Day 9 - Groningen
I start the LF14 Saxony Route after a 10-mile ride up to Lauwersoog on the north coast but not before I admire the church in Leens which is unusual in that it has stone in its construction as well as the usual brick. I can't comment on the seemingly random use of stone (from Germany) and local brick though perhaps it was down to whatever material was available at any given time during construction.
From the LF14 website. "With this route, you follow in the footsteps of an ancient Germanic people who migrated into the Netherlands from Northern Europe starting in 375 BC. It was the time of the Migrations, marked by fierce tribal conflicts and skirmishes. Today, the typical dialect and characteristic farmhouses in the border region are considered typically Saxon."
Rather aptly I see a boat motoring along a canal flying the German flag as if patrolling the lands they settled in over 2,000 years ago.
For the coming days I head south and will have a cross-wind from the west. Then I head west so I have already started looking ahead at daily distances as I will have dreaded days cycling into a headwind as I move back to the province of South Holland. Despite my insistence on calling the Netherlands by its real name locals may still refer to the country as Holland.
The trip up to Lauwersoog is worth it as the National Park is stunningly beautiful.
I have seen the "Rust" sign before and have wondered what it means. This one is a self-service coffee, tea and ice-cream shed with an honesty box. I will see more during the day and it is a network of honesty coffee stops.
A pumping station helping the country stay afloat.
Another old church, probably 12th Century.
The LF routes are signposted in both directions with "a" being the primary direction and "b" the reverse.
It is said the Dutch grew tall because of their protein rich diet with the protein coming from the dairy industry.
Simple but effective this bridge and roadway just gets hoisted in the air to allow a boat to pass underneath.
Entering Groningen for a second time was bewildering as it felt too built-up up and too busy especially as I had enjoyed the quiet of the north since my last visit here.
My hotel is over the road from the Stadspark where I will run parkrun in the morning. Snow Patrol are playing a concert there tonight so I am worried that the advertised parkrun may be cancelled.
Hopefully the photos show how good today was, it was a great day on the bike with open vistas and pleasant pedalling.
