Breukelen to Vianen

We woke up to an overcast day. we traveled by barge to Breukelen (of which Brooklyn NY is named). We biked for about 35 kilometers in total. The ride was very beautiful. There are so many bike paths and there are lades along the highway designated for bikes. I spent good parts of the day converting between euros and dollars and kilometers and miles!
We stopped for lunch and it began to rain...of course I left all of my raingear on the boat. I improvised and made a rain coat out of a trash bag and took a hat out of the lost and find. I managed to stay pretty dry (though I looked like a hot mess). We saw many, many canals of all sizes, and dykes...a built up wall that protects from flooding. I learned that mos of the Netherlands is below sea level and that is why the land is so wet. The canals are used to drain the land!

Northern Holland

Finally made it to the bike tour. It took a bit of working outside my comfort zone to get here. I had to ask many, many, many times for directions and help. After strolling up and down the dock for an hour I found it.We did our first ride arond...Northern Amsterdam for 16 kilometers. We took a ferry to cross the Ij river in Amsterdam, which was very pretty and quaint. The bike paths are amazing. Most of the lanes we had all to ourselves.
There are 25 people on board, they are from all over...Americans, Canadiens, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutchand Belguim. My roommate speaks French but also speaks English. I am wishing I was bilingual so that I could communicate better with other! So far it has been a friendly group, all enthusiastic about our trip.

Amsterdam!!!

Made it! There are bicycles EVERYWHERE...I walked out of the train station to see thousands of bikes parked outside. There is even a three level parking garage JUST for bikes. The city has red lanes that are made for cyclists. It seems as if it is much easier to get around on a bike than a car. I have not figured out where people would even park their car. I have seen people in suits and dresses and suitcases as well as people with a wooden wagon built up front that had 2 infant carriers, pregnant women, young people and very old.
One negative thing I have noticed about the bikers is that no one seems to where a helmet. I am curious what the head injury rate is here in Holland...
There are canals every 2 or 3 blocks with interesting sights along them (food, drink, tours) All of the canals connect and are there own kind of roadway.
I have had to be a lot braver than I thought I would be and ask questions about where I am or need to be going, as well as how to pronounce words properly in Dutch. Though most people speak excellent English here, I would like to learn some of a new language
Tomorrow I find my barge and have a 9 mile ride throughout the city...exciting!

The Final Countdown!

I leave tomorrow for Amsterdam though I won't arrive until Friday morning. I am not a big fan of flying for long periods of time so I am a little nervous about the flight. It does have a stopover in Iceland, not thinking I will see much in the 2 hours I am there but maybe I'll have time to pick my daughter up a souvenir pencil. I really did try to go for a 30 mile ride today but mother nature had it in for me, rain and hail kept me indoors until it cleared. I did try once it had stopped but had gotten 2 miles and got a flat tire. At least I got a 2 mile walk in!

Getting Closer

I was worried that 8 days of being away with NO BIKE RIDING would kill me when I got back. I went for a 22 mile ride about an hour after I got out of the car and it felt great.
I am spending these 3 days before the trip trying to get organized and remember every little thing that pops in my head. I have been on a quest to figure out how to use my cell phone while in Europe. It will cost a small fortune but I would like to check home once in a while. I am also trying to figure out internet access so that I can post daily. I will not be bringing my laptop so I will have to find internet cafes.
If anyone would like a postcard please send me your address.

Getting Ready!

In an attempt to make sure that ride is fun and not torture, I have been doing a bit of biking along the Genesee River and Erie Canal. I live in Corn Hill in the city of Rochester and need to only cross Exhange Street to get to the bike path. I have been trying to get out on the path everyday, but in reality only get out about 4 days each week. I have been biking out to Pittsford (22 miles roundtrip)and trying to get to Spencerport(30 miles roundtrip) at least once a week.