DAY 16
MONDAY MAY 16 2005
Transit Day
That B&B was the most civilized place I have ever been. Period. The ambience of the place shouted first world tranquility. So different from the night before in the tent. I just never know what to expect from each day anymore. Good or bad. I needed the tranquility and Leiden was so lovely. I wish I could have stayed another day or a week. It is a lot like Haarlem. I had the most unusual breakfast listening to classical music in a light filled room with hardwood floors.
The view from the bedroom of my window. Leiden.
I wish I had taken an interior shot of the bedroom itself. It was ultra modern with flowing sunlight. Amazing.
And in front of the B&B. Yes, the eggs were quite fresh for my breakfast. Leiden.
Some of my favorite flowers. Leiden.
Finally, The Rhine River! Was I excited? No. I was to exhausted to be excited. Ironic isn't? Leiden.
The obligatory windmill picture. Leiden.
I spent that morning wiped out. This makes another sleepless night. I spent the morning wondering if I should go home or not. This is hard, you guys. Mostly it is the unorganized way I am traveling. I don't know where I will sleep at night and it gives me great anxiety. Also, for me, traveling alone is so damn difficult. When I have had an exhausting day and am looking down there is no one to lift my chin up. I thought that the biking would be the hardest part, but that has turned out to be the easiest aspect of all. I did good buying that machine. The other is my budget. The fact of the matter is it would be cheaper doing it with two instead of one. If things don't tone down monetary wise I will have to break this trip up into segments and do a segment each summer.
Nevertheless, I decided to give it a go and train to Arnhem. Training there saves me a week in hotel bills. See I can be frugal. Maybe there I can buy the maps I need, start hostelling, and fall into a rhythm.
One ticket for me and one ticket for my bike.
But it was a close call this morning. To do it alone is hard and takes a lot of courage. Don't let anyone tell you different. These last few days as been a real hardship. I hope I adapt soon. It is supposed to be fun remember? I hear the Grand Canyon calling my name or maybe Hawaii.
What tipped the scales for me going on is I reread some of the journals that inspired me to do this in the first place. It was just the shot in the arm I needed. ;-)
I really like this tunnel with the futuristic curves. Arnhem.
Now as to the rest of my day: taking my heavy monstrosity, I'm talking about the bike :-), on the train was a worry for me. I left the B&B thinking madness, mayhem, and disorder. Just kidding.
My actual worry was this:
That the train would leave while I was still trying to get my bike on and I or my bike would fall and be crushed under the wheels. Don't laugh. I have only two minutes to load up. It is an art form. So I was expecting hell on wheels.
The actual reality was this:
On the first train I had 15 minutes to load up as they were taking a break or something. The car I needed to load my bike into pulled right up in front of me. Now, I ask you, how awesome is that? Furthermore there was a man and his wife to help me heft it up on. She was from India and he was Dutch. They even spoke English. I had no worries about when my stop was as it was the last of the line and when debarking a man helped me heft the monstrosity off. He took off without a word of thanks, just a surprised grunt or two about how heavy it was. The world is full of decent guys. Not all men are predators. At the next train I had an hour layover, which I used to watch everyone and learn. Some car doors you have to push a button to open, others slide open, others yet have handles that would pull open. The cars that allow bicycles are in the middle, and end. Not all bicycle symbols and in the same place on any given train and car. When my final train came I watched for the car I needed and was ready. I hefted it on all by myself and was pretty proud. The conductor verified for me which stop to get off at and all went well. So see, no injuries.
So now I am, of all things, at the Best Western in Arnhem eating Dominos pizza for dinner. By the way this is the best pizza I have had on this continent, ever. I spent three hours canvassing the city looking for something cheaper than 79 Euros plus 17 Euros for the internet in the room, but finally called it a night. See what I mean, logistics.
When I got to the room I started looking for hostels on the net and that was a much better idea. The next three to four days will be transitional days. I have to search for maps, good ones this time, do laundry, get back to Hillegom to pick up those straps, and gear up for the German part of my trip. Oh, and the most anticipated part, the Open Air Museum. I finally get to go to that again! This time I will spend more than an hour there since I don't have a tour bus to tote to.
My bike is longer than this car. Arnhem.
So the next few days will be rest days, sight seeing days, and transition days, After all I am only 26 miles from Germany now. There is no internet for laptops at the hostel so it will be a few days before I am in the Internet zone again.
Least favorite moment of the Day: Worrying. Having no maps, anymore. I cry when I am happy and proud of myself, I cry when I am relieved, I cry when I am unhappy. I am woman, hear me roar. Also two other hair razing moments were when a giant galloping horse came charging by me in the bike lane with a rider of course. Fortunately, I was stopped and off my bike at that moment. The second was when I almost got hit from behind by a motorcycle. Dutch profanity has a unique ring to let me tell you. Apparently I am coming to find out the bicycle trail is for anything and everything that is not a car. Mopeds, horses, rollerbladers, and what have you.
Favorite Moment of the Day: I made it to Arnhem and learned the train system to boot! But most of all the Dutch people I have met along the way have been so very friendly and helpful. All I have met have wished me success on this trip. That is so heartwarming! There was this one old man who gave me directions to Leiden which was exactly the opposite of what was sign posted and he was right on the money. Another old, old man stopped me while he was passing in is wheel chair and with very limited English said "I hope the wind is at your back". Heartwarming! A woman turned her bike around and went out of her way to stop and say Hi and help be a part of this trip and this is a big city too! These people are amazing!