Day 1 cycle- Hoofddorp to Gouda-45.4km

I hardly slept again last night and this time also woke up at 6 am. I did a facebook and blog entry. Then after packing the bicycle we all had breakfast together. Abou had his Canada handkerchief tied around his head.  When I was all ready my program on the phone wasn't showing so I had to turn on data to fix it. I followed Komoot voice navigation all the way and it was perfect . The only problem for a little bit was a road blocked. It was a pretty ride with lots of small canals, beautiful flowers, swans and ducks and very little traffic because it is Sunday. There were lots of bicycles especially racing style bicycles with guys working out. I saw one bicycle that looked like a racing car but a man said it was a velo bicycle. I stopped for three bridges that lifted up ,two from a hinge and one straight up and down like an elevator. In Gouda, I called Tante Betty and when I cycled down the apartment building driveway, she was waving from the balcony. We got Silver partly unloaded and locked in her storage locker and went up and visited while I ate my apple and a cheese sandwich she made. I hadn't  brought up my bag with cords and chargers and got worried that I might have left them at Carla's, but thankfully found them. We spent a long, fun time trying to get Whats App to work and finally with Carola's help we got it. Supper was delicious-hamburg patty, carrots and peas and boiled potatoes with gravy. Dessert was yogurt. The evening was spent looking at a special photo book of Ome Jan and learning things on our phones.

Dick and Carla's home

Dick and Carla have a beautiful home. It is very old but Dick has refinished it as well as adding additions. I am very thankful to be welcomed here by them every time I come.

July 13th Plans change- working in the garden

Today I woke up again at 10 after being awake again during the night. I stayed an extra day because  Dick wanted me to meet some people but they cancelled out. Tante Betty is expecting me tomorrow so another day with Dick and Carla and Abou will be very nice. After a short rain and great Dutch breakfast, we started working outside taking down wedding flowers.  I worked on the archway. At lunchtime we made a plan to go bicycling to the dunes or close to the airport to watch big planes take off. Abou wanted the Schiphol outing. It was to be at 2 o'clock. I continued working taking down glass test tubes from the tunnel of love. They were all tied on with wires that I had to untwist. However Abou got a headache and fever and went to bed so our outing didn't happen. It also stayed overcast all afternoon. Later I helped Carla move crates of flowers to different parts of the garden. It does look very beautiful. We had a late supper made by Dick- corn coated chicken breast, green beans and corn, mashed potatoes and gravy and yogurt for dessert. We talked and used Google Earth to show where we lived.

Then we all watched the movie, Intouchables, together. The main character is from Senegal like Abou. I gave him gifts from Canada .

July 12th. Dico and a quick trip to Amsterdam

Today I slept in  until 10 after  being awake in the  middle of the night for a long time.  WOW.   It was 10 oclock and Dico, Carla's brother was coming to help me with Silver's front rack. We got it all tightened and then went inside for tea  and looked at maps. I told him a trail  that I would like to take. He called a store in Amsterdam with a book for that and then we went immediately with Carla's car for a quick half hour ride to the city. The store was not far from the freeway . Then we had to wait a bit for an accident. He was worried about parking so I started to pray about that and God answered that prayer quickly as when we got near there we saw that a car was pulling out. In about 5 minutes, we had paid for the spot and purchased the book and taken 2 photos on the street. The way back required a little detour due to construction so on one little side canal road I saw a boy standing on the back of a bicycle. COOL We had lunch after our return to Hoofddorp and I spent the rest of the afternoon looking at photos of Daniels wedding. Carla made a nice hamburg and salad supper and we talked the evening away.

Flying day

Easy morning at home. Arrived at airport just after 12:30. Lots of construction on the way. Nice lady at the counter didn't even weigh the bicycle. She believed me when I told her almost the exact weight that the suitcase was. I gave her a card and fridge magnet to follow my trip.   On the plane I was next to 93 year old Joan Collins who worships at Bethel Chapel so we knew lots of people in common. She is on the way to her daughter's house in Toronto to look at the basement which will become her new home in August. Her house is in the P- Patch and she is looking forward to the move. I was not impressed with the loading of my bicycle. They stood it on it's end once they got it in and in Toronto when it was unloaded it was placed on the top of a bunch of suitcases instead of placing it on the trolley floor.  In the airport, I wandered around for a while. I met Julie who is going to Denmark and Sweden and she videoed my airport antics. I had my supper cheese sandwich , talked to Melissa ,did a Facebook entry and a blog entry.

Arrival day

July 11th. Arrived in the Netherlands about half an hour late. Two angels to help- one to lift the heavy suitcase off the moving belt and another to help with the bicycle box all the way from the conveyor belt ,through the custom's gate and out of the secure area. There Dick greeted me with a big Dutch hug and together we pushed the cart to his Mercedes SUV. A very short drive brought us to Hoofddorp where Carla greeted me. I was also introduced to Abou,  a young man from Senegal, who is their guest here. We had tea and caught up with all the news, especially everything about Daniel, their son, and his wedding to Mariska. Carla showed me the attic room that will be mine every time I return here during this trip. It has lots of room 2 dressers, 2 desks , 2 chairs and a twin bed. Later she had to go to work , and Dick and Abou went to the gym and I unloaded Silver and started reassembling all the parts that had been taken off to pack her. Dick made a nice rice and  chicken and sauce supper . I continued on the bicycle and after evening tea and snack, I went to bed.