Thursday, August 29th, 2019, Day 51-Josephine Arrives

I woke up later today and thought if I got on the bus later, I might be able to use the ticket twice in the 90 minutes that it is good. So I walked slowly to the bus. When I  got on, neither of the tickets in my hand worked. I tried to explain to the driver that one had to work since it had not been used. This discussion took at least 10 minutes while we were riding and there was no way I was going to buy another one. Finally I sat down and decided to look through my handlebar bag and guess what I found-my third ticket. I went forward and tried it and sure enough it worked. I felt just a little embarrassed and asked him to throw out the other two.

At the airport, I made out Ellen right away and said hello and together we waited for a long time. It took forever for the luggage to be unloaded from the plane.

Many other people arrived and were greeted by family and friends.

Finally I spotted Josephine coming through the doors.

She didn't see me.

She had come out just ahead of her neighbours.

I was introduced to Josephine's neighbour and other family members that I would be joining for the Cycle Tour trip and we took a group shot. Then we said goodbye and headed to the exit and the bus. The first bus was full so we waited for the next one. My morning ticket was still good for this bus. After another changeover where I had to buy a new ticket, we arrived near Ellen's house and walked the rest of the way.

We had tea and coffee and a toutje.

It was delicious but the top was very crusty.

The bus that I took back after the visit to Ellen's was before my 90 minutes were up on the ticket. It let me off at Bos Noord so I had a long walk down the IJ weg to the house.

Later I went by bicycle to the closest Albert Heijn to try to buy a bus card. I got one at a store called Bruna and also bought a house warming card and little piggie saving bank for Marnix and Renike. Then I bicycled to Tussenweg to the Vodafone store and had him put in my third card. I bought an ice cream and headed home.

Carla had to work tonight and Dick had invited Dennis and Panta-Rhea for supper so I helped him cut some vegetables and set the table. We had a nice meal together and I cleaned up in the kitchen while they had a business discussion with Dick.
   Later after they left, Dick and I waited for Carla to come home. We chatted again until 12:30 am. and I said goodnight.

Wed. .Aug.28th, 2019 Day 50 Wrong Day

I think that I was awake all night. When I know I have to wake up early, I don't sleep well. It was also a little warm during the night. I finally got up at 6 am. and went quietly out of the house. The dogs cooperated by being fairly quiet. I had to walk about 800 meters to the bus stop. I was hoping to use cash but that is not possible. I had to use visa and it was 6.50 Euros and only good for 90 minutes. It didn't take long to get to Schiphol.

This airport is huge and busy. I found the chart for Josephine's plane from Toronto and it landed 15 minutes early. I looked around for Ellen and since I have not seen her for 5 years I wasn't sure exactly how she looked now. Twice I thought I saw someone that looked like her and even asked one lady but the answer was no. 

It took forever for the sign to say that the luggage from that plane was on the belt. I kept looking and looking and no Josephine appeared. A couple hours went by as I watched other people meet their relatives and still no one for me to greet and no Ellen. 

Finally I thought maybe they had met somewhere else and I had missed it all so I decided to call Ellen's phone number. Well no answer the first time so a little later when I was sitting on the stairs because my back was sore, I called Ellen again and got an answer and to my great surprise I found out that Josephine would arrive tomorrow morning. Boy did I feel DUMB. I should have known that since my flight on July 10th had arrived the following day,July 11th  in the morning also. I was a little dejected and went to the Albert Heijn grocery store and bought a drink and some almond paste filled cookies because I was famished. Then I looked around to see if I could find a cheaper way to buy train tickets but with no luck. I landed up buying two tickets, still at 6.50  Euros each for now and tomorrow morning. I took the 397 bus instead of 341 but it let me off at another place but almost immediately I knew I was on the other side of the lake behind Dick's place.

I stopped to watch students playing relay games on the grass. They  do this to get the students acquainted with each other at the start of the school year.

All their bicycles were parked by the cycle path. Later I went for a jog and then had a nice shower and cleaned up.

In the later afternoon, Carla brought her mother, Dickie, over for a visit. We had a very nice time speaking in Dutch together. Dickie lives with a man calked Dick who depresses her sometimes with his negativity toward life and the family think it is good for Dickie to get out more often. I always changed the conversation when she started to talk about his problems.

We had tea and then a little drink and toasted and laughed and time passed quickly until she had to leave. 

Dick's godson Oscar who is also their nephew on Carla's side (Dico's son ) came over for supper. He is a student at Delft and has been a swimmer all his life . He just came from swimming around Toolenburger Plas a few times with a friend. 

Oscar with Carla

Sepp

Playing with the dogs

Oscar, Dick and Carla

I often take photos of photos on Carla's cell phone so I have photos of everyone in the family. This is Yvonne, Carla's younger sister.

I went to bed at 10 pm again tonight so I could wake up early for the airport but not as early as today.

Tuesday, August 27th,2019 Day 49 A very HOT tour of Amsterdam with Silver

Today, I decided that even though it was going to be hot, Silver and I would go to Amsterdam and check out where we would have to go to meet the barge on Saturday. It is about 24 km one way and with a little cycling in the city I would get a good 55km. day on her. We left after morning tea and coffee time. I made a raisin bun to take for my lunch. I brought the pump and only one bag with tire changing supplies.

During the first week of school, the students have lots of outdoor games to get acquainted with each other. As I passed Amsterdam Hogeschool, the yard was full of students enjoying many water games.

There is a sports complex as part of the school.

I passed the place where I had my rear flat tire the night I got off the train at Amsterdam Central Station.

I knew that the dock for the barges was to the right of the train station and near Nemo Science Centre so I cycled in that direction and had no trouble finding Nemo and their ad for a bicycle display. I would like to go and see that sometime but today I do not want to leave my bicycle for long.

I found Oosterdok 2 and 3 right after that.

There were a few barges there today but the one we would be on would be in use until Saturday when we could go on it in the afternoon.

I asked someone to take my photo on the bridge back to Central Station. I had to pee so I found a Starbucks that had a tree to tie Silver to and I went in and bought a drink and cookie and with your receipt you get the number to go into the bathroom. I did it all in a hurry because in Amsterdam bicycles get easily stolen.

In the afternoon  I bicycled up and down the streets and side streets. It was so hot I had to stop  once more on a side street to buy another cold drink. I just wheeled Silver right into the store.

The Amsterdam Central Station

Selfie

The Dam Square and the Palace

Madame Toussand building

Narrow streets

Kerk

Narrow street

Stroopwafels...

...and more

I bicycled in and out and every which way.

By a canal

Bicycles, water, boats and tall buildings and a clear unclouded sky

Selfie

At about 3:30 pm. I decided that it was too hot to stay and after a wrong direction start I finally reconnected with my route and started the hour plus ride back to Dick's. On the way home I saw this "I Amsterdam" sign with nobody near it and tried to take some photos.

In the evening Daniel and his former girl friend, Monique came by to change and go play with surf boards in the lake. Carla went with Sepp who they put on the board for a few times. Dick went for a walk with Victor. I should have changed quickly and gone swimming but I didn't move fast enough so I stayed behind to watch the house.  

I went for a walk later and watched the sun set.

I went to bed early at 10 pm because I had intentions of taking the bus to meet Josephine at the airport tomorrow morning for 7:30 arrival.