The first thing we do most days is check the weather! We have to trust our weather ‘apps’ on our iPhones because it is too dark and usually overcast until at least 8am. Today proved to be a lovely clear day, with sun for most of the day. We enjoyed breakfast, lingering long over an extra coffee before getting on the bikes for an exploration tour back out along the Amstel River to the south of Amsterdam, basically following the way out that I came in on Friday.
We discovered that the street of our Hotel ran due east to the Amstel River. I wish I had known that on my entry on Friday. So we took our street due east until it hit the river, and we turned south which eventually picked up the spot where I left the path on my way in, which was in a straight line due south from our Hotel corner. We had nothing in particular in mind, just to get out into the rural areas, and also scout out the route again which we would take the next day to begin our week-long tour, which would take us to Utrecht for the night.
It was a lovely cool but sunny morning. We were riding directly into the sun, a rare experience! Being Sunday morning, the traffic was light, but the bikeway was filled with cyclists, especially the ‘lycra clad’ types who ride hard and fast and also in ‘pelotons’. There was quite a lot of this all day long. The river was also busy with rowers, with coaches and support staff cycling along the side of the river barking instructions. It was quite an atmosphere to enjoy our ride.
We basically backtracked over the route by which I came in on Friday. At the 9k mark however, we stayed on the western side of the river, whereas I came in from the eastern side two days before. We were therefore now on new ground.
It was all as pretty as a picture. We kept cycling south through small communities, with vast farmlands with cattle and mostly beautiful farm houses. We took our time, staying on the marked bikeway, which we were also assured would get us to Utrecht the next day but we were not confident about trusting that advice. A later check on the map confirmed our fears.
We finally stopped at about the 20k mark at a small quaint pub that had a small ‘coffee’ sign in the window. We went inside. There was a gathering of locals at the bar who took no notice of two lycra clad Aussies joining them in the tiny little bar area. We enjoyed the coffee for about $2 a cup, and decided to make tracks to get back to pack our bags in preparation for our tour tomorrow. Julie has a suitcase that will be stored at the Hotel until our return next week.
It was a nice cruise back along the Amstel River. Every angle was beauty. The water was still, making a mirror of the surface. It was interesting to watch the ferry man in action, a little disappointed that we just wanted to look at his ferry rather than ride on it.
We gradually made our way back into Amsterdam, and negotiated our way again through the racing bikes and pedestrians, looking for the right corner to turn into our very long street. Once or twice we were lectured for being on the wrong side of the road, but we are learning.
It is always nice to see the sign of our Bicycle Hotel. It may not rate one star, but it is clean, and the hospitality is very warm and welcoming. The inside is a maze, the stairs are narrow and almost vertical, but it all adds up to an interesting holiday.
Our ride totaled 40k for the day. It wasn’t a huge day, but a chance for Julie to test out the bike and also for us to feel much more confident about getting out of Amsterdam tomorrow morning with some confidence.
We enjoyed a massive dinner at the local ‘take-away’. It doesn’t sound very good, but the owner took so much trouble to prepare a nice dinner – twice as much as the restaurants down the street for half the price. We enjoyed sitting in the café in conversation with the owner, feeling we got great value for our money.
We were glad to have an early night in preparation for the start of our one week tour together. Tomorrow we begin the first day of a 6 day tour of the country to the south of Amsterdam. Tomorrow we are aiming for Utrecht, a University town some 50k to the south east of Amsterdam. It is divided by the RijnKanal, which makes the centre of the town very beautiful.
From the 2nd floor of the quaint Bicycle Hotel in the Pijp district of the city of Amsterdam, we send our love.
finding your way and direction is so much easier in daylight when there is no pressure. At least you know the way by road and teh way by the river. glad Julie is setting into her bike. Tara C
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