Well did bike survive its night outside Hamburg central station? That was the first question of the day, having stripped everything off it last night I'd hoped it would and was assured it would be safe and sure enough it was, so everything back on and off to find the platform and standing position to get on wagon 3 for slot 153 and given yesterday's experiences that's exactly where it went in a large empty carriage! First section Hamburg to Osnabruck then 110 minute interchange to get on wagon 3 slot 141 on the train routed from Berlin to Amsterdam. I was on til Amersfoort where I had a 2 minute change time so I cunningly positioned myself first in the queue to get off ahead of party of 4 German ladies and men. I got off and sprinted across the platform onto the Rotterdam train and got my bike into the place for bikes with a couple of others already there. I was crushed as the Germans piled on I helped them get their bikes on but chaos as there are no slot numbers etc or even hooks for bikes so what to do... Chuckles to oneself! I told a lady she could not put her bike where she had as the driver needed access in Utrecht as I remembered from last year we change direction then, I was brushed off. When we got to utrechet guess who was ordered off the train to find proper bike spaces ? 2 of the 4. Made it to Rotterdam ok on the sprinter to Hoek can Holland with a cute little golden lab dog and owner who says he is not always as well behaved.On board now and bike all racked up for the night Be an early start as we dock at 6.30, don't really fancy the commuter crush from Harwich heading to London so may wait it out We'll see.
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