My Journey

David Eales ride to Amsterdam

7 min read

  • 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
      • Amazing tunnel rides including one out of Rotterdam with wooden escalators(!) and split levels for pedestrians and cyclists collapsed:: true
      • - Seeing statue of famous Humanist Erasmo in Rotterdam who said “whole world is my homeland”
  • 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 collapsed:: true
  • 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 collapsed:: true
  • 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
    • 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.

Other Notes

Packing Strategy

What I wore

  • 2025-07-30-10-54-51.jpeg
  • Helmet with Visor
    • Wicking running / cycling cap in winter
  • Headphones - Soundpeats Open Ear
  • Transition Specs / Sunglasses
  • Short-sleeve ‘touring’ jersey
    • Wicking material
  • Gloves
  • Cycling shorts
    • padded - optional since seat is comfortable
    • over-shorts if padded
  • Sandals with Socks
    • 2025-07-30-09-41-13.jpeg
    • Can remove Socks if it rains, but risk chafing
  • If needed…
    • Ankle compression socks
    • Knee compression

What I packed

  • 2025-07-30-09-01-25.jpeg

  • Left-side Bag:

    • Evening Shirt / Trousers / Belt
    • Long-sleeve T x1
    • Short sleeve cotton Tx2 (sleeping in too)
      • Sleeping Boxers
    • Underwear x3
    • Cotton Socks x3

  • Right-side Bag

    • Blue rain shell jacket
    • Knee compression
    • Cycling tops x2
    • Spare padded underwear x 1
    • spare Cycling shorts x2

  • Centre Bag

    • 130W Charger for main battery
      • charges 20-80% in 60 mins
    • 45W Charger + Euro plug
      • charges Range Extender battery (4 hours from 0-100%)
    • Rain cover for bags
    • Cargo net / clothes pegs
    • Shoe Bag - easy to fold and carry stuff like a backpack
    • Cap
    • Travel towel (for hostels)
      • (?)Travel Flannel(for hostels) same thing as towel?
    • Toilet (Dry)bag:
      • Tooth brush
      • Tooth paste
      • Deodorant
    • soap
    • Oneblade Shaver
      • Sun screen / moisturizer
    • Medications - Anti-inflammatory Painkillers - ibuprofen
      • Teeth Guard
      • ++
    • Mini-First Aid kit
      • Bum Butter - Nappy Rash Creams(post-ride)

      • Sudocream? Chamois, Anti-Friction(pre-ride) - pick up if needed

  • Wet “Bag”

    • Keep on top of the Pannier held down by netting with hooks
    • Cotton Socks and Underwear

      • hopefully dries in a day or two

    • Travel flannels & towels dry faster than cotton.
    • After you shower, try to remove as much of the excess water with the flannel first, wringing out as you go. Then when you dry with the towel, there will be less to absorb.
    • Towel will then dry even faster
  • Questions / Not packing collapsed:: true
    • Light Jacket - missing

      • Needed? Cycling Vest ok?

    • Travel Flannel(for hostels) - same as Travel towel?
    • Light (hiking) trousers* (B.S.)* - missing
    • *Overshoes *

      • not taking - sandals + socks. Remove socks if raining

  • Coffee mug

Cockpit Bag

  • 2025-07-29-09-10-44.jpeg
  • Left Saddle Bag
    • Electric Pump
    • Spanner for Rear Wheel
  • Right Saddle Bag
    • 1 spare inner tube

      • with puncture proof slime inside - why doesn’t Casey like?

  • Centre Removable Velcro
    • Mobile
    • Battery pack + cable
    • Credit cards cash coins
    • Passport papers + Health Insurance Card

  • Tool Bag

    • Allen keys/Multi-tool
    • Tyre levers

Graph View

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