book ahead and make a reservation for a non-folding bike. These are the trains that run between Norwich, Diss, Stowmarket, Ipswich, Colchester and London.
          • You can do this by calling 0345 600 7245 and selecting option 8. You’ll need to give at least 24 hours’ notice.
          • Called up on 26/6 at 12:00 and told no reservation is required
        • You also can’t bring non-folding bikes on trains at the following times:
          • On services that arrive at Cambridge between 07:45 and 08:45 on weekdays
          • On trains that arrive at London Liverpool Street or Stratford between 07:45 and 09:45 or depart these stations between 16:30 and 18:30 on weekdays.
        • There aren’t any time restrictions if you’ve made a reservation in advance.
      • Channel crossing with Dover Dunkirk DFDS ferry then back with

  • My first real (e-)Bike Tour! - LCC Fundraising Page

  • Cycling on the Continent

  • Riding techniques

  • Insurance and breakdown(!)

  • eBike Charging spots on the continent
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  • Route traces

  • Avoiding Saddle Sores

  • Picture Sharing

  • Theme song with hidden words of wisdom