Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Dike Riding

Zandvoort, NL 1349 km

Apologies to those who might have been searching for a different topic, but this is what we've been up to for the last two weeks or so...riding along the dikes of the Elbe River and North Sea in Germany and Holland. Although, today we rode along the dunes of Holland (didn't know they even had dunes! Looked and felt like Fire Island...with hills!) Except for a couple of days of bad weather, the trip has been fantastic so far. The scenery is beautiful, the terrain is (mostly) flat (only need to battle the wind and rain at times) and our equipment is holding up, save for two flat tires.

We have seen a lot of water, farmland, coastline, quaint villages, big towns and have seen and heard tons of animals - cows, horses, ponies, geese, swans, frogs (loud ones!), storks, rabbits and sheep, sheep sheep! Often, the trail goes through the sheep's grazing land...also on the dikes.

The north sea in Germany was pretty cool - the tide goes out really far (like many miles) and you can walk in the mud left behind at low tide. It's supposed to be healthy. But after we crossed a really long dike from one part of Holland to the other (cant remember the name right now), the sea began to resemble what I'm used to seeing - like I said, dunes and beaches.

We are about 200 km from Belgium where we plan to take a ferry to Scotland. Pictures to come later, when I can find an internet cafe where I can load them. Actually, internet cafes are pretty hard to find (or else I'm too exhausted when it's time to look) so updates and emails will be less often than I had hoped. But at least I was able to find a terminal on this special day so I can wish Uncle Lou a HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY! And I'll take the opportunity to wish cousin Susan a happy 60th in a couple of weeks.

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