We left a quiet early Sunday morning Haarlem and took a dizzying array of cycle paths out to Zandvoort on the coast. In the distance we could hear the sound of race cars practicing as we rode closer.
And that wasn't all that was racing. Every road and mountain biker in Holland was out there practicing, not to mention the scores of ordinary travellers like ourselves. The morning was spent riding south through the sand dunes. Somehow they all seemed to be uphill! Hmmmm. Not quite such a flat country as it looks!
Of course we stopped mid-morning for coffee - you know that about us by now.
Lunch on the beach was very enjoyable. The Dutch were out in force taking advantage of a great late summer weekend.
We went further south to Katwijck where we turned inland. The people here really enjoy boating on the canals. The traffic is almost as heavy as on the roads.
By mid afternoon we got to the beautiful city of Leiden which became prosperous in the Middle Ages for its textile trade. Think the pilgrims left from England on the Mayflower? Wrong(ish). They left from Leiden on the Speedwell. They put in at Southampton and sold the Speedwell because it leaked. They bought the Mayflower instead and sailed on to found the first colony in America. They were English though - religious refugees who left England in 1608 for Holland to escape persecution.
Leiden is a lovely old city with canals, a university, a lively entertainment and restaurant scene and our fantastic hotel - the House van Leyden. Over 400 years old and beautifully renovated. Our host, Gerhardt could not have been more helpful. Here he is going over the map with us.
Dinner tonight at the Waag was simply outstanding. Way too good a time was had and bittebolen at Annie's beforehand helped set the scene. Oliebols on the way into town made this a day of good Dutch eating.
Tomorrow we head for Delft but we all could have easily stayed one more day here.
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