Too dangerous or too complicated... ?

Many tourists ask if they could borrow our bikes. Well, looks like bike rental when we stack all bicycles during the break. However, to make it to this point there is a long way to "fight through"

In front of Kon-Tiki museum in Oslo

Best example of enforcing pretty strange rules we experienced in Port of Barcelona. Approximately 50 guest were eager to explore the capital of Catalunya on the bike. However, to leave the port over the bridge toward the actual city, we have been kindly advised by the port police not to ride our bicycles. Because they ve been afraid we might be a possible obstacle on the road. So we had to enjoy the 1,5 km walk while watching local people riding their bikes both directions in the middle of the road ...

we will remember port authorities in Barcelona ...

Most recently in Cadiz in southern Spain, we almost spent more time getting out of port than actual tour - at least we felt so :(  After mooring at different pier than usual, passengers without excursion were obliged to take free shuttle bus within the area of port as this part been designated industrial port. On the other hand, during our stay there was almost no traffic. 

Rules about security and safety are the very important -  Sure, especially when local authorities are more concerned about us  and our ability to stay on bike even on uneven asphalt road. 

not exactly the route in port :)

No exceptions allowed - originaly, we have been told by the port authorities to board the shuttle bus with the bicycles as well. However, after short conversation using hand gestures and my poor french, the two police men on the spot, as commeon sense would suggests, showed themselves ready to guide us out of the port with their patrol car. Our guest  were briefed to ride organised 2 in a row. 

Unfortunately, either these good guys asked for permission or just their boss spotted what is going to compromise their highly elaborated safety plan but suddenly they had very heated phone conversation. The merciless result was us walking our bikes all the way out. Well, at least we have save us some precious time waiting and loading all the bikes in a bus.

leaving port of Cadiz - by foot

bikes instead of passengers

Returning back to passenger terminal, regular procedure followed: collecting the bikes aside, passing through the scanner and the guides transporting them with one lower deck shuttle bus back to ship. At the end of the day, our guest appreciated the hospitability of visited ports of call ...

Sometimes even a small passenger ship (with 2500 people on board) might be percepted as a guest and money bringing customer worth a bit of human understanding and less stiff rules-obedient stubborness.

Well, still looking forward to discover other ports of call :)