But... how about about that first ever trip we took past a working windmill?
What about the locks along the Amsterdam Rhine Canal (the Rhine Canal is the most heavily used canal in Western Europe)
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPnEOIRd1QHUpBOX87SAU13PO3cm8RjRZgfCJ-Z
Neither the picturesque villages we ride through…
The snack trailer which seems to be doing a brisk business out in the middle of nowhere...
Tough crowd.
Well hold on ladies - cuz this is what I came here for: to see how the Dutch do what they do. As a cyclist, N shares my passion, and has been showing me this infrastructure all day. Throughout, I’m intrigued to see the Dutch consistently prioritizing bikes, even in the country side.
Before we leave N's apartment, he comments about the wind being in our favor. I think he must be some sort of wuss. Who designs their route around the wind? In my world, you just ride (man-up, N!). But as a city mouse, I know nothing of what it means to live in the flatlands where the wind is fierce, and there is nothing to stop it – like here, out on the dijks (there’s a reason the wind turbines are located here).
Throughout this ride, N is the soul of patience, riding at half speed to accommodate my little one-speed rental. He seems amused as I razz him periodically:
“You’re not filming this, are you?” he asks, suddenly realizing our conversations may all be recorded via my helmet cam.
“Of course not!” I reply deadpan.
He gives me the wry international sign for the F word before pedaling onward (this happens more than once).
The guy kinda gets me.
The end of the ride finds us at Amsterdam Noord, where we scramble to find the ferry landing to take us to Amsterdam proper. We get on at the last minute.
After so many years of the single life and early rejection from every possible dating site on the web, I consider myself virtually (and actually) undatable, so I don’t even go there. But we are relaxed; he is funny and – not that it matters - single. 20 days older than I am.
When he rides me back to my hotel, we make quick plans for another ride. Still in denial, I think V must have some real sway with him to persuade him to do this twice.
Then he is off.