A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

We are having an amazing Indian summer here, still T Shirt weather as we approach the end of September – long may it last.   Because of the great weather on Sunday we decided to go further afield on our bikes, in fact get out of town.  It just happened to be a “no cars Sunday” where cars are not allowed into the centre of town.  Whether this coincides with the Dam to Dam bicycle race which was also taking place, I have no idea.

The Dam to Dam is in fact a circular cycling race, the Start being down on the waterfront.  We didn’t really know what was happening when we left home at 11.0am.  Firstly, there was a lot of noise and some music coming from the Magere Bridge on the Amstel very close to our house. As we cycled closer to the bridge we saw lots and lots of people involved in a “Yoga-In” in other words these people had just turned up with their yoga mats and with the help of an instructor and a few chanters they were following a synchronized session.  There must have been a 100 people there on the bridge performing all the moves – very impressive.  After shuffling by with our bikes and taking some video we headed off on our bike ride.

On reaching the waterfront we noticed all the roads were closed and the Dam to Dam race about to start.   We didn’t know it was a bike race, I thought it was some sort of marathon but later,  on our way out of Amsterdam we saw for the first time the serious bikers in lycra, helmets and the necessary racing gear.  Considering in the City no-one wears any special biking clothes, in fact I have never seen a helmet worn here, this race looked pretty serious stuff.    We caught up with them actually coming in the opposite direction, presumably finishing the race.  I think we had chosen part of the same route because we had to share the same cycle path crossing one of the main bridges out of Amsterdam northwards.   The waterways there are very wide and we ascended and descended not one but two very high bridges on the Zuiderzeeweg, the road across open water, scary, and those cyclists coming the other way do not leave you much room.

Soon we were out into the real flatlands.   Waterways everywhere crisscrossed with cycling trails.  We have finally succumbed to buying a cycle map and we are glad we did because the numbered cycling routes are easier to follow than the road signs.  We are used to the windy days particularly on our terrace, and Sunday wasn’t one of them, but once you get out into the flat countryside the wind comes racing across from the sea and pedaling the bike seems twice as hard.   It was so lovely and peaceful out there though, we hardly saw anyone.  Farmlands have no need to be fenced in as the water makes for a natural land border.  The animals were all mixed in together, cows, goats, sheep, horses and wildfowl all sharing the same fields.    The birdlife is amazing, I rushed to photograph the first heron I saw standing on a 5 bar gate, then realized they were ten a penny!!  The same with swans and geese and just about every other water bird.

We made our way on a wonderful cycle route passing pretty little farmhouses over bridges into the village of Ransdorp.  The entire village were having a street party in aid of The Heart Foundation.  There was enough food to feed the whole of Amsterdam spread out on trestle tables with a band playing music from the 70s (in English of course).  We felt like joining in but decided we might not be welcome, so although there was one bar in town, we decided to ride on to Holysloot which we had fixed as our final destination hoping to stop for at least a drink.     Actually in Holysloot there is a great little place to snack called the Old School House.  There we had some great draft beer and a couple of paninis.  The area is so flat, we could see sails in the distance floating passed the horizon so we decided to head for the coast.  I’m glad we did because the cycle ride on the Uitdammerdijk is really pretty.  The dike is quite raised from the fields on one side and the sea on the other so you get great views on both sides.  One particular stretch you have the sea on one side and the Kinselmeer lake on the other, both dotted with sailing boats that must have been participating in a Sunday regatta.    The whole way back sailing boats were moored on one side of the road and pretty little houses lined the other side.

Arriving back in Amsterdam, the roads were still closed .  There was still an air of partying going on and as we reached a tunnel we realized why, there was a band playing and hundreds of young people dancing, smoking and having a good time.  I thought there was a fire as so much smoke was coming out of the tunnel where this happening was taking place – but it was just heavy smoking!!   A few people were being treated by the emergency services – they simply had just had too much of a good time!!!

I’ve got to say The Dutch know how to enjoy themselves.  They certainly don’t take work more seriously than play – almost all the parks we passed coming home had been turned into a funfair of sorts for the “No car” day.   Canal boats were still crammed with people enjoying themselves and lots of music and fun kept the noise levels up until dusk.