Having slept off the worst of our colds we take things easy this morning before getting ready for a walk. Bright sunshine hides the bitter northerly breeze, but it feels good to be out. This area is criss-crossed with foot and cycle paths and bridleways, of which the site has provided us with a map. We go firstly through a small wood where crocus and snowdrops are breaking out under the trees. The woods thin out to sand dunes with thick layers of maram grass....

Well it's not the best start to a trip, we've both caught colds and spent most of the night snorting and coughing. €12 buys us two coffees in paper cups and a shared croissant (breakfast at the buffet would have been €15.50/head!) A crew member escorts us to the car deck and by 08:15 we are out of the port and joining in with Rotterdam's rush hour traffic. Early morning mist shrouds the landscapes, the odd windmill shadowed in grey. It is fairly industri...