Day 16 - 14/07/2013

Day 16 Hook of Holland (NL) to Swindon (UK) 5178 miles since leaving home. 180 miles today. The first beer on the ship tasted so sweet after 2 weeks without booze. Getting woken at 5:30 this morning with 'Dont worry be happy' wasn't so bad this time around as it signified that we were just a few hours from home. Cruised down the road and was home for 10:00. All good. Tips for anyone else attempting this trip: - - Buy time and not gear. 2 weeks was not long enough, 3 would be my minimum if I were to do it again. - Expense, yes these countries are pricey, but camping will cost you 15 ti 25 quid a night at most and they are well equipped. - Bring as much food with you as you can carry. Paying £4 for a loaf of bread is the norm. - If they ever re-instate the ferry directly to Norway then take that - even if it costs £500. The neighbouring countries are all dull in comparison - Norway really is something special and the place you want to spend your time. - Speed limits - they are low and the fines severe, but the reality is there are few speed cameras in Norway and we only saw 3 police cars there during our journey. Enjoy the views and the riding and don't bother with the speedo too much. Other than that - a great trip. The Tenere was a rock. 1 blown lightbulb and a misterious rear deflation were our only mechanical issues. The bike used a negligable amount of oil and fuel. Overall: Mosquito Aggressiveness: 0/10 Ass Pain Rating: 5/10 Hot Dog Tally: 16 333g Burgers: 1 Punctures: 1