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Introduction I’ve always loved LEGO, and when I first saw this LEGO set the similarity to my Trek 520 was so striking - that I knew I just had to get it. It’s got 1015 pieces and is sufficiently technical to provide more than enough of a challenge for a 57 year old. Certainly kept me entertained for an evening. Just like my Trek 520, it features working steering, chain, and derailleur. The brakes, pedals, back light and water bottle all add to the realism. First Impressions -LEGO 11380 What's in the Box? There are 1015 pieces in total - including two large rubber tyres. In addition to the instruction manual are a number of paper bags organised into separate build sections - for instance bag 1 contains a stand, bag 2 contains the back wheel. The instruction manual is easy to follow with excellent instructions and pictures to get the build right first time. The bright red colour of the frame and the black of the tyres work together so well, and look so similar to the Trek 520. It feels like the set was made for me. Why This Set Caught My Attention I love my Trek 520 - its iconic red colour is so similar to this LEGO set. I spent a very relaxing evening working through the 8 or so bags to build the model, and it turned out so much better than I expected. The Build Experience Stage 1: Constructing the Stand and Back Wheel First things first, I built the stand, that would secure the back wheel. This worked well as it then supported the rest of the build, like a real bike you don’t want to lean it against something, put it on its side or upside down. After that it was the back wheel - which was so well thought out. A bit more complicated than most other parts - but when done correctly so very secure. It also gives a really good insight to how solid the build was. Stage 2: Frame, Front Wheel & Chain As the frame came together, again I could feel how robust the build was, and also how big it was. The red of the frame looked so good. Not at all fiddly, unlike the chain. Front wheel was a simpler build as it was pretty much a repeat of the back wheel. But what a moment once the front and back cogs were added, the derailleur was fitted, and the chain was fed through. It really looked like a bike. Even better when tested and both pedalling and free-wheeling worked. Awesome. Definitely the most satisfying element of the build - but the chain was both fiddly and repetitive. I used a couple less links than available in the kit to keep the chain tight. Stage 3: Handlebars and Brakes The front fork construction was a little different than the frame, but also designed really well. The working steering was another welcome surprise. The handlebars look great and the brakes also look great and even have a brake feeling when squeezed. It’s all very smart. A number of parts from other sets have been re-purposed / re-imagined to work in this model. This is highlighted in the instructions. I won’t ruin all the surprises - but it’s quite cool when you see how a couple of hockey sticks have been used to bring the saddle alive. Stage 4: Finishing Details The addition of the water bottle and rear light are great touches. Though my only criticism is that the water bottle feels just a tad larger than it should be. The saddle, pedals, brake levers and calipers, together with the working derailleur and chain bring an authenticity that is unexpected. Favourite Features The Working Drivetrain The coolest part of the build. Necessary, I think. But to actually build a working chain around front cog, around the back cog, and fed through a tensioning derailleur is just fantastic. The pedals drive the back wheel as expected and when you stop pedalling, the back wheel free wheels. Realistic Cycling Components The derailleur is the most realistic component, together with the chain. The wheels in isolation are great to build and look fantastic. Challenges During the Build There isn’t anything overly challenging on this build. Whilst it is quite normal for me to make an error and have to rework a section - I didn’t have to on this model, which was pleasing. Honestly take your time and enjoy the build. It’s 3 or 4 hours that was very relaxing. How Realistic Is It? You tell me? Whilst the model isn’t specifically designed around a Trek 520 - it is such a good match that it could be. I was tempted to take off the Trek 520 mudguards for a picture to further demonstrate this. As mentioned some of the proportions don’t feel 100%, but I can forgive that given that it’s a model based on the specific limitations of LEGO blocks. Who Will Enjoy This Set? Cyclists If you have a red bike then yes. If you don’t have a red bike - perhaps consider buying one - who doesn’t need another bike. LEGO Collectors I think it has all the ingredients of a good build, and is something quite different. I imagine for the LEGO designers it was a difficult one. Both Me - this hit my sweet spot. Final Verdict I loved it, and when I take it back down, I think I’ll get a another few builds out of it before I get bored of it. The working functions - steering, chain, derailleur - they are all great. What Could Be Better It did feel expensive to me @ £109. But I don’t buy a lot of LEGO for myself these days. I don’t think it’s one for display - I’d rather have my bikes sitting out. Building the stand first was a bit of a disappointment, as it’s a little like any other LEGO build. To differentiate, I think I would have preferred building the back wheel first. That said I understand the need for the stand early in the build. Rating Build Experience: 9/10 Display Value: 7/10 Realism: 8/10 Overall: 8/10 Conclusion The LEGO Icons Road Bike (11380) hits the mark. It does so well by capturing the essential elements of a bike and delivers successfully on them. It’s a rewarding build and looks great - whether it would appeal to a cyclist, or a LEGO collector, probably. If however you are both - like me - then YES, do yourself a favour and get it. Here’s where I found it on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4uUTLPv If you want to buy it click through my link to generate a few pennies for me.

I could see the dogs larking around in the road maybe 250 metres ahead of me. They spotted the red frame of the bike and locked onto it like a charging bull. They were soon up to speed, sprinting towards me as I grappled with the weight of my touring bags while turning back the way I’d come. Thankfully, I already had a good tailwind behind me and, after an initial 50 metres of wondering whether I’d make it or not, I was soon accelerating away from them. They continued the chase for another 500 metres before finally slowing down and looking confused as to where I’d gone. Between 2015 and 2024, I took on a number of multi-day, long-distance solo cycles in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Each cycle was progressively longer in both distance and duration than the last. These trips defined the second phase of my lifelong cycle touring journey. At the time, it was a personal challenge — an expedition — and a way to manage my weight by staying fit throughout the year, ensuring that I was capable of covering the planned distances. It generally worked, I maintained as opposed to inflated further. When cycling high-mileage days, fuel was essential, making the food on these trips taste all the better — usually washed down with beer and wine. The Three Phases of My Cycling Life Phase Description Period 1 Family adventures with the kids Early years 2 Solo long-distance expeditions Working life 3 Relaxed cycling holidays with Jane Retirement Whilst I’ve cycled consistently throughout my life, I can now see that there have been distinct phases that only became apparent as I looked in the rear-view mirror over my many cycling adventures. In this set of blog posts, I look in detail at each phase, reflecting on the merits and challenges of each before deciding whether the relatively short period of Phase 3 is indeed the best time of my life. The Bikes and Touring Setup Cannondale CAAD9 road bike – mine Boardman Pro C road bike – mine Trek 520 dedicated steel touring bike – mine Four Ortlieb pannier bags I did have a few other bikes during this time - but doesn't everyone? Happy in My Own Company - Solo Cycle Touring The kids abandoned me, having developed other interests as they got older and no longer being excited about spending a week on a bike. Clubs, competitions, and other commitments became increasingly difficult to work around. Of course, this meant less supervision was needed for my now-teenage children, allowing me more time out on the bike. Initially, I dived into road biking, and over the years that gradually morphed into long-distance solo cycling, depending on mood, weather, and opportunity. Back then, it was still difficult to carve out a whole day for cycling, never mind a week or two. Work — or rather the amount of holiday time available — would generally get in the way. That said, I still managed quite a bit of cycling. My early road bike days were spent training for sportives and charity rides, many of which I completed. Memorable rides included; Charity rides — Oxford to Cambridge, 2x London to Brighton, and local Hospice rides General sportives — getting the early ferry to France for a day riding around Boulogne was a highlight, along with rides in Norfolk and the Four Counties sportive Others that I’ve since forgotten — a two-day cycle around London and a similar ride around Birmingham Most of these are still running but no longer hold the same interest for me. I never really enjoyed the crowds, the speed, or the waiting around. I realised that I was happier as a lone wolf — a solo cyclist who enjoyed nothing more than a summer evening or early weekend morning out on a road bike. That phase of cycling life suited me well for four or five years. As time moved on, the kids got older and work slowed as I eased into retirement, leaving more opportunity for longer-distance cycling. New bike day came on 31/05/2019 when I picked up my Trek 520 — purpose-built for touring, and purchased exactly for that. Paired with Ortlieb pannier bags, I was ready to go. Here’s how solo cycle touring shaped a stage of my life — and why that phase eventually ended. 2020 – Venice to Pisa Not quite solo, as I was joined by one of my now-grown-up children. We mixed cycling with trains as we made our way across Italy. We’d upgraded to hotel accommodation, which made everything much more civilised. Planning let me down, and exiting Venice via the Lido may have looked far more exciting and much shorter than it actually turned out to be. That lesson was noted for the future. That said, it was an enjoyable trip with plenty of laughs and excellent food. 2020 – Appian Way – Brindisi to Rome I’m not quite sure how I wangled this, as I was still a long way from retirement and work was exceptionally busy at the time. I flew into Brindisi with my bike packed in nothing more than a large plastic bag. I spent about ten days cycling, and occasionally taking trains, up to Rome, before repacking the bike into the same plastic bag for the return journey to Heathrow. It was still early days for me, and a number of issues quickly became apparent due to insufficient planning: Committing to too much distance each day Assuming Italy would always have suitable food stops available Discovering that dehydration is very real, as is completely running out of energy Realising that even in early October, the sun can still be brutally strong Learning that dogs can be friendly, aggressive, or both Italy seemed to have every variety. Most wild dogs were scared of their own shadow, but the kept dogs were fierce — thankfully, most were tied up. In the deeper parts of Italy, English also wasn’t widely spoken. The best moment came from another touring cyclist who questioned what possessed me to come to Italy without speaking Italian. Had I not been so exhausted from the climb up to the village, I would have answered: “The food and wine.” I’m fairly sure he would have understood. I also learned to double-check the altitude of accommodation. Why are so many places to stay halfway up a hill rather than on the valley floor? 2021 – Visiting Family I decided to cycle from Northampton to visit family just outside Belfast. The three days cycling there and the three days cycling back left only a couple of days for the actual visit, something that wasn’t immediately understood by everyone around me. It was an enjoyable trip, though. I visited friends on the first night and met my wife on the final night of the return journey, as it was only about forty miles from home. It was also on this trip that I was mistaken for a postman on three separate occasions. In hindsight, with all that red clothing, I probably did look like one. I did laugh, though. I was confused by what the first person said and asked for clarification. I could see where the second interaction was going but wasn’t quick enough. By the time the third person asked whether I had a parcel for them, I was ready: “Not today, love.” And off I cycled on my merry way. Cycling through central Birmingham on the canal paths turned out to be a mistake, made worse by the terrible weather. I think I chose a different route on the way home. 2022 – Netherlands and F1 at Zandvoort I really enjoy the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry and love the cycle paths in the Netherlands, so this trip felt inevitable. The ride down to Harwich went smoothly. By this point, my planning had improved considerably, and the route fitted comfortably into two full days. I spent a week cycling around the Netherlands, revisiting towns and cities we’d previously visited as a family before attending the Formula 1 at Zandvoort for the day. This was probably the first trip where I got nutrition, packing, pacing, and distance planning completely right. 2024 – Toulouse to St Malo My wife accompanied me on the flight to Toulouse and stayed the night before flying home with my massively oversized — and by then empty — Thule bike box. Over the following couple of weeks, I made my way north to St Malo, from where I caught the ferry home. Thankfully, along the west coast of France, there are plenty of tourists and English is widely spoken along the well-trodden tourist routes. Cycling along the Vélodyssée was excellent. The old railway lines minimise climbing and make for comfortable days in the saddle, as do the canal paths. Combined with good hosts and excellent food, it made for a thoroughly enjoyable tour. I used Booking.com frequently, as hotels are rarely directly on the route. 2024 – Queen Eleanor Route Over a couple of weekends, I rode the Queen Eleanor Route. The northbound leg from Northampton was a simple day ride, and I arranged to be collected at the end of the day. I took a few more days completing the southbound leg, stopping overnight before spending a day cycling into central London. It was wonderful cycling through London, and I think only on a bike could I truly appreciate the different communities and cultures as I passed through such distinct areas of the city. Cycling back via UK canal paths was a mistake. The towpaths simply aren’t the same as those in France — narrow, overgrown, and difficult to navigate. To this day, I still don’t understand why I didn’t just take the road. 2024 – Germany I left the car at Harwich and took the overnight ferry before spending a week cycling to Düsseldorf and back. The purpose of the trip — aside from stretching my legs on Western Europe’s fantastic cycle paths — was to rack up enough Hilton stays to qualify for a status upgrade before our Maldives holiday the following year. That plan worked perfectly. It was in Düsseldorf that I got wetter than I’ve ever been while fully clothed. The route, including the destinations, was largely determined by the locations of Hilton hotels within manageable daily distances — one of the advantages of retirement. That said, it was a fun few days. Had the weather been better, it would have been close to perfect. I can still smell the damp cycling clothes. 2025 – Monaco to Hook of Holland – The Last Solo Tour I was meant to enjoy this one. However, despite the planning and several excellent days of cycling, it soon became long and lonely. I mostly stuck to the original plan, completing long days in good weather, eating well, and staying in some lovely places. But it lacked the sense of adventure that the earlier tours had carried. Northern France into Belgium was the low point. There wasn’t much to see, and the availability of decent food stops had dried up. The lowlight was being chased by a pair of dogs. Thankfully, I had a tailwind, a straight road, and strong legs. Had they caught me, I’m convinced it would have ended badly. Things improved dramatically once I reached the Netherlands, so the journey wasn’t entirely wasted. I did begin planning another trip — LEJOG — and mapped out routes and hotels, but the excitement simply wasn’t there anymore. Hotels & Guest Houses When Solo Touring Hotels and small apartments have always been my preference. I know some people enjoy chatting with hosts or sharing dinner with strangers, but that has never really appealed to me. I prefer the anonymity of a hotel room or having an apartment entirely to myself. Some places I’ve stayed have been genuinely delightful and would have been wonderful to share with someone else. In fact, I’ve already returned to several of them with my wife to revisit the experience. Others — particularly many of the budget IBIS hotels that I frequently booked because of their price and location — were far less memorable, and I actively avoid them now. Eating alone in the evenings has also always been difficult. Touring demands calories, and calories demand proper meals. Three courses take time. I don’t read, so while others might bring a book to dinner, I usually relied on a phone and some music. Sleeping, however, was fantastic. Deep, uninterrupted sleep comes easily when you’ve spent all day cycling and there’s nobody there to wake you up because you’re snoring. The Cost of Solo Touring It’s annoyed me for years that a room for one costs the same as a room for two. I like value for money. Costs need managing, which is why I book early, stay in cheaper hotels, and sometimes skip cabins on ferry crossings. After all, it’s just somewhere to sleep. France, in particular, offers excellent value lunch menus. The “menu du midi” became a favourite. It encouraged an early start, a big lunch after a long morning in the saddle, and then another afternoon of cycling to justify a similarly generous dinner. Long-distance cycling is usually only a once-or-twice-a-year activity, making it a relatively affordable hobby overall. Solo Touring Is Cool — Until It Isn’t Anymore It was a great period of my life. I genuinely enjoyed every aspect of it. Planning was possibly my favourite part — deciding routes, finding accommodation, breaking journeys into manageable days, and creating routes for my Garmin. Execution was more mixed. There were highs and lows, but I always assumed I would eventually look back fondly on both. I explored countless paths, took endless wrong turns, and rode over tarmac, gravel, and mud. Breakfasts were sometimes provided by accommodation; otherwise, they were supermarket rolls eaten in a car park while dressed in cycling gear. I loved it at the time. Why the Solo Touring Years Eventually Ended The final tour — my longest in both distance and duration — often felt like hard work. Hard work when you’re enjoying yourself is fine. Hard work when you simply want it to end is something else entirely. I finished with that familiar mixture of achievement and “never again” that I’d experienced many times before. But this time was different. After twenty days, 1,900km of cycling, and 19km of climbing, I knew it really was my last solo tour. A year later, I began planning LEJOG. I mapped out the route and identified the hotels, but deep down I knew it no longer appealed to me. Looking Ahead to Phase 3 – Relaxed Cycling Holidays I had already bought my wife an electric bike, and we had completed a couple of week-long cycling holidays together in the Netherlands and France. It had already become obvious that sharing the experience was far more enjoyable. I suppose I had to experience solo touring fully in order to appreciate that. We had both retired and finally had the time to enjoy cycling together at a slower, more relaxed pace.

Between 2007 and 2014, I cycled large sections of the North Sea Cycle Route (EV1) with my children, camping across Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the UK. These trips were the first phase of what became a lifelong cycle touring journey. I’ve a distinct memory of cycling down a steep winding road in Oslo with two of my kids. All was good until they decided to race each other fuelled by Haribo, and were soon out of sight. They are in their 20s now. At the time it just felt like a camping holiday. Looking back now, I realise it was the first phase of a cycling life that would evolve, in quite individual phases, over the next twenty years. The Three Phases of My Cycling Life Phase Description Period 1 Family adventures with the kids Early years 2 Solo long-distance expeditions Working life 3 Relaxed cycling holidays with Jane Retirement Whilst I’ve constantly cycled throughout my life - I can see that there have been three distinct phases that have only become apparent to me as I look in my rear view mirror over my many cycling adventures. In this set of blog posts - I look in detail at each of the three distinct cycling phases, reflecting on the merits and challenges of each, before deciding whether the relatively short time of Phase 3 is indeed the best time of my life. The Bikes and Touring Setup Claud Butler Rock, mountain bike - Mine Small Specialised, mountain bike - Kids Kids trailer, repurposed to carry luggage & camping gear Discovering the North Sea Cycle Route (EV1) I stumbled upon the North Sea Cycle Route, not sure how or why, but I imagine it was via EV1 signage that I saw on holiday either in Scandinavia, Netherlands or France. Either way - once I saw the expanse of the route I was immediately drawn to trying to complete as much of it as possible. I read an interesting book called cycling back to happiness by Bernie Friend that further piqued my interest. I remember setting a goal to complete all 6,000km when I retired. We’ll get to that later. At this point in time I wasn’t aware of or interested in the other EV routes - I was that smitten. I was in my 30s - those were the days. Information on the internet wasn’t that great - google maps had only been launched and needed a desktop! Planning was fairly minimal anyway with shorter daily distances, with plenty of stops. The kids rode bikes without any luggage, and I hauled a trailer full of clothes and camping gear. The general format was to get dropped off at the port by my obliging wife, or take the car and leave it parked at the UK port. The idea of using trains (which would have involved multiple changes) to and from UK ports - wasn’t something that I was prepared to consider. (Think three bikes, trailer, two young kids) Between 2007 and 2014, I cycled large sections of the North Sea Cycle Route with my children, hauling camping gear across Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and of course the UK. Looking back those were the first years that formed the first chapter of my cycle touring life. Annual Family Cycling Adventures 2007 - Denmark and the DFDS Ferry to Esbjerg Esbjerg(DK) to Struer(DK). This was when there was a DFDS ferry that sailed from Harwich(UK) to Esbjerg(DK), and a regular commuter train could take us back to Esbjerg(DK). At one point we happened upon the Danish Army playing war games - picture tanks, tents and soldiers. 2008 - Norway, Ferries and Pulpit Rock Stavanger(N) to Bergen(N). Long gone is the P&O ferry that sailed from Newcastle(UK) to Stavanger(N), Haugesund(N) and then Bergen(N). Navigating our way along the west coast of Norway was a challenge and involved a good number of ferries, and significant climbs. Campsites were few and far between, but we managed without having to wild camp - which is perfectly acceptable in Scandinavia. We visited Pulpit rock near Stavanger for the first time, and met a German man without a filter. My 8 year old got to hear how English fish and chips had gave him a ‘Sweaty Asshole’. Never did get his name. 2009 - Dunkirk to Hook or Holland Dunkirk(F) to Hook of Holland(NL). Ferry from Hull(UK) to Zeebrugge(B) before cycling down to Dunkirk(F) to the most southernmost point of the North Sea Cycle Route. I’m not sure what was in my head - I think it was a combination of filling time on what was a short cycle, and the purist in me. Cycling north returning to Hull(UK) from Hook of Holland(NL). 2010 - Flying with Bikes to Hamburg Flying into Hamburg(DE) from London was a first for us. I felt guilty abandoning our cardboard packing boxes at the airport - there just wasn’t a bin big enough. Having rebuilt the bikes on landing at the airport, we cycled up to Esbjerg(DK), to catch the ferry back to Harwich(UK). We’d connected two segments for the first time. 2011 - Gothenburg, Oslo and Denmark No simple ferry routes, so we flew in and out of Gothenburg. Large lockers were available at the airport for our packing box, stuffed with the cycle bags. We cycled up to Oslo, took the ferry south to Hirtshals(DK), leaving Denmark from Grenaa(DK), and cycling back up to Gothenburg, where we retrieved the packing box and cycle bags for a flight home. These were still the days when a large clear bag for £5 from Wiggle was acceptable as a bike bag. I miss those days. 2012 - Cycling the UK Coastline UK based. Train to Edinburgh, were I immediately picked up a puncture, before cycling south, swapping the kids around because of their increasing other commitments before cycling south as far as we could in the time we had. Cycling over the Humber bridge was a highlight. We made it to Fakenham, 2013 - Holland to Hamburg Hook of Holland(NL) to Hamburg(D), where we met up with my wife and daughter, who had travelled over with empty packing boxes and bags for our flight home. We had a great few days in Hamburg. 2014 - Completing the English Section UK based Dropped off where we finished in 2012, Fakenham, and cycled south to Harwich - completing the English Section of the North Sea Cycle Route. UK cycling is not as cool as Cycling in mainland Europe. The EV1 was still under developed, and hadn’t been properly discovered. Camping, Hotels and Travelling with Kids Camping mostly, though as we all got older, and I got a bit wiser with booking accommodation we opted for occasional hotels - allowing for more of a deep clean between campsites. We were 100% camping in 2007, and by 2014 100% hotels. The Cost of Family Cycle Touring Costs were always reasonable. Ferries without a car were cheap, though overnight travel required the expense of a cabin. Campsites were on the most part reasonably priced, as were small hotels along the route - especially when booked well in advance. Kids prefer snacks and familiar food - so simple pasta and sauces were a big favourite. Drinks were minimal - I needed to be a responsible parent. Why Those Years Were So Special It was a great time. What kid doesn’t love camping and the outdoors. The EV1 cycle paths are so much better than anything that we have in the UK, and the campsites are ideally situated along the route. The coastal route has lots to see and do, with lots of opportunities for both food and drinks. Miles were covered, powered on a heady cocktail of bananas, chocolate and Coca Cola. We got sunburnt, soaked, roasted and were freezing over the years. We debated super heroes, recorded road kill, debated what animal would beat what other animal in a fight. I loved it. I think the kids only remember the good times, and the many hours of boring cycling have been put to the back of their heads. Breakfasts were usually rolls or buns in a supermarket carpark. Over the years we did so many sections of the route - either with one or two kids, depending on their capability, experience and interest. Eventually though their interest waned. I did take one of the kids away again many years later - he was probably 18 - from Venice to Pisa. He swore he would never do similar again with me ever! Why the Family Touring Years Eventually Ended The kids developed other interests as they got older, and were less excited about a week on a bike. Clubs, competitions and other commitments got increasingly more difficult to work around. The accessible portions of the route that could be completed within a week or 10 days were fewer and more costly. Looking Ahead to Phase 2 - Solo Long Distance Cycling I had got a little plump and required a little more exercise. Whilst life had become busier I was also enjoying earlier mornings and longer days in the saddle on my road bike. I was also happy with my own company. Family cycling touring and cycle camping with kids was behind me for now, but I felt I still had a few long rides in me.

We found ourselves in a small village off the main road in rural France - it was coming up to 13:00, and we were in danger of missing ‘menu du midi’. We knew it would be good, given the number of vans parked up outside. We were well fed for 16 Euro - with as much water, red wine, cider and lemonade as you wanted. I love France. That lunch in rural France perfectly framed something that I'd been thinking about for a while. After years of cycle touring of different types, I was no longer looking for longer distances, more complicated itineraries or adventures anymore. That was behind me - I'd moved on. I was looking for a better time - travelling at a slower pace, enjoying company and living experiences. This is the last part of my story of how my cycling life evolved through three distinct phases, and is how I want to move forward. Since retiring in October 2023, my wife and I have been cycling together for the first time in our 35+ years together. We’ve been on short local cycles for lunch and drinks, as well as multi-day cycle holidays in the Netherlands and France. During which I’ve taken the opportunity to revisit some areas, restaurants and accommodation that I’ve particularly enjoyed on previous tours and have enjoyed sharing the experience with my wife. These trips are defining the third and what I expect to be the last phase of my lifelong cycle touring journey. Phase Description Period 1 Family adventures with the kids Early years 2 Solo long-distance expeditions Working life 3 Relaxed cycling holidays with Jane Retirement We’ve experienced, reflected and tuned our approach and I think we have achieved close to what I would consider perfection - for cycle touring. Gone are the personal challenges, no more long days in the saddle. Solo expeditions are behind me. The Three Phases of My Cycling Life Phase 1 – Adventures with the kids cycling the North Sea Cycle Route Phase 2 – Long-distance solo expeditions Phase 3 – Relaxed cycle holidays with my wife that include long lunches and nice hotels Whilst I’ve cycled consistently throughout my life, I can now see that there have been distinct phases that only became apparent as I looked in the rear-view mirror over my many cycling adventures. In this set of blog posts, I look in detail at each phase, reflecting on the merits and challenges of each before deciding whether the relatively short period of Phase 3 is indeed the best time of my life. The Bikes and Touring Setup Trek 520, dedicated steel touring bike - Mine Cube Touring Hybrid EXC 625 - Wife’s 4 * Ortlieb Pannier Bags Car with Thule Bike Carrier mounted on tow bar I still have a few other bikes during this time - but doesn't everyone? Bye Bye Solo Cycle Touring My Monaco to Hook of Holland was the longest and most disappointing cycle tour. The plan had been fantastic - fly into Nice, watch Monaco F1 Practice day and then set off on a 20+ night adventure north through Eastern France, Belgium and Holland - mostly sticking to quiet and defined cycle paths, powered by early morning coffee and croissants, magnificent lunches, and epic places to stay. And whilst there was some of this - it turned out to be, well, a little bit dull. The cycle west out of Nice along the Mediterranean coast was pretty cool, as was turning north and inland, but after only a few days, the cycle became quite samey. The route looked the same, the weather didn't change much, the days were difficult to distinguish between each other. There were of course a few standout points - a view, an overnight stay, a short coffee stop, a great meal. But in the most part the whole French countryside felt empty. Miles of cycling without seeing another person, never mind a cyclist. Villages that had been left to crumble, abandoned. Towns that that didn't have a bar, restaurant just a shop/boulangerie. High mileage trips need treats - a coffee, cake, beer, good lunches and great places to stay. By the time I arrived into Langres, maybe a third in, I’d pretty much had enough. It was dawning on me, that having already retired from work, I didn’t 'need' the escape from the 9 to 5 grind - I already had that. There wasn’t that “I’d rather be doing this, than the weekly client meeting” - I hadn’t escaped from anything other than a pretty comfortable time at home. I followed EuroVelo 19 - Meuse Cycle Route from Langres - sticking pretty close to it - right through to the Hook of Holland. It was only when I got into the Netherlands that the cycle changed - my mood lifted and I began enjoying the scenery, the food and the adventure again. I wouldn't recommend EV19 from Langres north. The only adventure was getting chased down by the dogs - I had a tailwind, a straight road, and strong legs. Had they caught me, I’m convinced it would have ended badly. I completely zoned out later that day and cycled on past my stop for the night and then had to back track 15km! The hotel was naff, and the town was naff. And if that wasn't enough I then had to recycle the duplicated route the next day. Things improved dramatically once I reached Maastricht. In short - it was a long lonely cycle. Having retired, Jane and I were spending more time together and that was enjoyable. We took time over breakfast, didn’t rush to work, had more lunches out, with little to rush back for, and took a little more time over making dinner. The urgency in our lives had reduced and with a long transition into retirement - I had transitioned from ‘what’s next to pretty chilled. Solo cycling. I was done with that kind of cycling. That said - I was soon missing the touring - especially as I had all the kit. In the end the answer was pretty simple. Get Jane a bike. A gentler pace - with more stops, more sight seeing, and we could cycle together. New bike day for Jane was 14/07/2024 when her Cube Touring Hybrid EXC 625 was delivered. Whilst heavy, very heavy, it comes with a good motor and a large battery. After a helmet, padded seat, padded shorts - we were ready to set out on Phase 3 - Best Cycling of My Life. Jane loved it. I loved it. We did a few local cycles together - enjoyed our coffees, had the odd lunch out. It wasn't long until we were enjoying the planning stage of our first multiday cycle together. Here are the rides that we’ve done so far; 2024 – Netherlands We took a chance with the weather and opted for a tour through the Netherlands in September. We chose to park the car at Harwich and take the boat over to the Hook of Holland - to enjoy the wide and car free cycle paths through central Netherlands. Riding onto the boat was a special moment - I'd done the same with the kids, by myself, and now with Jane. The next morning disembarking and disappearing onto the cycle paths of the Netherlands confirmed that we'd done the right thing. We stuck closely to a plan of lower mileage, staying in hotels, enjoying breakfasts, hearty lunches and dinners. We took time to revisit some spots that we’d been to over the last 30 years - but at a much more relaxed pace. There are so many options in the Netherlands, that it's not worth walking through our route - we’re not the same and we all enjoy different things. Heading back on the ferry was a breeze, as was getting back to the car that we’d, like all the other cyclists, parked in the station car park. It was a great trip and even better that Jane was a willing participant. I did note that it was a faff to fit the bikes into the car - careful packing was needed, and I could do without the hassle of breaking down the bikes for transport and rebuilding at the other end. 2024 & 2025 – Bangkok, Maldives, Lecce No we didn’t take the bikes, but did enjoy a cycle experience in each of these destinations. 2025 – Ouistreham to St Malo Sailing from Portsmouth, we then followed the Velo Verte routes across Northern France - using both hotels and accommodation found on Booking.com. It was an enjoyable trip with plenty of laughs and excellent food. We returned via Guernsey, taking the slow ferry back to Portsmouth. We’d parked the car in a secure church car park - which I’d found on one of the parking sites - this worked well, and it felt good to give the money to a charity. 2026 – Western France This was our latest and best. We’d taken all the things that we’d learnt from previous cycles and applied them for a better holiday. The addition of a tow bar and the purchase of a Thule bike rack was a game changer. We drove down through France to specific locations, and then were able to cycle most days - without anything more than water and locks. Weather wasn’t an issue as we didn’t have to cycle from A to B each day. Most cycles were loops back to the hotel at which we were staying and could be elongated or curtailed as needed. Each of course included a lunch, and allowed us to work up an appetite for dinner. Honestly - we thing we’ve cracked cycle touring now, and by the looks of the number of couples driving around the areas that we visited with a couple of bikes on the back - we aren’t the first. I’m not sure why its taken us so long to get here - but I’m glad we have done. Hotels & Guest Houses When Solo Touring Hotels and small apartments have always been my preference. Cycling with Jane - it’s the same. Staying in someone’s spare room - as nice as it was - wasn’t for us. Chatting with hosts or sharing dinner with strangers has never really appealed to me or us. The Cost of Solo Touring It’s annoyed me for years that a room for one costs the same as a room for two. I like value for money. I’m happy that Jane and I are staying in the same accommodation as my solo cycling days - for the same price. Revisting the Best Places I’m making it a point to think back to my solo cycling, identifying the best places that I stayed, ate, drank, or just visited and have begun working these into our cycling plans. Whilst in Western France in 2026 - we revisited a restaurant and an accommodation that I particularly enjoyed first time around. Both hit the spot again. Zipping around in the car - doing the milage in between quickly and efficiently is such a good idea. Looking Forward to more Phase 3 – Relaxed Cycling Holidays We’ve got the set up right now, and are already planning some more cycling holidays. Taking the car is 100% the right approach. I will miss cycling onto the ferry, though I won’t miss the waiting around at the port in the cold and dark. When I started cycling, I thought cycle touring was about distance, testing myself, a challenge. But now, for the current me anyway, I realise that it's about shared experiences, great food, good company and the freedom to revisit and explore at my own pace. Phase 3 may not be the most adventurous and challenging chapter of my cycling life, but do I need that at 55+? It is though undoubtedly the most enjoyable.

When it comes to witnessing the Northern Lights, Iceland is often mentioned as a first destination. It has become synonymous with this spectacular natural phenomenon. However, I'd suggest - based on my personal experience that there’s another and better alternative that deserves its fair share of attention: Tromsø, Norway. Nothing beats Iceland though for its splendid geology. TL;DR I’d argue that Tromsø should be recognised as a better destination for Northern Lights enthusiasts. When they are at full dance, filling the sky above - the Aurora Borealis really does feel magical, unbelievable even spiritual. The Allure of the Northern Lights The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a breathtaking natural light display seen mainly in high-latitude regions. They occur due to a complex interaction between solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. They aren’t just green - at their best they are a show of vibrant colours that on a good night swoop, jump and dance across the night sky. Truly engaging - and certain to give a sore neck. While Iceland is widely associated with the lights, Tromsø has proven, to me anyway, as a much better bet - having successfully seen the lights in 2 of 4 visits, against a 1 of 5 visits to Iceland. In addition the 2 shows in Tromsø were 10 times better than the fairly dull show that I experienced in Iceland. Tromsø: A Hidden Gem Tromsø's location above the Arctic Circle extends its Northern Lights season, typically running from late September to early April. A local told me that February was the best time - that said we were all drunk at the time, and not sure, beyond his experience, how qualified he was. This longer viewing window increases the chances of seeing the aurora, but of course doesn’t give any guarantees. Statistically though - google tells me that Tromsø offers up to 80% of clear nights during this period, compared to Iceland's 60%. I believe that it has something to do with being near the sea. Accessibility and Convenience Tromsø is easily reachable, with direct flights from major European cities like Oslo, London, and Frankfurt. Once in Tromsø, it’s a small city, visitors can choose from various tour operators that offer Northern Lights excursions. These range from guided tours to self-drive adventures. Many of these tours include knowledgeable guides who share insights into the science and folklore surrounding the aurora, elevating the overall experience. They will literally drive miles during the night - speaking to colleagues to find a good spot for viewing. My Experience I flew into Tromsø from London LHR. I've taken the bus from the airport to the city, a taxi, and on one occassion walked - it was a nice day, and I'd arrived well before check-in. I've stayed in one of the cheaper chain hotels - Comfort Hotel Xpress Tromso. Small room, good value and well situated. I've also stayed at one of the more expensive harbour hotels - Home Hotel With. Much larger room, great value when you take into account the included breakfast, fika, and evening meal. We took a bus tour - it was a full coach of people, leaving early evening just after dark, stayed out to early morning, driving significant distances to get to areas where lights had either been spotted or were predicted. Having successfully seen the lights we returned back to our hotel at around 02:00, having had a bit of a snooze on the bus. Optimal Viewing Conditions While both Iceland and Tromsø boast opportunities to see the Northern Lights, Tromsø's geographical advantages set it apart. The coast of Norway appears to provide more variance in conditions that the wider open spaces in Iceland - that is how it was explained to us anyway. The city is situated in a region known for relatively stable weather patterns, which leads to clearer skies—crucial for aurora viewing since clouds can obstruct the view. Boat tours to see the Northern Lights are available - though I’m not clear whether these provide a significant advantage over a relatively fast moving bus. Discover Tromsø's Wonders Tromsø is the hidden gem for a number of other reasons. It’s a busy accessible compact city within the artic circle with good connectivity to the rest of Europe. There are a good number and range of hotel accommodation. It has fantastic scenery accessible during all seasons, offering different experiences throughout. So have a look at the flights (google flights), hotels (booking.com), and experiences (Viator) available, book, visit, love it - and thank me later. Happy travels!

Two plus years into retirement, and we are still enjoying the freedom to slow down, travel at our own pace, and revisit some of our favourite corners of Europe by bike. This post is a lead-in for our trip. Over the coming weeks, during our travels, I plan to publish detailed daily posts covering our accommodation, ferry crossings, quality of cycling routes, the great food that I’m hoping to have, logistics and stats, costs, and the highlights (and I’m sure occasional mishaps) along the way. Our Relaxed French Cycle Plan Our plan for our French cycle this year is relaxed. We will take the car loaded with bikes on the overnight Brittany Ferries sailing from Portsmouth across to Caen. We roll off the ferry stupidly early in the morning. Then, we’ll take the day to drive down in a leisurely manner. We can’t check in until 15:00, so we have plenty of time to explore. Our southernmost stop will be La Roche-sur-Yon, where we’ll spend our first couple of nights. We have passed through so many times; it will be good to stop and look around. Over the following week, we will drive up to St Malo, revisiting some of the many places we’ve previously enjoyed. We’ll be taking in some cycling as and when we can. Overnight Stops These overnight stops include: Beauvoir-sur-Mer: We plan to revisit a top restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The chef was a wizard. Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef: We’ll catch up with an old friend—spoiler alert, it’s a caravan. Quiberon: Known for its dramatic coastline and excellent seafood restaurants. We visited years ago when the kids were young. Le Tronchet: This spot offers peaceful cycling and quiet Breton roads. While St Malo is nice, it will be good to be outside the busy city. I’m sure there will also be plenty of stops in between. The last stop on our journey is a few days in Guernsey with family before returning home to the UK by ferry. Our ideal days are simple: quiet roads, coastal cycle paths, good coffee stops, large lunches, and plenty of sunshine while cycling along the back roads and cycle paths of the west coast of France. I think we are all prepped and ready to go. Well, we’d better be. Packing for the Adventure Most of the preparation is done. Retirement certainly helps—there’s plenty of time for lists, checks, double-checks, mulling stuff over, and gradually gathering everything together. Thankfully, the kids have mostly moved out, so there is plenty of room to lay stuff out. All that really remains now is packing the clothes, loading the car, and mounting the bikes. We’ve left the whole of Tuesday clear to get all of that done, and the ferry doesn’t leave until 23:00 that night. Our Bikes I’m taking my red Trek 520. I’ve fitted new tyres, removed the racks—no need to cart all our gear with us this time around—and given it a good clean. Jane’s bike is a Cube Touring Hybrid EXC, with a battery that will do 100+ km if looked after correctly, and she avoids the boost button. Jane will have a single pannier on her bike to carry essential tools, locks, additional water, and snacks—should we need them. No wet weather gear this time around either. The forecast is great, and we’ll do something else on any days that are inclement. We’ll sort specific daily plans, routes, and GPS as we go, taking wind strength and direction and sun conditions into consideration—not forgetting how tired our legs are or how much wine we had the night before. Bike Carrier Setup I got a tow bar fitted to the car last year for the single purpose of fitting a bike carrier for this and similar adventures. Our bike rack is the Thule EuroWay G2. It’s compact. I did a fair amount of research and purchased it from Amazon. They have since upgraded the specific model, and I’m sure they’ve put up the price as well. One thing I was slightly concerned about was the weight of the bikes—especially the e-bike. It’s a struggle to lift. I spent quite a bit of time checking tow bar weights and the Thule bike rack specifications before settling on this setup. As an aside, I learned through that process how to pronounce Thule—it’s ‘TOO-lee’. You really do learn something each day. The bike battery will go inside the car for security and improved weight distribution—it is 3.5 kg. I’m pretty sure some high-end bikes don’t even weigh that! Practice Run for Smooth Sailing I don’t like surprises, so I’ve done my best to minimise them. I’ve fitted the detachable tow bar—or should that be I’ve attached and detached the detachable tow bar many times? It’s surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it. I’ve attached and detached the bike rack a few times. I expect that this will loosen during the journey and will need some tightening. I’ve loaded and unloaded the bike rack a number of times. Everything needed adjusting to ensure that the bikes fitted properly and didn’t rub together. It’s then that you appreciate how well the bike carrier has been built. I even took photos of the pedal positions of the bikes when loaded onto the bike carrier to ease the subsequent daily loading and unloading. Lastly, I took the car for a quick spin—just to make sure that nothing falls off. God knows what it would have looked like if it did, or what I would have done. Anyway, everything looks okay. We have also been for a short cycle today to ensure that the bikes don’t have any flaws, and I guess we’ve tested that we haven’t forgotten how to cycle ourselves. Being used to a road bike, the touring bike did feel quite different, but the Brooks seat that I’ve been gradually wearing in for a few years now felt familiar and comfortable. A Holiday, Not an Expedition This isn’t about mileage or getting from A to B before dark, like so many of my other cycling trips have been. It’s about trying something new together that appeals to both our interests—cycling (me) and sunshine (her), along with great food and wine (both). This trip will help shape some of our future plans—maybe something longer, something unsupported. I’m really not sure. I have aspirations to do LEEJOG or get the boat to Spain and cycle back home, but I’ve found these to be long and lonely. So, this is a good alternative. Pre-booked Itinerary for Our French Cycle Portsmouth → Caen (Overnight Ferry) Drive to La Roche-sur-Yon (2 nights) Drive northbound via: - Beauvoir-sur-Mer (2 nights) - Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef (2 nights) - Quiberon (2 nights) - Le Tronchet (1 night) St Malo → Guernsey - St Martins (3 nights) Guernsey → Portsmouth Next Up: The Journey Begins Leaving the house, the drive down to the port, the overnight crossing from Portsmouth to Caen—including boarding, cabin impressions, food on board, and whether sleeping on a ferry before a long drive is actually a good idea. PS - better photos will follow in the specific daily write-ups.

Bruges is lovely. It's a touristy, welcoming, peaceful package tied up in a bow, just like the chocolates that you can buy there - and certainly worth a return visit. Two plus years into retirement and we are still enjoying the freedom to slow down, travel at our own pace, and do stuff like revisiting some of our favourite corners of Europe. Driving to Bruges from the UK for the weekend, for what was our 4th visit, made for a fantastic visit. Best for: Couples, retirees, weekend break Ideal trip length: 3 nights Best months: March and April / Christmas Transport: By Car via Channel Tunnel Budget level: Moderate Specifics that I’ll cover off in this post are; Planning the trip Getting to Bruges Parking - it’s difficult Hotel Canals Food and drinks Chocolate experience Cycling experience What we’d do differently next time Planning the Trip We plan our trips 9 to 12 months ahead. We chose Bruges as a destination, as we wanted to take the car across to the continent to stock up on some shopping - especially French wine. We knew it wouldn’t be a tough drive over - regardless of whether we took a ferry or the tunnel. Hotel was booked on points picked up from credit cards - reducing the overall price. Why We Chose Bruges We would transit through France - and pick up the wine. Its a short and easy drive down from Northampton A familiar location to us, whilst having more to discover A compact walkable city, that allows for a relaxed pace Tourist oriented - both safe and clean Better value when compared to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam Which all makes it ideal destination for a 2–3 night stay Getting There We opted for the Channel Tunnel When it works, it is a great choice. When there are any delays or strikes - it’s an absolute nightmare. As it worked out for us - down to the Tunnel or Chunnel as I think they are calling it now - was 120mins from Northampton, a short wait of maybe 90mins until our train departure and then crossing under the sea and into France in under 30 mins. Disembarkation at Calais is a pretty speedy process, as all the paperwork is done on the Uk side. From there it was a nice easy 90min drive up to Bruges. Best idea is not to rush it and avoid taking the fastest roads to soak up a little of the area. We prefer the Tunnel for its efficiency - though the boats can offer really good value. Flying to Bruges isn’t really a thing. And on the way back we stopped in France and filled up with loads of wine. The promise of a process of getting the tax back on the wine didn’t work out when we got the Channel Tunnel as all the manned kiosks were closed and there didn’t appear to be anything automated. Bruges parking tips This was something that I knew could be an issue. There aren’t a lot of visible car parks in Bruges - mostly as they are all around the perimeter of what is mostly a pedestrian loving city, and also underground. I therefore did quite a bit of research on where best to park. We opted to use the Station car park, as it is the largest and located a 10-minute walk from the city centre, with an option for a free shuttle into town. There was also the Centrum-Station car park which is an 8-minute walk to the centre. Both allow for reservations - but to be honest the car parks are that large that it really isn't needed. Interparking Bruge Station: Location: Located at the train station, a 10-minute walk from the city center. Size: Large car park with 1,690 spaces. Cost: The car park costs €7 per 24hrs and includes shuttle bus tickets for 2 into the city center. Shuttle: A free shuttle bus operates between the station and the city center from 7:30 AM to 7 PM. Entry: Located on the right after a large roundabout. It’s all pretty standard, you get a ticket on entry, and on exit you pay what you owe. The machine has an option for English. The transfer bus leaves from the bus station and the free tickets are picked up there when showing your parking ticket. It felt secure - that said the whole of Bruges felt secure. Parking in Bruges Bus lines 1 and 2 take you to the centre of Bruges. Bus line 1 (towards "Sint-Kruis") - get off at stop ’t Zand, Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, O.L.V. Kerk or Dijver Bus line 2 (towards "P+R Coiseau") - get off at stop ’t Zand, Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, O.L.V. Kerk, Dijver, Stadsschouwburg or Jan Van Eyckplein. Remember where you got off the transfer bus - so you know where to get back on, when returning. Where to stay in Bruges We’ve stayed in local quirky Bruges hotels before - but this time we opted to stay at the Crowne Plaza. The rate must have been reasonable - as it wouldn’t tend to be my first choice - as a value driven traveller. It didn’t have much of a Belgian feel to it, but it did its best. The Crowne Plaza a good quality hotel and we enjoyed our stay. It’s very centrally located, not far from where we got off the parking bus, allowing easy access to all the walkable areas of the city - and there are a lot. We didn’t take breakfast there - opting to enjoy coffee and a cake at the many cafes around Bruges city centre. The view was over the tree lines square - not great - but at least it was a bit of a view. I’m really not sure of whether this was a good area of Bruges to stay in, or if in fact there are good and bad areas at all. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d227981-r1017127848-Crowne_Plaza_Brugge_By_IHG-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html Experiences We opted for a couple of experiences whilst we were in Bruges; Chocolate making Located about a 10-minute walk from Bruges' city centre. There were only four participants in our session - result! - as there could be up to 16, the personal attention made for a much better experience. Our enthusiastic host - Sandie, (she was lovely) walked us through the many steps of making chocolates. Her friendliness made us all feel comfortable instantly, encouraging us to ask questions. I loved her attention to the music. No prior experience is needed to join this chocolate-making workshop. The chocolates that we make looked just like those in the chocolate shops that are all over Bruges, and as we weren’t left to make our own chocolate - they probably tasted as good. Consistency was lacking though - as we were encouraged to fill the middle of the chocolates with our own favourites. Fantastic results - Best student award After a fun couple of hours we left with a few boxes of chocolates each The classroom had bottle of waters, handwashing facilities, and restroom access. Good value and a lot of fun. For up to date cost - search Viator. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d19209808-r1017139745-Belgian_Chocolate_Workshop_in_Bruges-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html Guided cycle tour We opted to go for one of the many that were on offer via Viator, and booked only a couple of days ahead.. It was pouring when we started, pouring for the duration of the cycle, and still wet when we finished - though wet weather gear was provided and gave some shelter from the elements. It only dried off a little when the tour had finished. We saw all the main sites around the city - Market Square, Belfry, Basilica of the Holy Blood and lots of hidden streets and other sites that frankly didn’t mean a lot to us, and were probably only mentioned as we were cycling by them. The advantage was the lack of traffic and the route was flat. If it hadn’t rained then it would have been such a good morning. A quick shower and a change of clothes and we were all good. The bikes were continental style - not e-bikes, but were very rideable as we quickly got used to the setup, and the pace was as you would expect quite pedestrian. We didn’t really cover that much ground - what with all the stops - but it was an interesting tour, and picked up on a lot of stops that we wouldn’t have got to on foot. Would I do that cycle again - definitely. For up to date cost - search Viator. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d26585909-r1017122518-Retro_Biketours_Bruges-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html Food & Drink We ate and drank well in Bruges. The beer is a thing there - we in the whole of Belgium in fact. It’s not a place for sinking loads of pints - much better to graze or drink through the menu - trying some new and different beers for the first time. We also ate well - here are the reviews I did of few of the restaurants that we tried. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d4503622-r1017123878-Nakhon_Thai-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d17851816-r1017124500-Little_Siam-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d14968005-r1017125341-Otomat-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d741843-r1017127655-Delaney_s_Irish_Pub_Restaurant-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html Of course there were the obligatory fries, waffles and coffees along the way. Prices on the whole whilst not cheap, didn’t feel overly expensive. Canal Boat Tour — Tourist Trap or Worth It? My feeling is that this is a tourist trap - but it’s lovely to see them passing through the canals - I just don’t want to be on one looking back at me. Lovely to look at, but not for me. Things We’d Do Differently Next Time I think at three nights - it was a perfect amount of time. I would look up what’s on in the town though - as there was a lot of stuff happening - with some areas closed off. I think it was a brass band competition - when we were there - so of no interest to us and no FOMO. I would review the weather forecast and pack for all potentials - especially if taking the car and not having any luggage restrictions. Opt for Spring or Christmas - July was a little too busy for us, and we were probably paying a premium for accommodation over the spring dates. Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors Here are my thoughts: Currency/payment - everyone takes card - though a few Euros might be useful. Language - no issues whatsoever - its a very touristy place. Best months to visit - same as other places - crowded in summer. Shoulder months are quieter. Christmas there - with the market in the square is gorgeous. Weather expectations - hope for dry conditions, pack for rain. Comfortable shoes essential - 100% on the cobbled streets, and they tempt you to walk further than you intended - what’s around that next corner… Is Bruges Worth Visiting? Yes - 100%

United WiFi in the Sky Yes, in short - airline Wi-Fi is mostly shite. Well, sort of. Somewhere over Scotland on the way to the US, on a 9-hour United Airlines flight, I made what should have been a simple decision: “I’ll buy the Wifi”. Easy decision, and what should have been a simple task. But it didn’t work like it should. It should be as simple as making a cup of tea or turning on a TV - but it’s not. It’s not a simple button click, where you enter your credit card details and you are online. No. Here’s what I experienced and what annoyed me. It did that nobby thing with the lead in prices - classic bait-and-switch. So what I thought was a commitment of $7.99 for Wi-Fi for the flight, changed to $7.99 for just one hour. Only then was the price for the duration of the flight displayed as $14.99. I guess if nothing else, by comparison it meant that the flight price for the full 9 hours of $14.99, looked quite cheap. Except that I’ve been pissing around for an hour now trying to get the internet to work on the laptop. I’m now considering trying wifi on the phone and then hoping to tether my laptop to the phone connectivity. As an aside - I’m writing in real time - the cabin crew are giving off in a SPRITed fashion about vegetarians - which feels a little harsh, especially as at least the last 4 rows can hear their ranting. They aren’t service oriented individuals on this airline. Efficient, by not service orientated. Trying to type details into my phone - why should it work on my phone and not on my laptop? Hooray - it worked I’m connected to wifi now on my phone - albeit to the slowest of slow internet connections. Bugger, my personal hotspot is disabled - no tethering option. Bugger. Now what? Online help suggested I could “switch devices”, phone to laptop…. At this point I had the confidence level of a man trying to repair a nuclear reactor armed only with a spoon. Still…what else am I going to do with 8 hours? I gave it a go. Followed some pretty simple instructions, clicked on a button, and….wait, what? Expelliarmus. I shit you not. It worked. It’s witchcraft a la Harry Potter and his mates. United Airlines you are all forgiven! What followed was a further happy 7+ hours of doomscrolling nonsense around the internet. Not sure it was productive - but at least I was happy. Our Next Flight On our next flight from Denver (DEN) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) - yep we were going on holiday! We had Starlink. It was easy to connect to - same way via the App, and then switch devices. But even better it was FREE, and oh so fast. So, Starlink = brilliant. If its one of United Airlines’ older wifi suppliers then lower your expectations and bring some patience. You’ll need it. Starlink is such a completely different experience. Fast, free, simple — exactly how airline wifi should work in 2026. No buffering, streaming worked, pages loaded instantly, social media/video worked - what’s not to like? Now if someone could explain to me how they attached a satellite dish to the plane - that would be appreciated. United Airlines website says that Starlink Wi-Fi is already available on selected flights, as I experienced. And that it is rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet. Wi-Fi connectivity will be free to their MileagePlus members - and that isn’t just messaging - but full blown connectivity. As another aside, I was impressed when the efficient crew quickly interjected by slapping down one of those tossers - we’ve all come across them, started to watch their TikToks out loud without any headphones. But Wi-Fi in the sky - this feels like a massive step forward - connectivity is a God given right now - isn’t it? Back Home Thinking back on our experience - having done 4 flights in all with United Airlines…. It’s not a massive step forward in technology, it’s more a massive step forward in the product offering and such a welcome one. I thought that maybe United Airlines had got the jump on the competition. Nah ! Having done a quick surf of the internet on my non-Starlink home Wi-Fi - its evident that all the other airlines are catching up - if not already ahead. Having had a look at the Starlink website - it appears that typical install takes between 2 and 4 days, though this can extend to an additional 2 or 3 weeks if cabinets, panels and other interior features need to be swapped out. I imagine this work would be done during the frequent maintenance cycles that aircraft undergo. I could try to explain the merits of Starlink v’s the competition now, and then go into how it works and what its advantages are - but there is a website for that www.starlink.com. The Future Have a look at the Wi-Fi details offered for your next flight - for there is a good chance that the aircraft will already be Starlink enabled and perhaps even your Wi-Fi will be free. The industry is trending in a single direction - even in economy seating we all get a seat, a light, a little air vent. In 2026 expect to get bundled Wi-Fi in your ticket price. Don’t be getting too excited though - you won’t be getting this free service on the Low Cost Carriers such as Ryanair, EasyJet or Jet2 - well not for now anyway. In 2025 Wi-Fi in the air felt like an overpriced gimmick - it was slow and pretty useless. In 2026 it's becoming part of the expected bundle. Once you the passenger experiences fast, free connectivity in the air, there’s really no scrolling back.

One of the wheels on our large Tripp suitcase finally gave up while I was dragging it around Japan. It was a long walk from the station to the hotel, trying to keep the suitcase balanced on it’s remaining three wheels. Anyway. When I got home I contacted Tripp thinking I could just buy a replacement for the failed wheel. It’s an older suitcase and has had a good long life. It’s survived airports, train stations, cobbled streets, and more flights than I can count, so didn’t expect or ask for a warranty repair. Tripp confirmed that it was indeed an aged suitcase, and as such that replacement wheels were no longer stocked. To their credit, they suggested a third-party replacement on Amazon that had apparently worked well for other customers. https://amzn.to/4xBCDRB That's my affiliate link - that I'm playing around with at the moment - it earns me a few pennies if you click through to buy. For the large suitcase - we went for the 50mm wheel size - which I felt was the correct size. The axle that goes through the wheel, fits tightly - but does feel a little longer than it needs to be. It did take a bit of effort to make the change. I had to hacksaw out the failed wheel and, because the replacement wheel seemed much sturdier, I ended up replacing the other three as well. Perhaps an electric saw would make the swap over easier. The suitcase now glides. It really does. It's got a second life and feels so much more youthful. It became one of those satisfying DIY wins that I've quietly congratulated myself on each time I use the suitcase. Course no one else cares and given how simple it was wouldn't be that impressed either. I continue to be very proud of my handy work. So much so I then ordered the same new wheels for its twin, and performed the same wheel surgery. One day, though, I know the suitcases will eventually die. For the price of a replacement set of wheels and an hour with a hacksaw, these well travelled suitcases have earned themselves a few more years of travel.

Day 1 The flight from Lima, followed by an overnight stay in an airport hotel in Santiago, was fairly uneventful – mostly just a lot of waiting around. The only thing of note was that the Chilean wine was good, but the local dish called Pastel de choclo wasn’t really for me. It is made of sweetcorn ground into a paste with beef, chicken, raisins, black olives, onions and slices of hard-boiled egg - this all sounded fine, but why, in God’s name, was there sugar sprinkled on top and baked until caramelised? The flight out to Easter Island was long – over five hours – but at least it left on time. When we landed we’d only lost three hours thanks to the time change. Our hotel on the island was good, right on the main street. After checking in we grabbed lunch and a few beers at one of the many restaurants nearby and began settling into island life. Day 2 A grand tour of the island – exploring everything it has to offer, but more specifically the Moai statues that are synonymous with Easter Island. The tours all seem to follow roughly the same route, covering the same key locations, so price is probably the best guide when choosing one. You can never quite tell what sort of guide you’re going to get. We booked through Viator with what appeared to be a small company – two sisters, one driving and one guiding. The tour ran from 09:30 to 17:00 and covered everything at a nice, gentle pace. I believe it was this one - run by Hotumatur RapaNui - Full Day Hotu Matua Tour from Vaihu to Anakena Note: You must buy a national park entrance ticket. You must have a guide to visit the statues. We chose a group tour rather than a private one. We’re interested in the history of the island, but not fanatical about it. I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking, though honestly it’s far better to experience it in person. SPF 50 and plenty of water are essential. We headed out for food and drinks in the evening to watch the sunset. The sunset didn’t happen. Day 3 Breakfast, followed by a hike out of town and up to the volcano crater - Rano Kau. Just over 13 km, UV index of 10, and about 25°C. It was tougher than we had anticipated. Bizarrely, we were accompanied by one of the many stray but friendly dogs that roam around the town centre. Scruffy (that’s what we called him after about 3 km) had a good sense of direction and would constantly look back for us, occasionally trying to herd us along if we were going too slowly. We didn’t encourage him – but he followed us the whole way and even came back to the hotel gate with us, where the gate was promptly closed in his face. Bye Scruffy. After showers and more sun cream we headed out again for a late empanada lunch and a couple of well-deserved beers. While we were out we also booked a cultural dance show for that evening. The dance show itself was actually pretty good. Unfortunately, I had a short person sitting in front of me which gave me a clear view of the stage – but she felt the need to record most of the performance on her phone. So for much of the show I was watching the dancers through the silhouette of a phone-shaped head. Day 4 A chill-out day. We spent the morning browsing through the shops during a long walk around town, then went for a swim and watched the turtles down at the harbour – including one enormous one. Food for the day consisted mainly of empanadas. Day 5 A late start and an excellent lunch at a seafood restaurant. Then it was a quick five-minute drive to the airport before settling into the sunshine at the departure gate whilst waiting for a late flight back to Santiago, where we have five nights booked. For lots more on our South American Tour / Odyssey - have a look here - https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/blog/categories/south-american-tour Our Destinations Madrid Quito Galapagos / Galápagos Lima Easter Island Santiago Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Practical Stuff A 33-Day South American Itinerary: Flights, Route & Key Stops What to Pack for South America (Based on Actually Doing It) Cash vs Card: What You Actually Need in Madrid, Galapagos, Lima, Easter Island, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro Uber from the Airport: What It’s Really Like in Madrid, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio Life Lessons The Worst of Humanity… South America’s Big Hitters: Which City Is Actually Worth Your Time? Galápagos Islands or Easter Island? Instragrams https://www.instagram.com/retiredcormac/

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 6 - Arrive @ 10:55, Depart @ 14:30 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 8 / Day 2 - Arrive @ 05:45, Depart @ 06:00 Climate Midnight Sun - 13 May to 31 July. Polar Night - 21 November to 21 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/graph/1-328454/Norway/Finnmark/Nordkapp/Honningsvåg Observations - other than Excursions The 3.5 hour stop northbound provides ample time to explore the town, and take in a good walk. The ship docks very central to the town. It's a quiet little town - long and thin, that spreads itself along the edge of the water. The harbour was an interesting, but only a short walk away. We then walked to one end of the town and back to the other end - along the quiet road. There isn't a lot to see and 3.5 hours is more than enough to build a snowman and visit the statue of Bamse, a heroic St. Bernard who served as a mascot for the Norwegian Navy during World War II, and soak up the views. There is also a Christmas shop. Eats I think we returned to the boat early for lunch. Though there were some small restaurants and we explored a local shop for some snacks - crisps and nuts. Walk There are good footpaths and plenty of shore time - providing a good opportunity to take a longer walk. Honningsvåg - in one line Honningsvag doesn't feel as remote as it looks on the map. Small and quiet though - ideal for walking.

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 6 - Arrive @ 05:05, Depart @ 05:45 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 8 / Day 2 - Arrive @ 11:00, Depart @ 12:45 Climate Midnight Sun - 14 May - 31 July Polar Night - 22 November - 20 January Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/1-325339/Norway/Finnmark/Hammerfest/Hammerfest Observations - other than Excursions With 1hr 45mins southbound available - there is a good opportunity to do some exploring. We followed most of the other passengers who walked to the right along the main road with the sea to our right. I can't say it was the best of walks - I believe it was raining both times we visited. But it was pleasant to get a bit of a walk in. In the town centre there was a strange statue of a polar bear. We never did get the background on it. Eats Pre-lunch so no reason to eat. Walk Good footpaths for a short walk. Hammerfest - in one line Hammerfest - should have been better, but our weather wasn't great.