2. England to Netherlands by ferry: Newcastle to Amsterdam

Waffles for breakkie then a number 0 for JW. The Italian barbers enjoys the craic. “Good morning, como esta? / Bene bene, lei?…”

A gentle meander towards the ferry port after a spot of bike fixing and BOOM Mechanical #2 Broken Chain! Fixed in a trice by Jon. We make it to the ferry in ample time for Spite and Malice (I won) and cribbage (Jon wins, a v exciting game). To bed with a dodgy whisky miniature that had been hanging around in the cupboard for about 8 years.

Woke to a haar outside Haarlem. A great meander to Amsterdam on the bikes via Zuid-Kennemerland national park to look for bison. We find only a lonely highland coo, some Egyptian geese and a flock of wild ponies. Amsterdam all elegant brickwork and twinkly houses at night. An Indonesian feast before getting on the Austrian night train to Zürich – top bunks.