Day 4: Alkmaar, Holland to Heide, Germany 487km
Alkmaar is a town we would happily spend more time exploring. Another time. Today we are off to Germany. Our fifth country in 4 days. Dick has planned a long way round the north east of holland and northwest of Germany. Through villages, across dykes, and on as few motorways as possible. The plan is to reach the Elbe river north of Hamburg and cross on the ferry. This massive dyke or causeway, is 32 km long and was built between 1927 and 1932. It is part of the Zuiderzee works. To the east of the causeway is water as far as the eye can see. The artificial Lake IJssel a fresh water lake fed mainly from the Rhine. As we cross the border into Germany we see disused border gantry and control facilities. Soon we are taken by surprise as we ride along country roads and come to an area which is celebrating rhododendrons. Every house and public area has flowering rhododendrons. Rhododendrons in the Hobbie Rhododendron park spill over to the road side. Some...