Venl to Maastricht

It was a lovely day for riding south to Maastricht. The river provided companionable quietude while the generous head wind kept away lassitude. The route skipped back and forth across the river, as if sewing together the two shores with tiny ferry wakes. Hundreds of cyclists out enjoying Saturday. It will be sad to leave the land of endless bike routes and paths, but tomorrow I head west across Belgium.

Thank you, Crandall's!

First operating windmill of my tour. The sound was haunting.

Memorial to downed Messerschmidt.

What's the matter, horse got your tail?

Bike ferry number one of eight ridden back and forth across the Maas today. A personal record!

Roermond market, one of five that I visited on my ride from Venlo to Maastricht.

Maastricht city gate.

Hungry?

Best bike of the day.

Sunset across the Maas, south of Maastricht

Hanging out in Venlo.

After a morning mapping out my route south into France on the GPS, I explored beautiful Venlo. Wendy served an exquisite Thai meal, we played a few rigorous hands of Nerts, then rode to Clever's for ice cream. Clearly enough for the five of us.

Not just a beautiful sunset on a balmy evening, but...

Aboard the ferry across the Maas River.

Dessert anyone?

Venlo's restored spire.

Venlo

A lovely day with the Crandall family. After sleeping till 1 p.m. (my first long sleep in weeks!), Wendy served me a fantastic gluten free lunch. Tim took the afternoon off, so he and I rode their tandem about 70 km, getting ourselves pleasantly disoriented. Then we used Menno's GPS to lead us back home. In the evening we all rode into downtown Venlo for a delightful dinner in the town square. The brass band played rousing melodies as we caught up on lots of news.

Tim & Wendy

Robin & Hanna

German countryside from the back of a tandem.

Tim and Wendy cruising in Venlo for a dinner out. I got to ride Wendy's bike!

Entering Germany with Tim on his tandem.

How can you get lost?

Ede to Venlo

It was my first day touring. Couldn't have been better. Pretty much downhill with a tailwind under sunny skies. Well, there was some rain, but it was warm, and moistened the pathways for just the last 30 km. Sad to say goodbye to Menno and his family! Happy to spend the evening with Tim, Wendy, Hannah and Robin. They are having a great adventure....

Along the Maas river

What captivates these two?

Storks.

Downhill with a tailwind!

Crossing the Rhine to Nemijen

Pasha & Aranke in the backyard.

Max & Babette

Home!

Market Garden, where the Allies landed, adjacent to Ede

Menno on the run

Photos from Ede

Beautiful Ede

A perfect beginning to a trip! Menno, my friend and guardian, did more than welcome me at his home, he collected me from the airport. By Sunday night we had my bike reassembled, walked the dogs twice, and enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared his daughter, Esther, and shared with his wife, Reineke. Topping it all off, his amazingly generous son, Max, turned over his bedroom to me for the duration of my stay. Monday, Menno showed me the countryside (he ran 15 km, I rode my newly assembled bike), then we visited downtown Ede. Then another fantastic dinner, a tutorial in using the GPS that Menno is loaning to me for my trIp, and visiting until the wee hours. Today we rode to Arnhem, about 25 km distant, in order to visit a travel bookstore. The ride was a dream, smooth cyclepaths through field and shady woods. The birdsong is oddly familiar, yet foreign. The wren I heard sounded like a pacific wren, but not quite. The "crow" had a gray head and sounded like an angry squirrel. Shortly after our arrival back home, Menno's mother joined us and I was treated an unbelievable meal, some lessons in Dutch, and wonderful conversation. Menno has provided me with all of the essentials: the best bicycle lock in the world, a stove, travel guidance via a GPS, gluten free bread, and, more important than everything else combined, friendship and hospitality.
Heel hartelijk bedankt!