This morning when we left the barge, it was a balmy 42 degrees, after a low of 36. The winds were relatively calm out of the north at 5mph with gusts of 11mph. The good news was that the sun was shining!! We headed to the Gouda Market area for group photos. Balt & Joyce brought mugs from Willie Geist’s Sunday morning show for a “toast.” With any luck, the group photo will be chosen for the upcoming Sunday show. After photos, we pedaled alongside peat lakes and onto the banks of the narrow Rhine River to Alphen aan den Rijn. That ride was just under 25 miles. The temperature was wonderful 51 degrees and the winds had doubled at 10 mph with gusts of 17 mph. I still don’t mind the winds. The barge was in Alphen and we boarded for lunch.
After lunch you could add more miles, or travel on the barge to the next stop in Oude Wetering. I opted to stay on the barge. It was nice and relaxing and we were able to see sights along the waterway. Tonight, dinner was on the barge. It was also a celebration of the retirement of our one guide Wouter. He has led 100 tours across 20 years, and our tour is his last. Our other guide, Lia worked behind the scenes to make tonight special. She purchased water color paints for a guest Sherry (a member of the “Sue” group) to paint him a special memento. The chef arranged for a real champagne toast, and a unique dessert to commemorate his last tour.
Group photo at the Gouda Market.
Sporting my MS team jersey as I ride for a good cause.
At the Gouda market.
Trying on a pair of shoes.
Along the route to Alphen.
I am amazed as I cycle along and continue to see waterways everywhere!
Our snack stop today.
Just in front of me is Sherri (black jacket), Ellen (purple) and Sue (yellow).
We had to open this gate to enter a section of the trail/route; sheep were grazing.
The sheep were used to bike riders sharing the territory,
And then exited back out.
Working on the waterways is a never ending task in the Netherlands.
As I was travelling on the barge after lunch I was able to see several drawbridges open for the barge.
Toasting to Wouter’s last tour as a VBT guide.
The 100 was representing the about 100 rides that Wouter led over the past 20 years when he was in his :first” retirement.
Sherry, a rider in our group, painted this landscape scene for Wouter. Lia purchased the paints and watercolor paper while on the tour so that Sherry could make this artwork.
