the joy of cycling ...

Yesterday we returned my borrowed bicycle to Antoon and Tini's house. It was so nice of them to let me use it while I was here! I also had the opportunity to visit (lunch) with them again and see their daughters and granddaughters. This was my first time meeting their daughter Astrid in person and her lovely daughter Lisa-Maria! Astrid and I have already 'met' via Facebook, but it was great to be able to meet in the flesh too. Anyway, as I was riding there, I kept thinking that for so many people, Holland may be about windmills and wooden shoes, but for me it will always be about de fiets (bicycles). No blog about a trip here to the Netherlands would be complete without some time dedicated to the bicycle and what a wonderful job the Dutch do with their cycle paths!

The Dutch bicyccle boom started in the late 1800's when a Dutch baron had his blacksmith copy a model of a cycle named the velocipede. In 1869 the first Rent-a-bike business was started in Amsterdam as well as a Learn-to Ride school. In the beginning, cycling was considered a rich man's sport and the first Dutch cycling club was founded in 1871. Just before the turn of the century, the bicycle had trickled down to middle and lower classes and everyone was on a bicycle! From postmen to policemen to farmers to the Dutch army (who even had a machine-gun mounted bicycle battalion. The cycle paths here transverse the villages, towns, cities and countryside. They are all signed and mapped and the maps are readily available in gas stations and bookstores. Since Holland is quite flat, the cycling is relatively easy and there are many sights to see, so never boring! If you are looking for a cycling holiday, there are packages offered to cyclists of all levels. Day trips, weekend trips, full cycling vacations ... a myriad of choices! If you don't think you can do that much cycling, motorized scooters also use the network of cycling paths in both rural and urban areas. The network stretches into each of the 12 provinces and while some run parallel to the roads some are designed just for the cyclists and take them through routes where cars cannot go. Making yourself familiar with the traffic rules the cyclists must follow is a good idea! ;-) You can rent bikes at most train stations or bike shopes or bring your own. Apparently the airlines have a special transport box for oversized luggage! You can take the bikes on the train and the water taxis too, although they must have their own ticket! I have some cool pictures of bikes on the water taxi and people lined up for the trains with their bikes.

Anyway, yesterday I said goodbye to my Dutch bicycle. It became a part of my family here. I also said goodbye to Antoon and Tini, their daughters Esther and Astrid, and granddaughters Jessica, Cindy and Lisa-Maria. I know I will see them again. I hope they visit me in Canada, however, if they do not, I will be back. I am not sure I will borrow the bike again ... I may be renting a scooter or an electric bike! lol!

In the evening last night there were more goodbyes at another birthday party! Steven, Koos's son, was celebrating his 50th birthday at a pub not too far from Koos's home! Oh my, the Dutch do know how to have a good time!  :-)  Much beer and wine was drunk and laughter and music and singing ensued. And even though I was at a disadvantage with my language barrier, it was a blast! I recorded some of the songs the crowd sang at the end of the evening, and replaying it at breakfast today had Koos and Hettie breaking into song again. Another fine memory to take home with me!