Today, we rented bikes at the Macbike rental shop adjacent to Centraal station, took the ferry North, and rode 14 miles to a village called Monnickendam. On the way, we passed only one old fashioned windmill, and miles of farmland. We also went through a cute little village called Broek in Waterland. The houses were adorable, decorating the edges of lakes and canals, life seemed so simple and unreal. I mean, are there really villages like this? It felt like it was out of a story book!
In Monnickendam, we had lunch at an outdoor cafe on the edge of a canal. As we ate, we watched the residents who had taken their boats out to see for the day pull back in to the canal and greet each other. This town was bigger than Broek-in-Waterland, with a downtown that felt charmingly crowded.
We decided to take another route back and headed to a bike route that went along the edge of the ocean. After about five minutes, the wind started picking up. The trail we were on was elevated, and Gary estimated that the winds were 40 mph. Consulting the map, we found the most direct route back, which was still about 12 more miles straight through the open farmlands directly against the wind. It was hard. Gary was able to ride all the way. Grant and I were not - several times we had to stop and walk our bikes. It was hard and very tiring! Gary kept saying that it was more tiring to walk the bikes then to just push through and ride, but there were times when I swear I couldn't pedal anymore and I had to stretch my legs and walk. The wind was blowing my face like I was on a rollercoaster and I couldn't keep my bike moving! (Also, we saw MANY locals having trouble, and some of them walked, too, at times!)
By the time we got back, Grant and I were sore and tired. But we were hungry, too, so we found a place to eat and had a nice dinner, although I wouldn't have minded just staying home and getting pizza!
In Monnickendam, we had lunch at an outdoor cafe on the edge of a canal. As we ate, we watched the residents who had taken their boats out to see for the day pull back in to the canal and greet each other. This town was bigger than Broek-in-Waterland, with a downtown that felt charmingly crowded.
We decided to take another route back and headed to a bike route that went along the edge of the ocean. After about five minutes, the wind started picking up. The trail we were on was elevated, and Gary estimated that the winds were 40 mph. Consulting the map, we found the most direct route back, which was still about 12 more miles straight through the open farmlands directly against the wind. It was hard. Gary was able to ride all the way. Grant and I were not - several times we had to stop and walk our bikes. It was hard and very tiring! Gary kept saying that it was more tiring to walk the bikes then to just push through and ride, but there were times when I swear I couldn't pedal anymore and I had to stretch my legs and walk. The wind was blowing my face like I was on a rollercoaster and I couldn't keep my bike moving! (Also, we saw MANY locals having trouble, and some of them walked, too, at times!)
By the time we got back, Grant and I were sore and tired. But we were hungry, too, so we found a place to eat and had a nice dinner, although I wouldn't have minded just staying home and getting pizza!
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