Another reason to bail yesterday it was getting slippery as (yes still trying to justify my decision as do not like leaving projects unfinished) ... and did I also say it was raining. With less than 500 km to get to the Switzerland HU meeting for Thursday at 1 pm, going to take my time might even have a day off riding...!

Arriving camping ⛺️... I slowly ride into the small camp site as a man was walking up the road showing some folk to their site, he had an apron on and I could smell pizzas cooking, again past 7 pm it was definitely well past food and beer o’clock.

I waited at a small wooden hut which was reception, the dutch fit looking man (turned out he is a ex triathlete and keen cross country skier) joined me and showed me a pitch.

I said I must pay you he said i don’t deal with money that’s my wife and I can cook you a pizza for dinner? I parked up under the shade of a huge tree as many small children rode push bikes screaming with high pitch voices around the site. Could not wait to get out if my ride gear and chill. Dumped all my clothes in a big heap and got my shorts on. Had a quick shower and went to another pine clad wooden hut where smoke was coming from the wood fired pizza oven chimney to see my man - he said I can do one for 8.15 pm, would you like a beer yes please really loving this Dutch hospitality. Interestingly I’ve met several Dutch in the past in fact one of my best co workers when I worked with disadvantaged kids was Dutch - but in this trip I’ve come to see them in a new light.

So was checking my social media ! out and suddenly my cooked pizza was brought to my table, service indeed.

Later that evening ...my tent neighbours Dutch couple Sander and Marjan Bongers invited me over for a drink after their children had gone to bed. We started off on chamomile tea then graduated to the harder stuff.

Marjan is a psych and works with difficult children and their families in Holland - we had lots to chat about as adventure based counselling was one of my jobs when I first graduated.

Sander is a very keen road cyclist and so we also had lots in common. Sander is an architect and works for his fathers company. We discussed house building, environmental sustainability and sustainable transport as Holland is renowned as being world leaders in this area.

Sander and Marjan have also travelled in Australia (East coast) and loved the country and were impressed by the hospitality they experienced. It was truly a great evening putting the world rights eventually getting to bed well past 11 pm.

It was a slow start in the morning - having trouble breaking my social media addiction I checked in at around 7 am! The connection was unusually string so I uploaded a few pics and a video - a brief summary of my first weeks adventure. Back to sleep and eventually awoke and it was almost 9 am. It was not going to be a early start ... yet again eventually getting going at almost 2 pm.

Sorting my gear out since my drop two days ago I have mislaid my throttle rocker (cruise control) I was gutted and lay awake st night thinking where I may have placed it! Combined it was on the side of the trail I found it in the zipped pocket of my tank bag. Phew as they are difficult to find and with some big bitumen rides essential.

The camp site owner and Sander and Marjan recommended the Jura area as well worthy of a visit so that is my next destination some 160 km away or 100 miles. The Dutch couple recommended the camp site they stayed at so made that my new destination.

It was difficult leaving folk who started chatting to me and another Dutch guy - Volkert my other neighbor started asking me about my bike ...what was I to do! ...

France and Europe has a real bee problem the mild winter and warm & wet summer has been good for them. I must say where I’ve stopped in France they have been hassling me. All of the camp site had bee traps made out of old water bottles and Volkert also had a smoking coffee bag! He informed me the up side of lots of bees is they eat mosquitoes. Volkert and his wife have also travelled in Australis and New Zealand. He gave me. Bottle of “ nasty tasting “ fizzy water before I departed, very generous.