itsmylife: The Netherlands 2.

Sunday 28th. Nieuwebildtdijk - Vierhuizen. Away along the coastal dyke again, the trail is either concrete slabs or locblock but frequently covered in sheep droppings! The dry stuff was like riding over marbles (some much bigger and lumpier), the fresh stuff was unavoidable!!
Another thrash into the wind across the Lauwersmeer Dyke and on the lookout for a camp site. Passing through Vierhuizen and there was the sign; got myself booked in and found as sheltered a spot as I could. About 0130 the rain started! 61.1k

A bleak landscape

Bleak and flat landscape

A field of geese take flight

That'll stop the bike getting nicked

Bronze work, Wierum

Sailing on Lauwesmeer

Bike path to Lauwesmeer

More geese!

The sluices, Lauwersmeer

Bike trail through nature reserve

Monday 29th. Vierhuizen - Bierum (well about 1k past it). It was still persisting down as it got light so up and out about 0600, grabbed all the gear and scurried into the warm and well lit wash room/toilet block; got myself sorted, fed and packed in relative comfort. Was now working off the Gronningen Provinciekaart, the print is minute! It was really going to test the new specs!!

Pushing 1700 and on the lookout for a camp site or B&B. Spijk, no joy, on to Bierum, very small place not much chance there, heading on, found it!! A small B&B sign sticking out of a hedge; at first there was an appology, "I'm sorry we have a guest", I tried to look really pathetic (not hard I know!), there was some muttering and then "There is a house you can use"!!! Joop and Sophie 'mind' the next door house and can let it out at their discretion. Joop got pliers and screwdriver and soon had the water on and boiler flashed up, there was also a large wood burning stove, and Imean large, it stood about 1.5m high and was covered in what looked like thick polished granite tiles, the idea was the fire heated the slabs which then gave off heat over a long period. It took around 2 hours to really heat up and then a couple of logs during the evening and it was still giving off a good heat at 0700 the following morning!!
Back to the evening! Just getting sorted for a shower and Joop knocked at the door "Sophie says you will eat with us". A very pleasant evening, a lekker meal with lekker folk! To round it off, a glass or three of a kind of brandy flavoured with herbs! (For medicinal purposes only of course!!). 57.2k.

Windmill, Spijk

Windmill, Bierum

Joop and Sophie's beach, looking across to Germany. 06:30, 30/04/13

My little hoose!

Nice pad!!

Tuesday 30th. (Kings Day). Bierum - Ditzum. An early walk up onto the dyke for a view of Germany.
More pedaling along the dyke trail and sheep droppings. Eventually Neuweschans and the border with Germany. A brand new Co-op (with a cafe!) had just opened in the village, so I figured a coffee and dig out my passport so it's ready. A while later I'm getting a nudge from the cafe girl, "You are asleep". Can't have been very good coffee!! Was over the border and into Germany before I knew it' no border post nothing! The next 16k was mind in neutral and keep pedalling into the wind. Was absolutely stoated! Flopped into next B&B I found. 68.6k.