Extras. Autumn 2007 the missing NSCR link: from Nieuweschans to Delfzijl.
Passing Termunten meant that we had now more than three quarters of the way to Delfzijl. Before the route became more prozaic and industrial we still had the surprise of something a little different at Termunterzijl and the large sluice gates. These were fitted in the seventies as part of the Delta Works improvements, a time of many changes along the coast.
We stopped on the bridge to take in the view. As we were about to move on, an old couple travelling in the other direction passed us. The lady was on a Brompton and her companion on some other folding bike. As she passed us we heard her say 'Oooh look there are some real Brompton cyclists.' Not entirely sure what made us 'real' we smiled back and wished them a 'Fijne dag'.Then it was time to do the last few kilometres to Delfzijl. After a brief stop at the site of the former village of Oterdum (finally demolished as part of the Delta Works improvements) we then had the last section through industrial and townscapes. Here we encountered the headwind for the first time, and at the same time poor quality brick pave cycle paths. The Bromptons made the noise of a car going over a cattlegrid instead of the lovely singing sound they make on smooth surfaces. "Oh well" we thought "We'll be through the industry and at Delfzijl station before we know it..."
Still, the route had one more trick to play on us in Farsum. We got lost here, I saw one sign and Damae another. Without knowledge of both signs we went the wrong way. It turned out that the sign after the bridge that Damae had taken to be for cyclists coming from the other direction was in fact for us, but had been turned through ninety degrees by some joker or other. This happens more often than you would think. Still I found a big lock to photograph before we got going again.
There was one last irritation for the journey at Delfzijl station. Although the ticket machines were working they would not allow us to use our debit or credit cards in them. Something was wrong with the link. After explaining our plight to the driver of the train we got in and enjoyed the trip. After a short hour we arrived in Groningen where we bought our tickets from Delfzijl to Utrecht. It was good not to have to buy tickets for the bikes and not to have to argue with a grumpy conductor. The bikes sat just in view taking up little space.
Damae read a little and I passed the time in a pleasant but unmemorable way. Before we knew it we were getting out of the train in Utrecht and walking our bikes out of the station. We had now completed the missing link in the Dutch NSCR and with enjoyed ourselves and the beautiful Indian Summer.