internet at last

You would have thought that Europe was full of internet cafes but they have been like hen's teeth on the route we have been travelling. Even finding internet it is difficult to download photos. Since our last posting we have travelled across the top of northern Holland on fantastic bike paths, through gorgeous villages  but the wind persists. We have only had about 3 days where we were able to make good distances. Still we are still smiling. We caught the ferry,  which turned out to be a bus because the ferry was 'kaputt', from Delfilzil to Emdem and into Germany. Emden has a delightful inner city with  canals  and boats of all shapes and sizes. Back into the wind we have made our way up the coast of Germany through Willemshaven, Bremenhaven and Cuxhaven. The highly industrial areas are very smoggy and we decided to catch the ferry across the Elbe river to Brunsbuttel. This involved our ferry entering the Kiel canal and sharing a huge lock with 2 tankers going through the canal to the Baltic. The water lowered by 2 metres from the north sea side to the canal. It was really interesting to watch. Our ferry trip was delightful as we were asked to join 4 very interesting and obviously educated retired Germans who entertained us on the trip then one of them jumped on his bike as it got dark and led us 5 kms to the camping ground. Next morning some fellow campers invited us into their van for coffee and cake before we headed off. Everybody seems interested in 2 New Zealanders on a big bike trip.  We are now in Busum having a day off as the north wind blows from the pole- our first real day of rain since we started the trip. We are going to have a go at putting on some photos- see how it goes.