Cycling in Holland 26.4-6.5.2005
Holland is an ideal country for a beginner especially in Spring-time. It is flat but sometimes very windy. It has properly marked cycling routes almost everywhere and people are very friendly and helpful. If possible take your own bike at least for longer trips. All the bigger railway stations have a bicycle rental, but you never know what you get. I could rent one for a shorter trip. One manages with English.
Tuesday 26.4.2005
Schiphol-Badhoevedorp (cycle repair-shop)-Vinkeveen, 40 kms
I really do not know at which stage of transport my bike got broke, but we lost over a half-day and got some extra exercise in looking for a repair-shop for that. The young man, who was fixing my bike said “You are not the first tourists today”.
Wednesday 27.4
Vinkeveen-Breukelen-Maarsen-Utrecht-Bunnik-Odijk-Werkhoven-Wijk bij Duursted, 54 kms
We got a booklet called “Vrienden Op De Fiets” (cyclist friends) covering bed and brekfast places in Belgium, Holland and France from the landlady of our second place of overnight. With the help of this booklet we arranged our accommodation for remaining nights.
Thursday 28.4
Wijk bij Duurstede-Amerongen-Rhenen-Renkum-Doorwerth-Oosterbeek-Arnhem (Stayokay Youth hotel), we did not make any pre-arrangements for accommodation and had to stay in a Youth hotel, which was not the right place for us but…, 61 kms
Friday 29.4
Arnhem-Brummen-Zutphen-Deventer, 52 kms
Saturday 30.4
Deventer-Heerden-Wapenveld-Zwolle, 36 kms
15 kms before Zwolle (Wapenveld) I had a few spokes broke in rear (Saturday afternoon, Queen´s Birthday on 31.5=all shops closed ). One kind gentleman took me and my bike with his car to the Zwolle railway station from where we walked to our accommodation. Our landlady in Berkum, immediately, when she herd the story, started to arrange things. I and Jussi went celebrating in town (we offered to take her along but she refused). When we came back my bike stood in the garage fixed and ready. The bill was on the stairs. This is service and hospitality.
Sunday 1.5
Zwolle-Hasselt-Zwartsluis-Blokzijl- Kuinre-Lemmer-Oudemirdum, 76 kms
Monday 2.5
Oudemirdum-Ferry-Medemblik
Tuesday 3.5
Medemblik-Avenhorn-Ursem-Oterleek-Alkmaar, 73 kms
Wedesday 4.5
Alkmaar-Castricum- Beverwijk-Harlem-Hillegom, 62 kms
Thursday 5.5
Hillegom-Keukenhof flower gardens (open only a few weeks a year)–Sassenheim (a Military Parade for the Honour of Second World War ending)-Kaag-Oue-Weteringin-Niew Vennnep-Hillegom, 40 kms
Friday 6.5
Hillegom-Schiphol by a Van
Saturday 7.5
Helsinki-Vantaa-Vesala, 15kms
Total kms at home 559
LINKS
Regards
Antero Ylä-Kauttu
