234. Europe Bicycle Trip--Goeree-Overflakkee, Haringvlietdam, Silver's Twin and Voorn-Puten

I had just crossed the second dam and was now entering South Holland and the delta island called Goeree Overflakkee.

I just had to have a chat with these scuba divers who had been diving in Lake Grevelingen.

Bicycling along the lake shore

I followed the shore for quite a while before turning northeast and to the other side of the narrow island.

Buitenhaven

The village of Havenhoofd

Binnenhaven

Bicycling toward the last dam of the day

Haringvliet dam-- The Haringvliet sluices are a construction that closed off the estuary of the Haringvliet as part of the Delta Works. The structure consists of 17 sluices, several kilometres of dam and a shipping lock.

The North Sea is on the left and then the highway N57, then the bicycle path  and the Harlingvliet body of water..

The Sea

Selfie on the dam

Silver meets her twin--the same exact Specialized Sequoia going on a tour

This couple with the twin bicycle to Silver were heading south into the wind. I'm sorry but I forgot to write down their names right away but I believe they were from England.

A last look at the water and a fun swimming area as I begin to bicycle north on the island of Voorn-Puten which is an island between the North  Sea, the Brielse Meer, and the rivers Oude Maas, Spui and Harlingvliet in the province of South Holland.

Following a nice road heading north towards the city of Brielle

233. Europe Bicycle Trip--Blocked Bicycle Path

I had made it across the Oosterschelde Dam and now I was going across the countryside of Schouwen-Duiveland

"De Zeereep"-the section of land between the sea and the bush

A beautiful path to ride on which was good because it was sandy and grassy otherwise

This small horse was in the way.

He stubbornly shook his head so I went gingerly around.

Farther along, another horse had the middle of the path blocked.

Finally, I got past them. Not only did I have to dodge around the horses but I also had to zigzag around their droppings!

The place of Haamstede--an area where you can rent bungalows and have ready access to the dunes and the beaches and the Nature reserve De Zeepeduinen.

Beside the windmill (Mill barleycorn-1847)  here, is a pancake house called Pannekoeken Molen. They serve over 30 different types of pancakes. They serve whole wheat pancakes with Zeeland Flail wheat, environmentally friendly wheat grown in the region and crushed here in the windmill. In their batter, there is no oil, fat or sugar. For the baking they use sunflower oil.

Open grassland to cross on dirt paths

It was hot and dusty.

I'm not sure if these were pens for animals or a way to prevent soil from blowing away. It was on a dike.

View of Grevelingen Lake (the inland water side) This is to my right as I cycle north.

The highway on the Brouwersdam is Highway N57. The orange section is the bicycle path and I am going straight ahead with the wind on my back. I stopped a few times to video the scene also.

On the North Sea side, Everyone was enjoying the HOT weather on the beach but I didn't see anyone IN the water.

A beach on the left North Sea side

Center Parcs Port Zelande- A family holiday park with many beach activities like windsurfing, diving, kitesurfing or blow karting.

The top of this world-- so to speak

Silver likes it here!!

At the end of the Brouwersdam, I stopped at a picnic table and had my little lunch. I didn't stay long because there was no shade. One man passed on his bicycle and then stopped because his tire was flat. I asked if I could help but he said he would just walk the bicycle back to  his car because he had just started out.

232. Europe Bicycle Trip--Oosterschelde Storm Surge Barrier

Today is July 4th, 2014. It is the 5th birthday of my twin granddaughters, Katcce and Isabelle. Happy Birthday, girls!!!!! Today is also Day79 of my trip. I am headed north from Walcheren and Zuid Beveland where I am to Noord Beveland and then across the Oosterchelde Storm Dam to Schouwen-Duiveland and then over another bridge dam to South Holland and eventually the city of  Brielle.

Lenny, in Middleburg made me a very nice filling breakfast and I left at 8:30. It was to be a hot day according to the weather man but the wind was supposed to come from the south which would be to my advantage.

A windmill inMiddleburg

This shed door has a church painted on the door.

Another windmill in the countryside

A cultural monument

Part of an old circular fortress

Glimpse of the North Sea

The dam is in view in the distance

Jacobahhaven

Beach houses along the sea

Getting closer...

...and closer

The bicycle path

A few homes close to the dam but much lower down

A walkway down to the beach

Leaving Noord Beveland to go over the dam to Schouven-Duiveland

The main road is on the right of the barrier. The bicycle path and work vehicle traffic is on the left of the barrier.

The mechanics of the Oosterschelde Dam

Looking back at all the dam works

Selfie

I was SO HAPPY to have warm weather and the wind on my BACK today.

Sign explaining the Oosterschelde flood barrier

This barrier was built after the great flood of 1953. It has held back all storms since then.

Much bird life

Much bird life

In 1978 when I was last in the Netherlands, ,my uncle and aunt took Dave and I here to the Delta Works for a tour

Panorama of Oosterschelde Dam Bridge

More openings to the beach