7th July long hot 80km from Amsterdam to Liden

A bloody hot day to be out and about on a bike. I looked very English: white top and a straw hat. I spent all winter researching warmer gear. Got a bigger tent so I could sit up even if it rains. Got a down bag. Bought 2 jumpers. And now look at it! I've been slapping on the factor 50 like it's going out of fashion. 

It's preferable to rain though. 

This morning I packed up and headed out of Amsterdam. I had originally planned to go via Utrecht but I rather felt like avoiding the urban sprawl. I started trying to follow the bike paths but kept getting directed back to the same place. It took me longer than I care to admit to realise that this meant something akin to all directions (google translate has it as 'through traffic). That made things clearer     

When I was eventually free from the endless houses I started to relax a bit. I stopped a couple of times to eat, once an ice cream and a coffee with a teeny cone on the side. A second time to eat a crunchy egg shell omelette. 

Every so often I stopped to lather on the suncream. Other cyclists chatted as we went, as I was the only tourist visible my load was always the subject of discussion. 

I cycled through the Dutch equivalent of the Cotswolds. Thatch abounds and every house has its own little bridge. I chose the road because of all the bends. You can miss turns and hills when they are in short supply.   

As the Wimbledon final started (wow indeed) I started to look for a site. First I went to a well signed farm only to find that the camping advertised was actually last night's party. The owner did tell me about an actual site but, it was in the wrong direction. 

Eventually I made it here (Vlietland).  It's a campsite come mariner so, on this sunny weekend it's packed. The lady at reception was fielding calls, gathering keys for speed boats, doing other stuff I didn't understand.  Having dealt with all these things she decided to check me in before the night was done (her words). No wonder everything took so long. I have two keys for the loos, a key for the water and another key, the purpose of which I have yet to establish. I had to pay a €20 deposit making the total for two nights a hotel worthy £40 odd pounds. 

Tomorrow I will be visiting Liden and Delft. I will be visiting any open museums but, having  battled through the day using two maps (one cycle one Michelin) and my black biro, purchasing a pink highlighter is first on my list of things to do. 

Gallery (apologies for the quality. Between screen glare, sunglasses and phone case, subject matter was guess work)

My coffee and cone. It melted. 

That sign again.