Day 14 - Haaksbergen
Today is only 40 miles and I am set to arrive at 5pm. After today I continue to have shorter days and my day off in Arnhem where I do the parkrun. It is Wednesday today, Thursday I want time to explore medieval Zutphen, Friday is a big day at the Kröller-Müller museum, Saturday is parkrun and Sunday just 20 miles of cycling though I will probably extend that. I think Sunday's short day was probably an adjustment so that I arrive sensibly back in Utrecht so I am tempted to make Sunday
a big day by finding a different route.
Last night close to my accomodation I realised my front tyre was soft so I put some air in and carried out the repair in the shade at the accomodation. That was fine but despite checks and best endeavours my front tyre seems to be losing air and doesn't seem to be 'seated' that well which means it isn't perfectly round. There is a rubbing sound and a general squidgy feel especially when cornering.
A church complex in Denekamp, or should that be "a complex church...".
A far cry from the polders and canals of my first few days in the Netherlands.
Arriving in Enschede feels like a landmark. It is early afternoon with more cycling to do but this is 953km done and the end of the second of the three long distance routes (LF14) I am doing.
Now I pick up the LF4 which cuts east to west through the middle of the Netherlands. Maybe that's why they call it the Midden-Nederland route. Reviewing the route I realise I still have about 40km to go and it will end up being an 82km day. Both halves of today are bonkers when looked at on a map.
Today was excellent cycling and I am sure the route designers had good reasons for the routes but it did feel at times like a VERY long way round to get places.
More signage than usual but you get the idea. The Netherlands is good for cyclists.
I suppose the cellar is part of the design of windmills generally but more apparent here.
My concluding thoughts for today? It was a day in reverse, a relaxed stop-start first 30 miles then a 20-mile sprint to get to my accommodation only 20 minutes late. 991km into my tour felt like I just missed the 1,000km milestone but that will happen tomorrow. Despite the near miss and poor planning I am in celebratory mood and plan a good meal in Haaksbergen which has a range of excellent eateries.
