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.
Friday, June 19, 2009
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)
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)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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 :)
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 :)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, June 15, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, June 5, 2009
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)