Lommel to Terheijden (10km past Breda) - tot ziens Belgium

We're now in Holland and are only 75km (flat) from Hook of Holland. 

We've spent the day on canal paths in Belgium and the superb Dutch cycle network. Both countries have a system of knooppunt, a sort of cycling by numbers. Every junction on the cycle network has a number and from that point the next number in every direction is signed, so you just follow the numbers to arrive at your destination. 

The cycle network has its own traffic lights and is almost entirely segregated from the traffic. In Holland that means that you can cycle completely safely anywhere in the country.  There are huge numbers of cyclists everywhere. It truly puts the UK to shame.

Yet another reminder of WW2. These blockhouses or gunposts were built every kilometre along the canal we cycled along near what is now the Belgium/Holland border.

We chatted to a couple in a canal canal-side café just before leaving Belgium (they had cycled around the world, so made our efforts seem puny). Like everyone else we've spoken to on this long journey through six EU countries, they can't understand Brexit and can see the huge damage it is already causing. I feel that seeing these remnants of Europe's past division everywhere is argument enough for unity, leaving aside the many other economic, cultural, environmental, etc etc benefits.

Unladen barge. The laden ones were right down to the line between the white and black. 

The only one we've seen so far - proof that we really are in Holland!

We can't believe that this is our last night in the tent. It's a lovely evening and we're at a nice little "mini-camping" north of Breda.

Tomorrow hopefully we can cycle the remaining 75km to the ferry without incident and before it leaves at 10pm.

Lommel to Terheijden - 93km, 150m climb