Bicycling The Netherlands: D 0.5

Such high hopes were involved in the taking of this photo...

Seems like we're in a different decade (?!) since my last post so I thought it might be appropriate to lift the rusty hinges off this blog and put some words down. And why not start back up with another bicycle tour? Because I like to give the impression that I actually enjoy traveling long distances on two wheels and that it doesn't take extreme bribery to get me to don hotpants that feel like adult diapers, endure excruciating posterior discomfort, and have the revelation that I'm hopelessly out of shape forced upon me.

But I digress. Moving to a new country during the pandemic sucked. Starting a new job in a new country during the pandemic sucked x3 (but my co-workers are lovely. Even in 2D). J and I were in a bit of a rut so decided to take advantage of the marvelous work-life-balance package that is part of virtually every Dutch job and took a whole week off like it was nothing to give our spirits a bit of a make over. And instead of lazying around on the couch eating bon bons and watching You Tube like I wanted to, I let Jason convince me to go on a bike tour. Because, you know, why not.

What was the bribe this time? 1) visiting our friends Y and A in Alkmaar, 2) seeing tulips 3) getting to ride the tandem, and 4) attempting the trip...SANS MAP! The benefits of visiting friends basically convinced me to do it (ignoring that you can also do this by train). The tandem was icing on the cake - I wouldn't have to always ride in front and break wind (in more ways than one) lest be left far behind, and we'd go twice as fast (or so my non-engineering brain figured). No map = bragging rights and potential stories.

Signs such as these make the crazy possible.

Me already looking apprehensive as the droplets begin to fall.

...the spoiler alert is the title of this post, because Day 1 didn't quite happen. Let's sum it up here:

1. It rained from the get-go (it's the Netherlands, yes, but the preceding 3 days had gloriously blue skies)
2. Km 20 (mile 12): Spoke #1 snaps
3. (the only) Bicycle shop in Zoetermeer did not sell spokes or new wheel rims (WTF: Dutchies - is this normal????)
4. Km 32.8 (mile 20.4): Spoke #2 snaps
5. Tire was so wonky we couldn't ride/fix it
6. Tried to lift our spirits to find a cutsie hotel to stay in at Leiden but of course neither of us have smartphones, and are too cold and dejected to ask anyone

Jason after finding out that spokes aren't necessarily common items in Dutch bike shops.

...so we hopped on the train back to Rotterdam.

The End.



Just KIDDING. To be continued....