Into Amsterdam! 6-24-24

Today is our last day -- today we bike into the big City of Amsterdam.  We'd all heard about the millions of cyclists using the dedicated bike paths in and around the city ... it could be a sort of bike pandemonium.  But that's getting the cart before the horse, or the journey before the bike.

During breakfast, the ship cruised to Breukelen (think: Brooklyn), where we disembarked to start our final day of cycling.  Sitting on the top deck, we relaxed and enjoyed watching The Netherlands go by, as you see above.

Bridges!  And more bridges.

Other boats, and even an airplane.

Ready to ride!

We rode along the Vecht River which is famous for its beautiful mansions, impressive houses and their sumptuous gardens.  Tis the season for Hydrangeas to bloom, and many of us have ooohed and aaahed as we passed colorful displays.  Truly.

We pedaled to the Village of Nigtevecht (I don't try to pronounce any of these words) and a traditional cheese farm.  When we descend upon an area, we take up a lot of space.  Hi Jimmy!

After tasting several different cheeses, we bought one small wheel and hope to goodness it survives the rest of our journey!  This was such a nice spot for lunch, being entertained by the nesting White Storks.  Also on the grounds were apple and pear trees heavy with fruit, sheep, and friendly dogs.

Continuing on -- Zwaanwijck.  We allowed as how if all 40 of us went in on its purchase we might be able to afford it.  Then we decided, nah, not even then!  Absolutely stunning place.

Muiden Castle, currently a national museum, located at the mouth of the Vecht River, roughly nine miles from Amsterdam.  We walked around it, but didn't go inside.  Like many castles in Europe, this one has a long history, beginning in 1280.

This was fun to watch -- two small boats, each going in a different direction, passing through the lock. 

Fisherman.

Even the canoe had to pass through the lock.

Now it was time to get serious.  Peter was sort of directing us as we honed in on the city.  The path was wide here to accommodate heavy bike traffic.  We had to cross major streets, too.  I kept my eyes on the person in front of me.  We made it to our boat without incident, but everyone was relieved to be safe onboard.  We've never seen so many bikes.  We rode about 20 miles today.

Both Belgium and The Netherlands have an extensive network of interconnecting bikeways with a map showing each and every one, like a road map for cars.  To an American, this is incredible.  I wish we had more bikeways like what we've seen here.  I know our country is an entire universe compared to these two small dots in Europe.  At intersections, their roads have separate traffic signals for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.  We had to learn how to cross the street!

Ahhh, back at the ranch, we gathered on the rear deck.  Our guides, Peter, Marleen and Irene were going to rehash a few trip highlights and give out some *awards*, all in good fun.  We laughed a lot.  Do you see Jimmy?

Marleen announced that we'd biked 300 kilometers in our six days.  You'd have to subtract a few kms for me and Jimmy's short bike day, so I figured he and I biked somewhere around 160 miles.  Not bad for old farts about to turn 80 in a few months.  Eh, right?

Captain Paul had the center stage at this point.

Great guides and great crew.

I handed Cap'n Paul my camera and asked him to take a pic of the whole group at our "last supper."  He kept backing up and finally stood on a chair to get us all in. 😉  Dinner was fabulous.

We said our goodbyes the next morning, sad to go, but happy we signed up for this trip  Really.  Now we were on our own to tackle Amsterdam!

Very cool day! 6-23-24

 

The group usually starts riding around 9am/ish, but today we boarded a waterbus with our bikes first, which took us to Alblasserdam in roughly ten minutes.  It didn't take us long to cycle to Kinderdijk, a world-famous village known for it's 18th Century windmills.  Their website says:  "For over 700 years, the dikes, windmills, and pumping stations of Kinderdijk have kept our feet dry."

Ready, set, go!

We have arrived.  Our two green-vested guides are at far left.

I believe every single one of us was excited to see this small village, these giant windmills, up close.  Look how impressive, how lovely the scene is, above, like a picture in a book.  That being said, lots of other people were around to view this site.  

I'm gonna quote:  The windmills were constructed in the 18th Century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder (a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments).  Now we all know.

To my left is a very large visitor center,

filled with all things windmill to purchase.

Interesting.

Yes, you should see swans here.

One of the windmills was open and furnished in the period style.  Plus it was operating.  I'm so glad these old relics weren't dumped in a scrap heap, and were saved for all to see.  Nowadays wind turbines are used in The Netherlands.  Anyhoot, I gravitated to the garden plot and picked ripe raspberries!  So yummy!

The group paused here to figure out where the heck we were supposed to go!

This is a boat/bike tour.  Today we had the option of a short or a long ride.  Jimmy and I and several others opted for the short ride.  We wanted some quiet time on the boat.  I stood on the top deck and watched The Netherlands go by, bridges, people, cows, and everything in between.  Jimmy sat on the back deck and alternately read and watched the world go by, too.  I think we biked a bit less than 20 miles and the longer riders did around 36 or something like that.

Even saw a waterskier on De Lek (river's name).

Always checking out places to camp!

I usually wonder if we'll fit.  Sometimes Jurro, the sailor, had to lower the mast thingee for the low bridges.  The sky appears dark/ish, but the day was fine, neither hot nor cold, and the wind on the top deck felt great.

Here's something you don't see every day!  Cows coming to a picnic.  Or maybe it's the other way around?  Either way, we found it humorous.

The Magnifique III had to go through another set of locks to get to her mooring in Vianen.  Fascinating to watch.

Boats/ships get soooo close to the wall when they're in locks (left).  Bridge goes up (right) to let us pass.  The other riders came in and said the rest of the ride was uneventful.  Jimmy and I were pleased that we took some time for ourselves this afternoon.

Dinner was extra special tonight.  I dunno about you, but I think it's 100% extra-special to have someone cook, serve, and clean up after the dinner 😃.  Woo hoo!

As you can probably tell, we are really enjoying this boat/bike trip.  Obviously we don't know all 38 other participants, but everyone is friendly and kind.  I think I mentioned previously that we have Germans, Brazilians, French-Canadians and Americans aboard, Americans making up the most.  The crew is fantastic, as well, all five of them, and our three guides (one is a trainee) make a good team.  One more ride tomorrow ....

Into The Netherlands! 6/22/24

 

Everywhere, and I do mean everywhere, there's water.  Rivers, big and small, lakes, ponds, skinny canals and wide ones too, ditches, major transport waterways with locks and drawbridges, and the list goes on.  Even puddles.  Most of it's been corralled, with levees, dikes, dams, and bulkheads on 90% of the waterways (except puddles).  Apparently it's been a rainy season for Belgium and the rivers are high.  No wonder the countryside looks so green.

I thought this was apt for our Antwerp departure!

Leaving Antwerp, the Magnifique III waited for this bridge to raise before she slid through.  The top right picture is looking back from whence we came.  (sun behind me)

Farewell to the harbor city famous for handling up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds.  I wish the sun had been shining on that monster of a diamond above, it would've blinded us! 

After leaving the busy port area and passing over the huge Kreekrak lock system, our ship dropped off 40 bikes and bikers.  One by one we'd find our own bike and gear up.  Hi, Jimmy!  I used the hair dryer on my bike gloves 'cause they were still wet from yesterday's ride, and even then they felt damp this morning. 

A Red Admiral butterfly stopped by my foot!

These paths are always a favorite -- into woods so quiet, it's heaven.

This area is called the Wouwse Plantage forest.  Sometimes on a road, as above (really narrow roads), or maybe an asphalt path, occasionally a dirt track ... the wheels on the bike go round and round 😄.

We pedaled to the Canadian War Cemetery, you see above and below.  The silence was palpable.  We walked a bit around the gravesites, seeing names (even a J. Wilkinson), but horrified at how young these men were when they were killed.

 

"Their name liveth for Evermore"

We continued on till lunchtime at Fort Roovere.  Tables and chairs were set up, drinks could be purchased, ice cream and chips, too, which add to our sack lunches.  Plus, the (miracle) Moses Bridge at Halsteren.  The fort dates from the 1600's and the Moses Bridge was begun in 2010.

Literally the Moses Bridge parts the water.  Top right is looking down on the water and bridge.  Top left, from the bridge, I'm looking up at Jimmy (see him?).  Bottom pics, the water is the same height as the top of the bridge!  It's built in such a way that you’re at the same height as the water level when walking across to the other side.  Very cool, made of some kind of wood.  One small section was leaking and I wondered if anyone suggested a thumb?

Deceptive Moses Bridge (red x).

Back on the bikes!

We rejoined the ship from Tholen (town) and sailed into Dordrecht.  Somewhere along in here we passed into The Netherlands and those of us present in the main salon stood at attention as their national anthem was played (and sung).  We did over 25 miles today and enjoyed some nice boat time, too!

After dinner, we walked Out and About, touring the City.  Above is the "street of the butchers," from long ago, and you can see Leslie pointing to an artifact.  I forgot to mention yesterday that we walked down the red light street in Antwerp, glancing at scantily-clad ladies in picture windows.  Several of us thought the first female we saw was a mannequin ... till she moved!  Anyway:  meh.  Peter advised "no pictures, please!"  

Canals that intersect with canals which flow under another street into a canal, etc., and it's amazing to see buildings in the water, like Venice.  We've loved all the brightly-colored flowers in boxes.

Narrowest house in Dordrecht.

Oh my!  These are called Stolpersteins.  They're 3.9" concrete cubes bearing brass plates inscribed with the name and life-dates of victims of Nazi extermination. Literally, it means "stumbling stone" and metaphorically "stumbling block."  They're placed in front of the house where a Jewish family lived.  Never forget.

Jimmy in front of a lighthouse tower on the river Oude Maas.

Weatherwise, you see how much nicer today was than the day before!  Although a number of riders went down on the slippery surfaces yesterday, nobody was hurt.  Jimmy and I are doing well, tired at night and eager to ride in the morning.  See you tomorrow!