Maasvlakte

maps	There we go. This has been on my wishlist for a long time. Not feeling too great, but let's see how far we get. Checked the weather, temps are OK ~10°C minimum, wind coming from the North steadily, so I will have sidewinds up and down.
	It might be nice to do a stop every 10 km and take a picture. Here is the first one, showing the new moon just rising. "Rotterdam Shortsea Terminals" on the bicycle bridge to the Vondelingenweg.
	On the way to the Botlek bridge I saw the hole in the road that got me last time. It was nasty but no sharp edges that could have cost me a wheel. Bridge closed! Yeah enough red lights to put a red light district to shame.
	Looking back at the pretty lights.
	How it looks like in the daytime. They say.
	As soon as the gate opened I went ahead, then alarmbells rang again but I was already going. The other gate closed halfway and stopped and I went through. Waved to the bridgekeeper :)
	Nice shadow pattern on the road. Remarkable what heat those plants generate. You can clearly feel it when driving by.
	Next stop, taking a rest, laying under windturbine T06, looking at the stars. Mesmerizingly fantastic.
	There it is! The Maasvlakte. At least the beginning of it. Going left to follow the 'coast line'.
	Abandoned the 'picture every 10KM' by the way. I simply forgot. Not good, I should make it a custom to take a break every 10. The elephant picture brought back some memories from a different island. Yes, the Maasvlakte definitely has an island feel to it.
	This is just so beautiful, a giant ship-construction looking like it dug up the entire Maasvlakte by itself. And the curve of the lights indicating the curved road along the new coastline ahead.
	Okay, I admit. You can see much farther in the daytime. Can be nice too.
	And on the left the sea, with the lights of many vessels.
	Made it! As far as you can get. Almost a bit of a disappointment...
	'Zeehonden Beereiland' or 'Seal Bearisland' on the left. I wonder about the 'bear' part. Actually there are seals resting there in the middle of the busiest place on the coast.
	In the daytime you would just see the Hoek van Holland lightbeacon. Time to go back... Made a small excursion along the coast on what turned out to be a dead end. And there they were again! Those guys with the tiny lights looking for clams, or something. It is getting absurd. Rested for half an hour, laying in the virgin dunes, looking at the stars. Worries about the the tailwind which should have been a headwind...
	Bridge full of lights
	Bridge into darkness
	Back at Caland bridge. Very tired. Long way to go.
	Damn beautiful picture. But that smoke clearly shows the icy cold headwind. That wind direction should have been towards me... Reminds me to go into Botlek only with South winds by the way.
	Luckily I brought a pullover, changing here in the "windshade", of this traffic sign.
	Really exhausted now, this was the view, laying down at the side of the road in the wet dewy grass. I don't care. A passer-by asks me if everything is allright. Thanks, stranger :) I was just resting... I think.
	Still managing to see nice shots. Looking at the often stunning scenery I was pedalling through was what kept me going anyway. This one was a bit menacing. Still 10kms to go...
	I took a 1KG piece of the Maasvlakte back home. It was worth it.