Back safe and sound in the US! No broken bones, not even scrapes or scratches for which we are all very grateful. Considering the chaos that has been international travel for the last week we had an easy, though long day traveling from Amsterdam to Philadelphia.

I think this is the last post although Carole may post a few more photos. We had a great week in Holland. We saw many sights in this unique country and had lots of laughs and as Darien says... a lifetime of memories. Our novice cyclists did extremely well and were far from the weakest link on this trip. Thanks to all who read and commented on our blog, it has been a fun thing for all of us to do. Looking forward to the next vacation (New Zealand, Greece, France, Africa??) Happy Trails!

Back in Amsterdam

Yesterday we had a great day! We barged into Amsterdam and then biked out to a rural section of north Holland. It was just Carole and I so we were able to stop and check out the birds we have been watching as we having been flying by this week. It was a nice area and we had our own maps of the extensive bike path network in the country. I don't know if I have mentioned the bike culture here but it is unique, you can go from one end of the country to another and never ride on the road with traffic. The auto traffic is very respectful of the cyclists when their paths cross. Every Dutchman has a bike and uses it for everything. We have seen them carrying, several children, new TVs, a weeks worth of groceries all on bikes it is really amazing. Even in busy Amsterdam biking is reasonable.
Today we are going to train to Delft and check that out. Then an early flight to the US in the morning. Hopefully we will have no ash related air problems.

Last Day on the Barge

On Thursday we biked through the tulip fields. I won't bore you with my inadequate descriptions of the lovely colors but I'll post a few pictures and try and let you see what we were so lucky to have seen. In the afternoon we went to the Kierkenhof, a Disneyland type place with every bulb plant known to man. It was really quite extraordinary. Last night we docked in the center of Haarlem, another medieval town. We walked through town and had our one night with dinner on our own.
Today, everyone is doing some thing different. Doug and one group biked out to see the dunes on the North Sea and then they'll bike into Amsterdam (should be beyond exciting). Kass, Mary and others are riding the barge into Amsterdam and then will tool around town. Carole and I will leave the barge and then bike into north Holland for the afternoon. We'll see how all of this goes!

Tulip Day!

Too tired to post much tonight...today we saw lots and lots of tulips, so more photos to follow. We biked in some rain this morning, but I ended up sunburned by the end of the day.

I have been carrying this Denali poncho around with me for about 17 years (just in case) and today it came in handy. If no one comments on this photo, I will know no one is reading this blog. (Carole)

The Latest

Despite the most recent post about the things Linda would like about the trip (authored not by me but a larger group) we are having a wonderful time and living fairly large. Our accommodations while "cozy" are just fine, our food is excellent and continental, the company is exceptional and the sights we see when riding are memorable. Our riding skills have improved considerably, we now roll into these small towns weave around obstacles and people and bike right to the town square. All are riders are doing well, everyone is doing 30 miles a day even when we have winds. I am impressed at how well all are doing, even Kass who is far from the slowest rider has been great. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!
Today we are off to the tulips fields and the Keukenhof, so it will be all flowers all of the time.

Resting after 30 miles into the Wind!

Top 10 Things my friend Linda would love about this trip!

10. Sleeping on a barge (instead of a cruise ship)
9. Making your own lunch (and then eating it on the side of the road)
8. Green door bathrooms (aka - behind a tree)
7. Vacationing where it is 15 degrees colder than home (wearing 5 layers including gloves and hats in April!)
6. Teeny, tiny cups of coffee
5. Riding a bike 30 miles every day
4. Sleeping in bunk bed (in a room too small for 2 people to stand up at the same time)
3. Everywhere the exquisite sweet perfume known as “Eau de Manure”
2. Lifting 17 bikes over the “road closed” barricade
1. Dining with a parrot at your table!