Over the last few weeks we have created a cocktail of rivers. First a touch of Danube, then a good dose of Main and Rhine, with a little bit of Niers added. Some added Jenever flavour is provided by the Maas, with just a dash of Waal and finally a drop more Rhine.

I realise that I have not given my country enough credit. It has far more nice countryside than I realised and it was great to cycle through it. There were also some pleasant ferry crossings.

We had a clear endpoint in mind and with a forecast of thundery showers it made sense to plan a stay in a B&B. Well, you know, all good plans … Not a single lodging to be found within 20 km (apart from one excessively expensive one). So, camping it had to be. This was still nearly 5 km away from town, but we managed to get there OK. Then I realised I had left my rugsack in the cafe where we had scanned the net for accommodation. You know, with passport, payment cards and various other valuables. Graham was the hero, as so often. He cycled the whole way back and fortunately retrieved my bag. The cafe owner told him he had stayed open after his normal closing time so as to be able to give it back.

Our campsite has a common room and this is where we are, writing the blog while watching Ajax on tv , seeing extreme lightning through the safe window and hearing pretty thunderous thunder (and joking about sleeping the night in here …)

We are noticing that we are becoming chronically tired, we miss our children and their spouses and Bella the husky, so it is time to go home. Tomorrow we are meeting some Dutch friends from my medical school time, but from Friday we will make beeline for the ferry. Graham is booking the crossing at this very moment and so we should be home by Sunday.