[Home]     Cycling Down the Rhine Thursday 7th September 2017 IJsselstein to Vlaardingen It was a lot easier day today than yesterday - no rain, the winds were gentler and the route as far as Rotterdam was fairly traffic-free, rolling along rural lanes / cart-tracks. And after today we only have 22 km to go to the ferry and then the ride will be over, the Rhine ridden. Stirring stuff, eh. Me and a windmill, near Schoonhoven Typical country cycle-way stretch From IJsselstein we rode to Schoonhoven where we had a coffee and cake, then we took a ferry across the river Lek and continued along empty country cycle-ways as far as Kinderdijk, the place with the 19 windmills. Trisha and I visited it on our Viking cruise and I recognised the bit where we had strolled along touristing. The spot where Trisha and I visited the 19 windmills with the Vikings On the ferry from Kinderdijk   The junction of the Nieuwe Maas, Lek and Noord rivers from the ferry After faffing about a bit at Kinderdijk, and of course having another cup of tea, we took the second ferry of the day for Ridderkerk then cycled on through increasingly built-up areas into the heart of Rotterdam, the Netherlands' second largest city. It was fairly easy to traverse though as like most Dutch places it had excellent cycle provision. The Erasmus Bridge at Rotterdam A view from the bridge Andrew on the Erasmus Bridge The old docks We crossed the Nieuwe Maas via the Erasmus Bridge, had a look round the old docks then cycled on through Schiedam to our destination for the day, the Ibis hotel in Vlaardingen. It was a decent hotel, not one of Ibis's 'Budget' range and the receptionist kindly let us store our bikes inside in the conference room. That evening we walked into the town centre, about a mile, and had a Greek meal. Tasty but not fresh, vegs reheated. Disappointing. Then drinks in a bar and crib - driven out by ghastly music so final couple of pints were in an Irish bar. A tea stop on the way out of Rotterdam I lost my water bottle somewhere along the way today, probably left at the B&B. Tomorrow The End, then... home! 44.1 miles today making the total 869.07 miles.