Last night, I started to jot a few reflections on the Rhine Ride – which included the (grateful) observation that I had had virtually no rain at all.

And so. this morning, the Universe laughed in my face:

But as experienced cyclists will tell you: “There’s no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing and bad preparation”

The last full day of cycling was challenging – cold, wet and very windy. Thankfully it cleared in the afternoon, although the headwind continued to make heavy work of the kms.

Rotterdam – a big sprawling city

Rotterdam (pop 620,000), the second largest city in the Netherlands, owes its prosperity to its position at the mouth of the Rhine–Meuse river system. The port, originally concentrated around the historic centre, now extends over 40km along the Meuse and covers 105 sq km, including reclaimed land stretching out into the North Sea.

It was the world’s busiest port until surpassed in 2004 by Shanghai, its main activities being the petrochemical industries and transhipment of general container cargo from ocean-going vessels to Rhine barges.