Day 375 – THE NETHERLANDS and ENGLAND: From Berschenhoek (NL) to Little Oakley (UK)

Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 38.2km
Average speed / 平均速度: 14.7km/h
Time on skateboard / 走行時間: 2h 36m
Total skateboarding distance to date / 今までスケボで走った距離: 877.47km (plus 428.5km)
Total cycling distance to date / 今まで自転車で走った距離: 11,800km

Thank you Bram and his family! It was great to meet you guys – thank you for the comfy bed and warm hospitality last night.

And what could be better than having your own personal escort for the first half of the day. Bram cycled his velomobile with me as I skated towards Hook of Holland; where the ferry to England is.

So that was the plan. Today was the day that I would leave the Eurasian continent, and cross over to England. By ferry. Not by skateboard. Skateboards don’t float. Neither do I. Like really. You know how most people can lie on their back in the water and just float there. I don’t. I sink feet first.

But the ferry looked robust enough, and I spent most of the 7 hour journey from Hook of Holland to Harwich sleeping on the outside deck. Sleeping mat spread out, me curled up in my sleeping bag.

I arrived in Harwich about half an hour before dark. I had no idea where to go, so I asked a group of three young women on bicycles where was London. They were shocked to find that I had no map, and seemed concerned that I was going to sleep outside, giving me the impression that it was terribly dangerous to do so. I told them I would most probably be OK.

I followed my nose out of the ferry terminal, and found a National Cycle Network sign pointing in the direction of Harwich. It was better than nothing, so I followed the sign. By 9:30pm (no daylight savings in England) is was dark, so I had to stop and find a place to sleep. A convenient bridleway led me to an open paddock where I spent my night.