AMSTERDAM NOORD AND THE SMALL TOWN HARBOURS-DAY 9

9/11/2015

Today the Thomases set off on a blind journey north with hopes of  good day. It turns out great. The weather did  clear but the wind was a pest. It is a geographic certainty. The node bike system from Belgium is used here as well and after a rocky start comes through. We end up with over 80 kilometers through almost storybook countryside. The start brings us bike parking, a ferry(free) and countryside. The High Rise was our beacon for the day.

The nodes--here they are posted. Follow the numbers in the map for miles

Amazing parking structure...for bikes

The Ferry 

Our beacon, if needed. 

Hidden church

The trip took the three of us(including BOB) along the dikes and in and out of picturesque towns. Crowded waterside towns, farmland, animals, waterways and simple places made it an eye candy day. However  these lands were flood prone and destroyed until the "Dutch" became water experts and reclaimed the land.

Views from a dike we ride for miles.

Waken a harbor that is reclaimed land from the sea.

Amazing they did not hit as we left the harbor

Vonderdam--also reclaimed

Waken  and Vonderdam  were classic and known as Small Town Harbours. The first two were busy places as picture perfect tourist locations illustrated above.   Lunch was had in Monnickendam where BOB found a friend and scenery abound.

Thomas Cafe ...of course

Cyclist gets help from a motorcycle

Monnickendam

Fried bananas....yummy

BOB's friend

Room...barely

Our wheels

Landis in Holland

The Captain

Hotair's broken headlight

Happy ferry pilot

North Amsterdam entry

The day ended with some riding back to Centrum (the heart of Amsterdam) looking for a store that sold maps and learning there will be no WiFi at the houseboat. At least they refunded one nights cost. Hotair  gets to sit aside a canal in the dark as well.

The night called Friday is to  end like many for Hotair. It is pizza night, that is, Friday night. The location is Tommaso's of course. This was an eclectic location.

Pepsi

Running chocolate

Ahh yes but we are in Amsterdam on a Friday. One more trip to the Red Light District and a visit to the Sexy Art Museum seemed appropriate. WARNING SOME SEXY SAMPLES FOLLOW.

The sexy Art Stuff

Do not look too close

BOB......BOB

Madonna

Disney you have never seen

Guys are there also

More chocolate of course

Train station at night

Tomorrow there is hope the weather holds for one last riding day as a big storm is forecast. The Hague, Netherlands and the World's capital is the likely last day.


                                                                     JUST PEDAL