253. Europe Bicycle Trip--Day 90--Goodbye Dick and Many Thanks, Goodbye Netherlands

Day 90, Tuesday, July 15th, 2014 I did not sleep much last night. I think that I was awake from 3 am on so that I wouldn`t miss the 5 o`clock alarm. I got up, showered and dressed and brought my suitcase and backpack downstairs and ate a couple of yogurts that Carla had left for me. .Dick also was up early just to bring me on time to the airport even though he was in some pain from the leg surgery he had yesterday. We turned into the 10 minute parking area so he wouldn't have to walk far. We loaded the bicycle box and my suitcase on a cart and hurried into the airport. I knew exactly where to go and we made it to the line up. We were to go next and then for some reason, the lady said we had to go to the other side and that would put us about 4 people back from where we had been. dick and I were not very happy about that! I was glad that I had weighed my box and suitcase carefully and had no trouble with weight when I checked in. Dick pointed me then in the direction of where I had to bring the box to over size luggage area. Then we said goodbye.

Good bye Dick. It has been so wonderful to get to know you and your Carla and your sons. You have been more than generous to me and I will never forget your kindness. You make the Van der Prijt name so proud!!! God bless you and yours always.

When I was through customs, I had quite a bit of time to wait before my plane departed . I could see different KLM planes through the windows.

Perhaps this one will be the one that I will be boarding.

I had some Euros left over and found out that if you spend a certain amount and it is put in a yellow bag, it will not count as an extra carry on. I had only bought one souvenir for myself in the Netherlands ( a little sculpture of a dad and mom and 4 girls and 1 boy in the middle in Alkmaar at the cheese market) and so I now bought a bicycle-Holland mug, a set of placemats, a carry bag with windmills and  a fancy bottle with a windmill. Now I had my hands full and headed to the check in area for my flight. 

I found it interesting waiting with all the passengers of my plane. I spent some time while I was waiting talking to a couple that were Anglican ministers who had just come back from Africa and were headed to Toronto for a few days before returning to Elliot Lake where they reside. I found my window seat which was right over the wing of the airplane.

Photos I took from my plane window--"The Flying Dutchman--PH-AOI--KLM"

An engine

Good bye Netherlands. It has been a fantastic, wonderful, 90 day trip which I will never forget. My Dutch family, and all the friends that I met here have accepted me with love and with much Dutch hospitality.

The food cart came along but I had a touchy stomach maybe from eating too much yogurt this morning. i felt bad for the two men sitting beside me because I had to ask them to get up several times so I could visit the washroom. I did take the time to watch a few movies. We had a good flight with no turbulence.

KLM brought a very nice supper but with my touchy stomach I only allowed myself to eat a couple of dinner rolls and a little later I did eat the cream puffs that were for dessert. Takeoff, flight and landing in Toronto went very smoothly and I thanked the Lord for a safe ride with KLM.