BT XII - Day 15. The final leg

OK so the advantage of the ferry home is you gain that extra hour,  the one you didn't really miss losing on the way out, due to the excitement.  The disadvantage is the 6am alert and notification that you will be docking in an hour (nett result is an actual loss of an hours sleep).
Time to get up and fight through the throngs of happy families and grumbling children for your coffee.
Question,  why do ferry companies think it is a good idea to disgorge a boat load of vehicles into rush hour traffic?
The journey up from Hull was pleasant (and hot) enough had it not been for Graeme's 4 'incidents' within ten miles of Alnwick (to add to his one in the previous 3700 miles).  The first of his own making, the remaining three, down to drivers making sudden inexplicable manoeuvres without any reason or indication.   All in a days riding though!
I am however looking forward to not riding tomorrow,   maybe wash the bike ?    Who am I kidding!

BT XII - Day 14

For the first time on this trip,  we over slept,  I mean, it not as though we have 250 miles to drive and a ferry to catch,  or anything.
Despite that we ate a relaxed breakfast and set off for a slow bimble round the Dutch countryside.   After paying our respects to the Gormley sculpture of  Valentino Rossi at  Lelystad we crossed the  Zuidersee on the causeway then rode the dyke (no pun intended)  for many miles in perfect conditions.
With that complete, it was time for my least favourite motorway sections (excepting any stretch of autostrada).  With no eateries in evidence we arrived at the  P & O tub horribly early but we're allowed to board fairly quickly.  Following a shower and a complaint about the cabin (which was grim) we were upgraded to a premium cabin (it had a window) although I don't know if the effort of moving was worth it.
A mediocre meal and off to our premium beds.

BT XII - Day 13 pics

BT XII - Day 13

I wanna see the sea.
Today was due to be a long day on the coastal road through Bremmerhaven.  When we found ourselves inside a secure area of the port we recalculated the day to allow faster roads {despite being straight they all had rediculous speed restrictions }.   Leaving the port of Bremmerhaven we waved a cheery goodbye to the security and customs guards and continued on our 250 coastal mile day.
After the first  150 miles all we had managed to see was a grassy embankment/dyke and I had imagined a nice coast and view of the sea.   I rebelled,   I ignored the GPS and followed a sign to a harbour. Following the road through the harbour we found the coast {well a caravan site on the coast } but the tide was so far out that we still never got to see the sea.
In order to get back to the main road we ended up riding along the quayside of a very busy museum of sailing (it was a Sunday afternoon).
To make it up to John, we had our first lunch stop of the week.
We got an abrupt entry into the Netherlands coming straight off an autobahn and into a 20mph suburb.
As this is our last night we have celebrated by using up some of our clean clothes.
Tomorrow will be a grueling 260 mile dash to the ferry.

Day 11 - Baltic Ferry

Stress Management

BT XII - Day 12

Stress management.
Another interesting if non challenging day -ish.
Stress levels were reduced as a result of us riding through horse country.   Huge luxurious yards and fields upon fields of very tasty (in every sense of the expression) horse flesh.   There was also the occasional zebra,  camel and  wildebeest!!!.
With stress managed we hit Hamburg.  At this point Graeme's brakes were still causing  vibration problems however these were made worse by the frequent traffic light stops (seriously did Hamburg get a job lot?).   As the engine temperature mounted, the bike started stalling due to low revs.  The difficulty of breaking,  maintaining engine revs,  navigating and trying to keep together was tricky to say the least.
After one 'umleitung' the bike stalled in a car park,  so we stopped and let it cool down. With a minor clutch adjustment we set off again with no further problems.
After a shower,  a few beers and a pudding for me,  stress levels were returned to normal and I felt that at long last Hamburg had obtained some revenge on the Maguire family.