Netherlands Summer 2013 Biking Part 2!

This windmill is located in Leiden., which is home to Holland's oldest universities with numerous cafes, shops and museums.

 

Who is this crazy couple?

 

Ernie is a master at repairing flat tires. Jim is a master at getting flat tires......

 

Sometimes we go the wrong way and have to turn around. No problem for this group! We expect it!

 Is anyone else fascinated with graveyards?

 

Charming villages with locks.

Jim and I cannot see too many boats!

These locks are manual, just like the Trent Severn in Canada.

Hey, look what we found! It is a Grand Banks 42, just like Crawdad!

Bunkers from WWII are visible along the coast.

 

Great meals with friends.

Les and me.  We enjoy sports back home in Michigan as well.

We asked for directions along the way, often!

I cannot help myself! Isn't he cute!

 

He just doesn't listen to me!

 

Many drawbridges.

Who is that chick on the wire? I thought she was riding her bicycle.

Jim Pettigrew and Clive Van Order. I am thinking they have had enough for the day.....

 

Are we lost again? Patti, Leslie and Ernie at work.

Netherland's Parliament.

Don't you love that rain?

Peace Palace at The Hague. We took a tour and heard how the US does not participate. Countries are bound by the arbitration dispensed here. Guess we don't want anyone else telling us what to do.

 Sally Price from Hilton Head will kill me if she sees this picture! Rain and miles on the road turns a kind, sweet woman into something else....

Julie Smith from Flint still gives me a smile. She must really be a crazy woman!

 

Gloria, don't you dare! Dorothy Martin from Brighton and Hilton Head. She really is very nice. Really!

Always positive! Good ole Les!

 

 That's my guy!

Bob Van den Bergh has accompanied us on every trip!  He lives in Amsterdam.  He is helping Leslie with low tire pressure.

Carol O'Rourke from Ada, MI, Patty Zensinger on the Ferry, crossing the river.

The top island is Texel Island. In 2005, Jim, Jamie, Joe, Leslie, Ernie and I took a train from Harlaam to the bus station, to the bike rental station, to the boat to get to Texel Island. It poured rain was freezing cold and the wind blew 30 knots. We didn't go to Texel on this trip...

The markets are in the central square in most cities. Fish, cheese, underwear or whatever else you may need is for sale.

We rented 3 speed bikes, except for lucky Jim with his 7 speed bike. Our panniers allowed us to carry our rain jackets, sunscreen, water and munchies.

Our final ride. This is the group that rode through Utrecht...at night. We rode about 70 miles that day in the rain and ending in the dark, as we searched for our hotel. That is our idea of fun! There are people out there who have called us crazy! We love crazy!

 

Thank you Pat and Ernie!  You have enhanced our lives!

 

 We have enjoyed our bicycle trips with you - from riding along the Danube through Austria and Germany to Vermont, to Williamsburg and Jamestown, to Cape Cod-Nantucket-Martha's Vineyard, to Hilton Head, from Burlington to Montreal and two trips to the Netherlands. We will miss our trips as you retire, but we know where you live!