Day 9 Dover – Ostend

The only good thing about warm nights is that washing is dry by the next morning. Other options employed: hanging in bathrooms overnight with extractor, campfires, wearing or strapped to the cycle or placing in a laundry bag – with minimal spare clothes, this is the last resort.

B&B was the most expensive & worst I hope to experience. A noisy, coffin sized room without an en-suite. The traffic noise began around 5am. My earplugs were excellent though extracting them requires tweezers!

Crossing the Channel to Dunkirk was interesting. I’d booked a 2pm ferry but accepted the offer of a 12noon sailing. Unfortunately due to someone falling ill on the inboard crossing, I still ended up only leaving at 2pm.

At ferry terminals, cyclists receive preferential treatment, & typically congregate in front of the queuing vehicles. Here I met serious multi-day cyclist, Bill Tilanus from the Netherlands. Though never ridden, he’s fascinated by the GDMBR, & is extremely knowledgeable. It is quite possible he knows every inch from Banff to Antelope Wells. I shared my knowledge &, of course, directed him to my johnworthington.blog.

Due to the uncertain sailing time of the 12noon ferry, he hurriedly accepted an offer to Calais. The world is a better place for travellers like Bill Tilanus & Colin Barton – inspired to travel & share their experiences.

With my bike well tethered, I headed up to the Premium Lounge to relax & to consume my 1st & 2nd lunch. The challenge is constant – how to consume enough liquid & fuel to keep my energy levels up.

I found Dunkirk smart, attractive & functional. The Dover I left was tired & drab looking. The contrast is very stark – similar to that between Niagara USA & Niagara Canada

A few pictures of today’s ride through France & Belgium.

France & Belgium’s tolerance for cyclists is far superior to the UK. Nicely marked lanes, drivers who actually like us & even give way when they don’t have to. My ride was through modern & medieval villages, long stretches of canals & countryside – all outstanding.