Learning how to blog and survive Amsterdam's cyclists and camping in the rain!

Big thankyou to peeps who have posted on our blog - its really nice to be in contact. Thanks to anyone else who has tuned in but not yet posted...its taken us a while to find a place where we can sit in peace and figure out how to get our blogging going. We had a great send off from the docks at North Shields - thanks JM, Big Al and the Debster. The ferry was pretty good. We met a couple of seasoned geordie touring cyclists who rocked up with a couple of tinnies and a load of invaluable advice. We made it to Amsterdam - via Haarlem - thanks to them. We have survived 3 nights in a tent in Zeeburg; we must be the oldest couple in a tent; we chose a spot near the goats and the chickens and next to a friendly wizard (don't ask). Even the goats are stoned but everyone is friendly.  The weather is a bit wet so we have decided to head south, stopping at Paris on the way to somewhere warmer. We are going by train via Amiens and may stop there. We have cycled everyday and have developed some confidence riding with bikes that are fully loaded and having to deal with really busy roads. Cycling in Amsterdam is a mixed blessing; swarms of cool urban amsterdammers wizzing by..but the preference for cycling over cars is really refreshing - cycle lanes everywhere. This week we will mostly be trying to master the art of posting with photo's. Bigger cycling trips are planned. Love to all our well wishers. C&M xxx