Day 4 - Zeewolde
With my sound conscience I sleep very well. However, I have noticed during my first two nights of staying in people's homes that in the middle of the night a talk radio station will be playing. Today is forecast to be cooler with some light rain; I don't mind a little rain though it does cause me to concentrate more on the road and less on the environment.
I ate out last night and opted for Indonesian. The Dutch controlled Indonesia until 1949 when Indonesia regained its independence. I was too tired to scour the menu and was recommended a mini version of a shared feast which came as a central pyramid of rice with a number of small and varied dishes around the side. Delicious!
As a matter of housekeeping I check that I am revisiting both Gouda and Delft on my return and I am. They were both attractive without the tourists that Amsterdam attracts.
A photo from an earlier day. This is a truncated windmill.
Yesterday I rode through the Dutch polders and wondered at my elevation. Mostly I was riding below sea level.
Some pre-breakfast reflection this morning as I anticipate less writing on the road today.
I am cycling through a forested area this morning on my way to Amersfoort. People are out on their bikes as it is Sunday. Parents with young children, the lycra brigade and friends out to enjoy the countryside. My final destination today is Zeewolde and when I encounter these sand dunes far from the coast I am reminded that Zee translates as Sea.
After 20 miles I stop just outside Amersfoort at a pancake hut. I soon realise that this is a family restaurant whose target audience is families with young children. Not put off, I sit down and order a pancake and beer then resist the temptation to reach for the felt tipped pens and color in my paper table mat. The pancakes are large and come flat with the locals either eating them flat or rolling them.
I am in the province of Utrecht and soon cross over into Gelderland. This is my unsubtle way of saying I am touring in the Netherlands not (just) Holland.
More generally, this is my route for the coming days; it is the national cycle route LF9. Point A marks Utrecht, the white dot is Zeewolde and B is my outer mark for this leg; though I only go as far as Hoogezand west of point B before tracking west to Lauwersoog up on the coast where I pick up the next long distance route.
I only have four days for LF4 and each day is in the 70-80km range though looking at the map above day 1 doesn't look like a quarter of the way. I am worried and will double check my plans tonight.
Amersfoort was worth a cycle around and a pause.
Towards the close of day I cross over to Flevoland where the weather improves.
My room today is above a Chinese Take Away. The Take Away is surprisingly smart. My room is as advertised, budget, but does have short bath, kettle, TV and so on. My bike will reside in the Take Away from 8pm to 9am.
