Day 14 Friday, Arnhem and ferry port.

We have arranged to meet the rest of the Scottish riders at the Airborne Museum at Arnhem. It takes a bit longer than I thought as we trace the Rhine for a few more miles but get bogged down in some diversions and new roads not yet on the GPS. We still get there for 1130 but only allows a short visit as the route to the ferry is via Lelystad and a causeway to Hoorn NE of Amsterdam. This is a bit longer way but will miss the Friday pm motorway crush to the SW of the city. The wind picks up as we head north and we pass some old windmills, one has it's sails set and is turning at a good lick for the visitors alighting from their coach.

There is a haze today so the views across the water are not as distant as they could be but there are some yachts sailing nearby, one just over the dyke and impossibly close to the roadway. We can't see the hull only the top half of the rigging which is angled over in the strong wind. We are doing similar leaning as the wind catches the 9 Hondas on the penultimate leg of their European tour.

Soon it's on the autoroute again and the final 14km to the port. We arrive at 1615 and get our passports and booking checked, then allowed through to the keyside. This the first time I have had to show my passport since leaving home.

There are a few more bikes behind us. We board and within minutes the bow doors are closing. The bikes are secured with ratchet straps and bags in hand we climb the gangways to find our cabins and then make our way to the refreshment bar :-)

Stories of the last 3days are exchanged before making our way to the buffet meal two decks below.
The evening ends when the band returns for its second session on the stage, and after each number, the sound level seems to get increased by 10dB. After 4 songs we depart to the adjoining tv bar but after another 3 songs the sound is so loud even here it is impossible to have a conversation. Must be getting old as the table of youngsters remained and seemed not to notice. Maybe they were texting each other? don't know.