Day 22 Steal our bikes, but you can't steal our joy

We had slept in, felt great, and were ready for this joy cruise to the finish.   The plan was to store the bags since any train to Amsterdam would have to come back through Rotterdam anyway.   That way we could thoroughly enjoy the last 20 without baggage.  So when we walked outside the hotel we were beaming and ready.  We looked for our bikes and it didn't even really process for us until we saw our bike lock laying on the ground cut to pieces.  We didn't have much time to dwell in the shock of it because it meant everything we had planned to do, even riding our bikes to breakfast, every aspect forward had suddenly changed.  I was admittedly upset, but not at the thieves, I was angry with the hotel staff who had first assured me it was safe to lock up there, and then wouldn't call or offer assistance at all when I couldn't reach the local police due to my US phone.   Knowing full well that there was little the police could do anyway, I had to get away from the hotel and it made sense to file a report in case the bikes showed up sometime.  The walk helped calm me, put it into prospective, and formulate a plan to finish the ride.  That was the priority.  I'd rent bikes, we'd ride to the finish, then return to Rotterdam via train.  It would mean forfeiting a night in Amsterdam but it would allow us to take our time getting there and return them in the morning.  The only bikes available for rent were grandma style city cruisers that were in a sorry state of condition.   I was certain that our next obstacle was being stranded with a broken bike and no tools since they too had been stolen.   We strapped water bottles to the back and brought a few other essentials just in case.  Greta's bike did need some adjustments that I was able to make by brute strength.  Slowly we  got into a groove and worked our way out of the city.  The trail took us along the shipyards where it was impressive to see cruise ships being built.   Then as the miles ticked off and we got closer and closer, the reality was setting in that we were going to make it after all and that this great, hard, wild journey was coming to a screeching halt.  Because literally the brakes would screech when I stopped!  It was early evening when we entered the Hook of Holland.  We took one last break for slushies then we rode the cruisers like cruisers and slowly made our way out onto the pier where large ships came and went  down the Rhine on one side, and on the other, a nice beach spread for miles where weary beach goers were packing up for the day.    We rode along the beach until we found a restaurant with a big couch for seating.  We sunk in, ate wings and ribs and watched the sunset over the sea.   It was a mild but sweet celebration of the accomplishment as we recapped the day and the trip.   After another night in Rotterdam, we made our way by train to Amsterdam, the biking capital of the world, where we were thrilled not to be on one.  We spoiled ourselves with some amazing eats, shopping and even massages!  Not sure I could be more proud of this amazing girl.  I may have sold it  to her as a much easier ride than it certainly was, but she really stuck it out in the face of plenty of obstacles.     I'll add a final post to wrap up my thoughts on the trip as a whole and speak to our favorite places and days, and things I would have done differently in case anyone is interested in following in our footsteps.

Yeah but they didn't figure out my code!

When cruise ship builders, build employee housing.

Dutch for Ditch

Slushees and sunsets