Visit to Amsterdam

I went to Amsterdam today, Hans drove me to the station, it only required one change of train, in Utrecht. I arrived in Amsterdam around 10:30 I think. It was not too busy. I walked, and walked, and walked. I found a book market where I got an Inspector Wexford novel for 3 Euros, a Dutch book shop where I bought 3 maps and a flower market. Eventually I ended up at the Rijksmuseum but it was too busy so I didn't bother. I continued on past the concert hall and on to another very long market. I am pretty sure that I went to this market with Patrick and Paul in 1995.

After all that I then circled back and, feeling rather exhausted, stopped for lunch. I actually felt like Indonesian but couldn't find one that was open that looked good. In the end I went to a Thai restaurant and had the lunch menu, very reasonable. 2 spring rolls and a green chicken curry followed by tea. Oh, and there was very nice prawn crackers too, the first time I can remember having nice ones in a long time.

Feeling replete I started to head back. I stopped at an English bookshop and bought a cycling magazine, the 2009 Tour guide from Cycle Sports. I look forward to reading it. I meandered for a bit and then stopped for afternoon tea and had an apple flap and a coke. I was a bit tired so I just sat and watched the people go by for a while.

Back at the station I got Hans and Trees some Leonidas chocolates and then, just as I was about to go, I found a flower shop, which I had been searching for in the first place, and so I got Trees some roses as well. The trip home was easy, albeit hot. Hans picked me up again at the station.

Back at home Trees made herring with onions on toast, raw herring that is. Fortunately thanks to all those trips to Japan I thought it was quite nice. Of course we had it with a very nice Proseco as well, naturally. By the time we had finished that I was rather bloated, but then it was dinner time. Trees, remembering from 1995, had made mussels again, lekker. I took a photo, and Trees said “Look Paul, this is what happens when you stay in Australia.” :) That was with a nice french white wine of course!

Waddled off to bed after 11 pm.

At Hans and Trees'

A lovely lazy day today. I read, I computed, I watched some TV, all very relaxing. Trees and I sat outside on the balcony and around 3 we rode into Driebergen. There is a market on which is only on once a year. Trees has lived here for 7 years but never been before. The market is the full length of the main street, over a kilometer. We had a nice wander, neither of us really wanted anything, however Trees did get me some Olliboller with sultana's in it, lekker!

By the way, Driebergen means 3 hills, not 3 towns as the name implied to me.


For dinner Hans and Trees had booked a restaurant that apparently Paul and I went to in 1995, however I don't remember it. The dinner was very nice. I had a prawn entree with some sprouts and a little bit of chilli, delicious. Trees has calamari and Hans had pate. Then for the main I had entrecote and vegetables. Hans and Trees both had Sliptong, the fish I had a few days ago. For dessert I had some chocolate moouse.

Voorthuizen to Hans and Trees in Driebergen

An easy day today with a couple of forests to travel through, in fact one forest was quite dense and even had gravel roads! I also got to do a major climb today, over 30 metres! I was actually getting pretty tired by the top, but the coast down the other side was very welcome. I was supposed to pass several castles today but I only saw one, and it was closed.

I got to Hans and Trees' at around 1.30 pm. After a I spent the whole afternoon chatting with Hans and Trees. They were both quite keen to have a wine but I did think 2 pm was a tad early! After all we are not in Spain now. By 5 pm they were both keen as custard to open a bottle, so we had a very nice bottle of Sancere.

For dinner Trees cooked a delicious schnitzel, with potato's (that they don't normally eat, a diet), beans, a vegetable stir fry and a salad that Hans made. This was all of course washed down with a rather nice, light, 2005 red from Burgundy. Delicious. I was a bit sloshed by the time we finished all that. Hans kept topping my glass up and then having just a little more himself (1/8th of a glass). For dessert we had strawberries which I had with the last of the strawberry sorbet and Hans had with Grand Marnier and a strawberry sauce.

Elburg to Voorthuizen

A champion packing session today:
12 minutes to pack inside the tent
90 seconds for the bike
12 minutes to pack the tent and get all of the gear on to the bike :)

I had a nice sit in the sun for breakfast while I finished off yesterday's baguette and the last tomato. Also another slice of the dutch cake. I studied the maps for a while, in no rush to leave this morning as it is a shorter day.

While it was warm in the sun it was actually quite chilly on the bike so after only a K or 2 I stopped and dug out the thermal top, so glad I brought it. Another nice tail wind today.

I am using an ANWB cycle map today. It is exceedingly easy to follow. The paths all merge at a junction which is numbered, you simply follow signs that lead you to the next junction. I had seen a cyclists cue sheet a few days ago and it was simply a list of numbers, now I understand. Oh, and each junction has a map of the area as well in case you end up at the wrong junction I guess.

There was a nice long forested region after the town of Ermelo. It really was a forest this time too. It went on for more than 10 K's, quite pretty too. I stopped once in a picnic area next to some pine forest, it so reminded me of Germany in 1995 with Patrick! Also the forest seemed to be on a hill. We gained 20 metres I think, and so I got a few bits of down hill afterwards. The downhill was so pleasant, I am actually looking forward to getting out of Holland even though it means that there will be more hills.

In due course I arrived at the quaint little camping grounds which are attached next to a farm. It was very cheap and I have to say ot had an excellent (free) shower, one of the best, and toilet paper. There are only 17 caravan sites and some space for tents, quite homely really. I am the only non-retiree here as it happens. I guess everyone who is not retired is at work again.

I walked into town, had a look around, and then had a Pannenkoeken with Apple and a coke, very relaxing. I sat for a while then I bought some food and walked home. I had a loll on the grass in the shade (yes, too hot in the sun) and then after a while in the tent. I don't think I fell asleep today though. Just lolling about reminds me again of 1995, this time in France on long hot lazy summer afternoons. I had dinner at the nice picnic tables (something most camp sites don't have), got to hear everyone in camp walk past and say “Eet smakelyk” :) Dinner as usual was baguette with cheese and tomato, the apple strudel and the peaches. I checked out the maps afterwards, getting to Hans and Trees is easy enough, I am just a little unsure of the route south from there.

Rijs to Elburg

A monster of a day today, 87 kms. I lolled for quite a while but once I got going I was done in 34 minutes. Getting there :)

While I was packing on of the other guests came over and asked if I would like a coffee or tea. So once I was packed I went over and spent about half an hour with Harry and Tia. They have a very nice caravan, all false wood inside, done up in a very Dutch way, very pretty. We chatted about travel and where I was from and had been and was going. They are on a 3 week trip and are going to Grondigen next (in the north).

I eventually set off at something like 10 am and my first stop was at Oudemirdum where I bought some Onbijtkoek, which had sultana's in it. Very scrummy, munched on that off and on all day. The next stop was Lemmer where I bought some lovely wild peaches, they are sort of a squashed version of the usual (same circumference but only 15 mm thick), very tasty. I sat in the sun by the canal to eat those.

Heading south towards Emmeloord it seemed like I had already gone a long way, not a good sign, it indicates I'm already a bit tired. I went through a European version of a forest near here. You know the sort, about 5 metres of trees either side of the bike path. Actually it was quite cold too.

Next stop Kampen. Another slog, this time there was even the occasional head wind. I had my largest climb this trip on this leg, 50% higher than the previous record! Yes this time it was a 10 m climb! It was a bridge over a canal of course. Once in Kampen I HAD to have lunch, so after a bit of a walk I stopped in the city square and ordered I'm not sure what. It was okay but a bit over powering. I think it is like a kebab only on a plate. Filling though. And with tea of course.

Before I got here I'd noticed a bakery round the corner so I popped in there and got a baguette and an apple flan, very cheap. There was a large church here too but I didn't feel like spending the time. Then I was on the home straight and of to Elburg. I was noticably tired, dare I say stuffed by now. The wind was still mostly with me so I was still often doing 20 but it was an effort. I made the town in reasonable time, very pretty it is too, however I just could not find either the tourist info or the camping ground in the town. In the end I gave up, went back into the town centre and got an Appelbol! Yes, one of my favourites, it even had some almond paste in the centre. Delicious. A shame about the camping.

I found a camping ground but when I went in they had closed. Bugger. It was only 4pm and they were supposed to be open until 5pm. Sigh. I rode over the canal to the next camping ground listed (fortunately there are 4), Camping Riviera. Luckily this was open and I got a spot. What a vast campsite! I will definitely have to Google Earth this site. It was also, amazingly, deserted. It is not the weekend and just like yesterday's camp site everyone has gone home. There was just me and the rabbits. (And it turned out one other caravan in my area.) I showered etc, did some washing which I hung on the neighbouring caravan's line and then went for a walk. I didn't quite make it back in time and ended up having another shower and some more washing up :(

After a bit of a lie down, I almost fell asleep again, I walked around looking for somewhere to have dinner. In the end I used a table tennis table :) Quite comfortable standing next to it actually. Afterwards I dropped the leftovers off at the tent and then went for a walk down to the marina. Yes marina, this camping ground has its very own, rather large marina.

It was here that I made a startling discovery. Everywhere I go I am seeing clocks that are one hour out. It finally dawned on me that I am one hour out! I checked on the laptop, yep it was still on London time, so my watch must also be on London time :)

By the by, there are rabbits everywhere.

Stroe to Rijs

Woke up at 3.20 am to a bloody rooster crowing the sunrise! Fell asleep again of course.

Finally got up around 7:30. I'm still pretty crap at getting ready, not my old 20 minute self (but I'm working on it Paul).

The weather is ghastly so there wasn't much incentive to get going. It had rained a little last night and the wind was howling, it was cold too. I dressed in my thermal top and longs as well as my Goretex. My butt isn't feeling too bad today either.


I crossed the Afsluitdijk today. The wind was incessant but not that strong. I caught up to a dutch couple that were spending 8 days rising around the sea. Chatted for a while and then went on, they caught me at the first stop, and took a photo of me in front of a statue to Lely who designed the dyke in the late 19th century.

By the end of the dyke the weather was wearing me down a bit. But at end I got to turn south. Ahhh. So much easier, a tail wind at last. The rest of the day was sooooo much easier thanks to the tail wind. In the end I wasn't getting tired until just a few K's before I finished. (The training is going well there Paul, should easily be able to do 100 K's/day by the time you get here.)

It rained lightly after lunch but I decided to get going anyway as it looked okay further south and I had a tail wind. Of course, if you think about it, a tail wind … that means the rain is going to keep up doesn't it :) However I did eventually out run it. I didn't really stop after that, I was enjoying the ride too much and wanted to get in before my butt started to hurt too much, about 1:45 pm today.

One downer today, it is Sunday, so nothing is open. However, as it happens, there is nothing here to be open so it is a moot point. I went to one of the local restaurants that was advertising a plate of the day for 9.5 Euro and had that, excellent, see the photo. The meat is like a mince patty but is quite meaty, not sure. The chips were nice too.

I shaved!

In Stroe

I had been pondering all night whether to ride on today but my butt said it was not a good idea. So I booked for another night (left my netbook for charging) then rode to the nearby town of Hippolytushoef. Actually I had also been debating during the night whether, if I stayed, to walk or ride, however a check on the maps convinced me in the end that it was too far. So feeling sore for my butt :) I rode.

The area is very pretty, tree lined roads, rather like English country side. Except for the wind turbines in the distance.

In town I ventured into a fish and chips store. There were several fixed price specials as I had hoped but of course I had no idea what the different types of fish were. I asked in English and she proceeded to explain them and point out one or two. In the end I couldn't remember which was which so I just picked the dearest, Sliptong! Lekker! It was a thin fish, like sole I guess, but much smaller of course. Traditional dutch chips with mayo. I sat inside and was feeling very warm and relaxed afterwards :)

Afterwards I got an apple flan at a bakery and sat in the sun outside a church, as you do. Then I decided to follow a route in a pamphlet I had to what I thought were to be some sort of Viking ruins. Stuffed if I could find them though. But it was a nice ride so no harm done. On the way back to the campsite I stopped at a quaint little museum in an old house. It had lots of agricultural stuff, few if any labels and of course nothing in English. It was kind of interesting. The best bits were the photos from the war and the building of the dyke.

Edam to Stroe

A hard day out today. It was a very windy day :( I headed north along a dyke, but the road is below the dyke so to see the sea I stopped a couple of times to have a look. It was very choppy and murky. There was a swimming area at the camping ground, I can't imagine swimming there. There were quite a lot of cyclists about, I was passed while stopped by one large group.

I had a break in the town of Hoorn where I had a slice of pizza and a mediocre hot chocolate. It was warm though which was important. Technically it is not that cold as it is still 20 C. It was at this point that I had a change of plan. My original plan was to head north west and go over to the west coast. However the wind was just too strong, it would have been agony. So I decided to head north. There were some quite nice stretches of cycle path here and when heading even slightly easterly it was amazingly fast. However once you were west or even due north it could be very hard work.

I lunched at Medemblik, it was getting cold and I needed something to warm me up. It is a nice town and I stopped at a Pannenkoeken place and had, obviously, an omelet with tea :) It was all lovely and warming. I sat for a while, the sun was out, contemplated staying, and then decided to ride on. I made it about 300 m before it started to rain! I went immediately to a bus shelter (reminiscent of Switzerland in 2003). The temperature had plummeted to 16 C so I put on my Goretex and long finger gloves and then sat there for a while. 2 more heavy squalls came through the town and then it seemed to clear so I risked it. About 500 m later it was about to rain, it started spitting, and then it moved on past me. Phew.

In the end I made it to Den Oever, but by then I was definitely running out of puff. There was an enormous hill on the way, a 7m climb up an overpass of the A7. Very tiring :) I got to town eventually found the camping site and … sniff, it was closed. I rode on, in a circle, back to the main town area where I had seen a hotel and came across the tourist info. She pointed out a camping ground in Stroe, about 4 Km's away. Sigh.

The ride to Stroe was fully into the wind and quite a struggle. Fortunately there were lots of trees which gave some protection. I eventually crawled into the camp site at about 4:30 pm. After setting up the tent and having a shower I had a read and somehow managed to fall asleep before eating. Fortunately I awoke at 9:15 pm for some dinner and then passed out again.

In Edam

Had a pleasant rest day today. Bought some new maps, had a baguette with Edam (of course) and tomato. No sausage rolls today.

I visited the towns two small municipal museums and a Kaas (cheese) museum. I also visited the church on the edge of town. I wasn't quite sure where it was but fortunately there was a map of the town in the museum which showed me the way. The map was from 1698 but fortunately nothing has changed since then :)

Mainly I sat around enjoying the day, pleasantly warm, sitting by a canal for lunch and walking around the old town.

London to Schipol to Edam

The flight over the channel was interesting. First the English country side and then the channel. There was one really interesting spot as we got close to the Netherlands. There were two large wind turbine farms out to sea! One of about 60 and one of about 40 turbines. A pretty good place for them I guess. Also near there was what looked to be a container ship parking area. Dozens of them just waiting out at sea.

Once at Schipol things went reasonably well. Fortunately only one of my two large panniers had lost its hook, so I still have one spare. With the unpacking and repacking and putting the bike together I got a bit of a scare. The front skewer wasn't where I expected and it took me quite a while to find it. I went through all the bags, twice, and of course I found it in the original bag just where it was supposed to be. Rushing I guess. It took a bit of fiddling to get everything in, but all in all about 1 hour to go from immigration to exiting the terminal.

Based on a vague recollection I walked to the far right of the terminal looking for the bike path to Amsterdam, and there it was! I then set off in the direction of Badhoevedrop and then Halfweg. It took about 45 mins to get to Halfweg and it was quite hot, so time for a snack. I had a pleasant sit by the bike with my sausage roll and coke. The lady in the store asked if I wanted the sausage roll heated up and it was quite funny, the first thing that came to mind was … Hi, then I realised that was wrong and said Si, then Oui and then finally I remembered it was Ja. She was laughing by then too.

From there I rode to Spaarndam, then north and caught a short ferry over the Noordzee Canal. This is another area with oodles of Wind Turbines. I guess for a country created by wind mills powering it with wind turbines comes naturally! I took the Zaandijk ferry to Zaanse Schans which is a popular tourist attraction as it has several working mills. I found this out on the ferry ride talking to a couple of dutch cyclists. One had a Pietersen (?) bike, a remake of an 1890's bike, but with Shimano running gear of course. I went into a working mill and took the tour, quite reasonable at 3 Euro. I was tempted to go to the clog making factory but it was getting on.

I then rode to Purmerend and after another sausage roll I rode on to Edam. The ride was very nice to start with, along the top of a dyke with a roaring tail wind. With a rest and some food I was flying along. At least I was until we turned, then there was a monster side wind and suddenly I was not so rested :( Anyway I eventually made it to the town of Edam, it looks very picturesque, so I've decided top stay two nights.

Total: 69 Km's.
Planned: 50 Km's.
Tired from 40 Km's.

Current state: Stuffed (both from food and cycling)

The flight

Sydney to Singapore
The plane was about 30 minutes late leaving but I was in the lounge and I have three hours in Heathrow anyway. My seat is 4E in the front cabin, this is where first class used to be. The view at take off was great, I could see out of 10 port holes! French champagne on arrival, with refills. Cool!

Before dinner I watched, “The International”, Clive Owen, quite good. Later I watched , Frost Nixon. Excellent. I'd actually be interested in seeing the original interviews now. I wonder if they are on You Tube?

Dinner: A lovely Prosciutto entree followed by Rack of lamb and then a rhubarb ice cream, Patrick would like that :) Served with a nice red, can't recall what, and then a 10 year old Penfolds tawny port, surprisingly good for only ten years old.

Singapore to Heathrow
Back in the main cabin this flight. Half the plane is business class!

I watched “Escape to Witch Mountain”, quite good, then “Watchmen”, stupid movie, and a TV show, Wallander.

Dinner: A vinaigrette with a pressed crab round with a prawn on top followed by a very nice beef fillet steak with veggies. I was so tired I forgot to photograph the meal!

I then tried to sleep, but I didn't sleep that well. The bed is fully flat but after about 3 hours I woke up. I think that was about 7am Sydney time. Typical. Had another doze, I think it may actually have been 2 hours.

Breakfast: Fruit, yogurt, rolls and a full English breakfast, sausage, bacon, egg, mushrooms and tomato, with tea. Very pleasant.

Heathrow
As soon as we landed I made my way directly to the BA club and a shower! I feel so much better. Sat in the club for a while. Not hungry though, just a coke and, as a memorial to past tours a yogurt :)

Waiting at the airport

Well everything is done.

No problems finishing up this morning, mum and dad brought over some packing tape for the bike box. I don't seem to have forgotten anything, no problems checking in. Plenty of spare time. Even had time for morning time with mum and dad and play with Prince.

Waiitng in the lounge now. Free wireless internet in the Qantas lounge and plugged the netbook in just to ensure it is fully charged for the flight.

Until later, who knows when I'll next be online.

5 Hours to the cab

The bike is in the box, but I've run out of tape. The bags just need their final pack for travelling. Currently lying in bed checking that everything is installed on the netbook and making a back up. Need to recharge the camera. Soooo many cables to take.

Europe Beckons

Tomorrow's the day! The bike was completely repacked yesterday. Discovered there were still a few things missing from my previous pack, knife, fork, spoon (mum and dad supplied one), passport. Nothing I can't pick up over there :)

We had a farewell dinner a couple of nights ago at the Mortdale pub, Patrick organized it. At least he organized the people to come to dinner, next time he can book somewhere to eat as well. The pub is actually pretty good value, $105 for 9 people, and we couldn't even eat it all.

A few more things to get done today, haircut, change the cleats on my shoes, install the last bits and pieces on the Acer netbook. Of course most important is that now that the bike is fully packed for touring I have to unpack it all and repack for travelling by plane. Dad helped with the later getting the bike all taped up.

Anyway, lots to do. The next blog could be from Europe, or maybe still in Sydney if I have time.

Hospital and Prince

Dad got his pace maker installed this week. Took two days off work to drive every one around! It all went without a hitch, fortunately. The only problems were timing stuff ups by the hospital staff, it meant dad had to stay a lot longer than he needed, he did get 3 free meals though. The afternoon staff seemed very competent. Also a girl came around and asked if dad wanted to watch TV. It was $7.90 for one night, which was OK. You paid right there and then, just like Jet Star!


Ken's new puppy, Prince. He is very cute!

He wore himself out the other day and is having a midday nap with his favourite toy, a puppy :)

Also picked up my bike from the bike store with mum, all services now. The only odd thing was I couldn't get the brake quick release on the rear wheel to quick release, so I couldn't get the wheel out. I went back in to get it adjusted and they asked "Do you really need to be able to get the wheel out?". Seriously. They did fix it up though.