From Vic in Breda to Mieke in Boechout near Antwerp

 I woke up at 5 and checked my phone messages. I was downstairs by 7:30  and had most of my bike altogether. An early start becuse my next host wanted me to arrive in early afternoon and I had over 60 km. to cycle. Vic and I had tea and I had granola, fruit and yogurt sweetened with ground apricots. Then we hugged and said goodbye. May God bless Vic. Thank you for hosting me.

It was cool today and riding was nice. I photographed a war tank, some ducks in a row, houseboats and a strange statue. 

Then when I went to make a right turn to cross a street , I turned the handlebar too far and took a fall. A car stopped and two others behind them. Renée and Jos pulled over to the side, lifted their engine hood and ran over to pick up me and Silver. Then although I have a first aid kit Jos got theirs from the car and patched up my knee. Luckily I did not put down my hand and break my wrist. May God bless them for coming to my help. I waved goodbye and then had to fiddle a little with the chain  until it finally worked. 

I crossed the border into Belgium and followed the Edward canal for about 20 km . There were 10 locks on it. The water  levels kept going down. 

I took a short lunch break. It started to sprinkle and I put on a coat and rain legs but it never poured.  Finally I arrived at the address and met Mieke and Bob. We put Silver in the shed and had a cup of tea together and got acquainted During the afternoon I worked on requests and photos and we talked about our families. Bob was busy repairing Mieke's flat tire on her new E bike. She made a delicious supper of zucchini and cucumber  soup and couscous and beet roots , a tomato and cheese salad and a cucumber and cheese salad. In the evening they left on their bikes to meet family at the circus and I had a shower , did requests and photo work.

Abe and Wil in Stolwijk to Vic in Breda

 We were up late watching Abe's documentary about this area so we were moving around about 9 this morning. We talked over breakfast about all the wonderful and unique trips they have taken by bike and boat. Wil made me a cheese sandwich and gave me a cucumber. They pulled Silver out of the garage and helped load her. Wil took some photos and I was off under beautiful skies and not too much wind. 

Everything  went well  with photos of a bunker and windmill and I made it to the ferry  just as it came across . Three of us went on. 

As the day went on I saw another windmill and took  a break on a picnic table in a wooded section and another in a bus shelter. I had some navigation  trouble at a big bridge but after asking 3 different  people I finally got on and over it. I had long stretches of straight  nice biking and made it to Breda about 3 pm. I waited at a bench in front of Breda University and had a snack . At 4 I walked the short distance to Vic's house and waited until she came home at 5.  

We greeted and I gave my card, a Canada flag and city pin and visited over a cup of tea. She used to be a teacher but now helps with a thrift store where proceeds go to help children in Africa.  She is divorced and has 2 daughters and a son.

We walked to the store and bought some yogurt and fruit. For supper we had a tomato soup with crackers and dried kale leaves and rice and vegetable mixture with cheese sauce. We talked all evening until 10. 

 

Hoofddorp to Abe and Wil in Stolwijk

 After a restless night again I woke at 9 and Carla was busy with the grandchildren downstairs. I checked my phone and then brought all my bags downstairs and got Silver loaded. I had some breakfast , said goodbye to Dick who was going exercising and Carla and who took my photo. 

I was off . It was cool and windy. Komoot worked great as I went past skateboard places, greenhouses, sheep, my first windmill, beautiful houses and great bicycling roads and many canals. I arrived at Abe and Wil's at about 2 :30 and it spit a few drops of rain just as I unloaded . We had a cup of tea and got reacquainted from the last visit. Their son Mark also said hello. Abe is working on a documentary of this area. Wil has her birthday and was getting lots of phone calls. We enjoyed a nice supper of broccoli  , potatoes and a cheese sauce and cucumber salad with cheese for dessert. Then Wil gave me a tour of the yard with flowers, trees, chickens and showed me how she catches, kills  the crayfish and gives some to the chickens and boils, cracks and eats the rest in salads. I tried one and it was better than the lobster I have had.  The granddaughters, Lotte 8 and Fleur 6 from next door  came over and I played with them . Then we watched the documentary and it was another late night.

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Last day with Dick and Carla

 In the morning after a restless sleep I filled up each of the panniers. Dick and Carla had picked up their two granddaughters, Riley and Fayen last night to sleep over. It was a BUSY day taking care of them. I got to give the baby her bottle 4 times. Carla showed all the tickets which are three dimensional cards, bracelets that you load with money to enter the different stages and her   cap with the theme logo. Live today- Love tomorrow- Unite forever . In the evening Dick talked about their work in Gambia to helpa young man and his family. May God bless them for this.  Then we watched part of a movie about Columbus. 12 pm to bed.