Difficult drive down the motorways are busy and this was an unrestricted speed limit road. Arrived lunch time and cycled down the side of the Rhine into Cologne.
Good afternoon looking at the sights it’s so easy cycling as bikes are allowed in the precincts. Got lots of info from passing guides.
Next day cycle again into Cologne for a cycle in the back streets a fab day. Cycled up the side of the Rhine in the afternoon in the other direction, gosh HOT. Its not birds you need to worry about pooing on your windows see below.
Cycle day again followed 3 cycle routes to get us to The Botanical Gardens. What a lovely day out, the greenhouse was spectacular with walkways up in the air to look down on the forest of trees. The lilly pads were at their best.
The castle was open for a walkabout with an exhibition on. We then walked around the grounds and stopped for a cold drink.
Click Image for LARGER
On the way back stopped for a look in the Basilica in Grimbergen.
Bus into city today for a look around. Went into the cathedral although we have visited it before. Still think this cathedral is very interesting.
Had a coffee in the main square. On our walk around the streets we are amazed how the Mannekin Pee attracts so many people? Whilst in the square we saw a chip van giving free pommes frites and the queue was so long it went all the way to Ghent and not a Yorkshire man in sight!!!!
Busy drive down arrived early. Bikes out and cycled down to one of the most spectacular sights in Brussels. Only 1/2 hour cycle from campsite on cycle paths FAB.
Out on the Bikes this morning for a cycle up into Damme what an interesting morning.
Coffee then a visit to look round an actual working windmill a chat to the guy looking after it for the day and a donation got us a lovely chart of all the windmills in Belgium and a comic Suske en Wiske (see link) Suske en Wiske that had some info in the story about forts used in the area during the 800 year war. Then cycled into Bruge again then back to the site.
Tunnel train delayed slightly but managed to get to the campsite in time for our booking.
Got the bikes out and cycled in and around Bruges. Saw some lovely sights including one very much a topic at the moment on saving the seas from plastic.
Cycling around this town you have to keep your teeth together (bumpy cobbles).
Difficult drive down mostly motorway and wall to wall traffic will be glad when we get into Europe better roads. Bus into Folksone for a walkabout so a lovely Graffiti. See if you can spot the women in a flower dress? Click image for Larger picture.
had a bus trip down to Alton this morning market day and wanted to find the grave of Fanny Adams. Had a walkabout in Alston then found the graveyard and a kind Hampshire County council worker broke into his tea break to show us the grave. What a moving experience for us and 2 others who arrived.
The Church of St Lawrence also has a remarkable history of a clash between the Roundheads and Royalist troops. The door containing bullet holes.
Coffee then back to Winchester. Washing day so as to leave England nice n clean. Had a good stay here the people here are lovely after our last few days experiences Oh! hang on the bus driver did not hear the stop bell and dropped us and 2 others on a fast dual carriage way with no footpath Argh. And the worst Caravan and Motorhome site ever.
15 years 150000 miles of European Travel through 16 Counties
