London  Netherlands  Belgium & Luxembourg  Rhine & Mossel  Switzerland  France  Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck  Denmark & England 

Welkom,

Yes, I made it to Holland.

Bike Path to Heaven 

While if the road I biked on near Colchester reminded me of HELL, then the bike path leaving the ferry was heaven. I say this mainly because I was concerned about trying to bike out of this port area and when I rode of the boat I was on a bike path with signs and no cars! The weather was also a beautiful 80 and sunny so I just started biking. I really did not know where I was going, but it was awesome. I thought to myself how could this get any better, when within less than two miles I bike out onto a sidewalk and turn and it is nothing but beach. Wow this can not get any better and then I noticed as if a blind man was just restored his vision "NO TOPS"! Sure I had heard about it numerous times, but I had always chalked it up to urban legend. While you can propagate this urban legend out a friend of yours was in Europe and there were topless beaches!

Free Country 

One of the main things I have learned this trip is what it means to live in a free country. I had always associated a free country with allowing differing political views, religious beliefs, voting, etc. I now understand it means you can go to any public restaurant & go to the bathroom. It also means when you order some fry's you don't have to buy the sauce of your choice. I am glad at least they have not started charging for salt. So remember the next time tax season comes feel good about it and yell pass the ketchup.

Beautiful Country

I had planned to cover Holland in a set amount of time, and so I made some long days out of the biking, but it was by far some of the best weather and country to bike through.  The bike paths were well marked maintained and scenic.  The main flower season was ending but I still managed to see a lot of great fields and also managed to see some of the harvesting of the seasons tulip crop.

The paths that I took covered everything from flower areas, costal forests, dikes, rural farmland, and major cities.

Even though most of the terrain was flat I still managed to experience some mechanical problems. Although I would assume anytime you try to bike around Europe with 75 lbs strapped to your bike you should expect problems. I have now learned you can actually snap a chain just by peddling. So you can add chain repair to my bike mechanical skills.

Amsterdam

I truly enjoyed Amsterdam, it was however different than I expected. I went to Amsterdam expecting to be impressed with the canals and instead I was impressed with the diversity and the tolerance of the culture.

Amsterdam also provided some great museums, and the Heineken Brewery Tour, commercialized tour of a non functioning brewery, but still entertaining and included some tasting opportunities.

Window Shopping 

I have never really understood window shopping. I mean I understand browsing, but never the idea of looking around through the windows of shops at items you have no intention to buy. That is until I walked through the red light district. I must say what an experience. 

I did manage to hear my favorite line of the trip so far while I was window shopping. A young couple was standing on a corner in the Red Light district having a conversation and I hear her say "Let's go!" I could not hear him clearly, but I did manage to catch what she stated next "No this isn't romantic". Man I thought I was clueless sometimes.

Tot Straks,
DUKE

Date	From	To	Miles
6/25	Hoek Van Holland	Ockenburg Campground	14.84
6/26	Ockenburg Campground	Alkmar	71.35
6/28 AM	Alkmar	DenHelder (Port)	33.54
6/28 PM	Texel Island Port	DeKoog Krustpark Campground	8.47
6/29 AM	DeKoog Krustpark Campground	Texel Island Port	8.25
6/29 PM	Den Helder (Port)	Enkhuizen	52.25
6/30	Enkhuizen	Amsterdam	47.43
7/1-7/4	Amsterdam Touring
7/5	Amsterdam	Amsterdam Central Train Station	3.12

Comments or for letters to the editor email me at duke@systemscoach.com