Day 11
Wednesday MAY 11 2005
Part One
This morning started with me enjoying breakfast with Han's family as I was the only guest. His nieces were there 6 and 11 years of age. We ended up playing Rock, paper, scissors, in English. Brings back memories of grade school. It was really nice, as a foreigner, to be able to enjoy breakfast with an outgoing, friendly, Dutch family. Hans gave me directions to the Tulip fields and Keukenhof, which is a formally kept flower garden, apparently it takes hours to traverse.
So first off to the bike shop. My legs were aching from all the previous days walking so I started remembering little tricks I do to make long walks comfortable for me. Things like when lifting my leg I completely relax it. This give a chance for the calf muscle to relax. One second relaxed when off the ground and one second tensed when on the ground. Try it sometime, it really works.
I took a short cut to the bike shop, which typically ended being a long cut, but what a walk. Here is my view on the way to the shop.
Sorry for the odd size. This was a sign for of all things a hair salon.
Beautiful court yard I stumbled upon. Pictures don't do it justice.
Window shopping. The lower one is a picture of a lime green bathroom sink.
Well, my bike wasn't ready, they haven't even started on it yet. What could I say. The people here use their bikes for work commuting. I use mine for pleasure. I must be patient. It was my secret hope that I could head for the Rhine tomorrow, another day even earlier than planned, but it looks like that's not to be, after all. I truly am anxious to start my trip. I hope they don't make my handle bars worse. I have worried the whole day away about that possibility. It seems to me that no matter where I am or what I am doing worrying, for me, is as ever present as the color of my skin. Oh well, time will tell about the handle bars. I will still do the Tulip fields as a test ride tomorrow.
Part Two
Here are some pictures showing how I spent my day. First I went to the tourist information center at the train station to pick up maps for tomorrow's journey. Then I explored more of Haarlem's quiet charms. Did you know I calculated with the odometer on my bike all the walking miles I have done in the last seven day? I have walked a total of 105 miles. Oh the blisters! But what fun!
Fields of flowers, forget that! This is a country I could like!
Old time buildings.
My view on the way to the bicycle shop.
How and when this I happened I don't know. I never even felt it.
As you can see in the following picture, I was able to pick up my bike at three pm. They did a wonderful job on my left handlebar. All that worrying for nothing, as usual. My right handlebar was already done in Anchorage. I spent a relaxing afternoon feeding the pigeons and finally, finally enjoying the warm sun.
Pigeons in Market Square.
Dinner at hotel Caruso.
You can just see my bike through the Hotel Caruso window.
Can any of you car buffs fill me in about this one?
My view on the way to the supermarket.
So I leave you now. Tomorrow morning I head to the mouth of the Rhine via the lovely flower fields of Holland. I will continue to write daily, but I will only post when I can find an internet that takes laptops or free wi-fi, so there may be two or three days posted at any given time. I will say that tonight as I go to sleep I am as excited as a kid at Christmas! Such a wonderful feeling.
Adieu.
In conclusion:
Favorite & Least favorite aspects:
Haarlem has made a wonderful bridge for me. Seven days of relaxation and recuperation to thrust off the worries of the old working world and to prepare me for the coming of the cycling world. It was by far the most relaxing seven days of vacation I have ever had! The only thing missing was Jeff.