Our usual reporter is chilling tonight, so it's my turn to try and make sense of this crazy journey! Before I tell the tale, let me update you on things from my perspective.
They are going GREAT! It's amazing.. it's been confronting and intense, but also it feels like the fields here, just an enormous expanse where we can go and do whatever we want!
So, we left you last time in Delft, where we headed north to our old stomping ground (from 2 years ago) Leiden. We had a great tail wind, and made easy work of it, arriving in time to have lunch at our old haunt. The sun was shining and with the wind at our backs we decided to keep going, and rode another 15k to the town of Lisse. The weather started to turn and we grabbed a cheap hotel, across the road from the Keukenhof gardens, a highlight from our last trip. As expected, this year we were too late for tulip season, otherwise I doubt this hotel would have been on our menu!!
The next day was a very relaxed 18k into Haarlem, to meet some fellow Central Coast travellers (friends of Serena's) who were staying there at the end of their first cycling day in Europe. We successfully avoided most of the rain clouds, but with heavy rain overnight, we skipped our desire to relive the delight of last time's camp site, for a cute hotel in the centre of town.
A rendezvous dinner in the main square was followed by cake and cards in the lobby of our friends' hotel, only to meet again the next morning for the ride out! Our paths were aligned for the first 18k, so we headed out of Haarlem, again, trying to dodge the rain (and failing at times!). The paths were as delightful as our company!
After saying farewell to our fellow Coasties, and taking refuge from the rain in a Frite shop (yummy), the weather changed and the rest of the day became a joyous ride through beautiful countryside. At one point the path just stopped at a canal, with a wharf and a large bell... after ringing the bell (twice), a man appeared on the opposite shore, and brought the ferry over for us, CUTEST THING EVER!
So, here we are in Avenhoor, in a cute little hotel (again avoiding rain, not Sally - she is expected to make an appearance for tomorrow night). In the morning we're heading for the ferry to Stavoren, there's only 3 a day, so our timing might be under pressure and a little more rain is forecast... should be interesting!
PS - Checkout more drone footage below, and don't miss the surprise ending (and no it's not me being taken out by the road bike whizzing past!).
Crossing our path from 2 years ago... We're back in Leiden!
Drone Flash - This one has a surprise ending!
Not such a happy ending…any damage?
ReplyDeleteLaughed so hard at your perspective mike! I have no doubt they are going GREAT! Love it. Drone footage is amazing! Dounut in Lisse looks tasty and the little dude in the cart ❤️ 😍 💖 cute as a bugs ear!
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