We woke to an amazing view out of our window at hotel kinderdijke mist swirling across the wetlands with windmills standing like resiliant giants in the backgound.On opening the window we were met with a cacophany of bird sound,geese, ducks and all manner of other birds plus an icey wind , the window was rapidly shut.

The breakfast room faced the lek river so we were able to watch barges traversing the river whilst munching through the usual dutch breakfast fare of bread,cheese and hard boiled eggs.We were fortunate they also threw in some muesli more our normal breakfast fare!

By 830am we were packed up and ready to go, our bikes had been safely kept in a store room overnight.We set off straight into a strong headwind but beautiful sun. I had done my research in May westerlies are meant to blow and so we should have been pushed along instead of facing into an icey wind from russia with love!

Beautiful cycling on tiny tracks between canals with prolific bird life from swans to coots plus sheep,horses and cows in fields so picturesque. Very rural compared to our first days cycling so less contact with people and cars.

In my exhausted state i failed to record yesterday the staunchness of the dutch people cycling without hats or gloves even old ladies with blue lips ,pinched with cold still not wearing gloves. I admire their tenacity.

The other thing of note is no helmets  cycling and you are allowed to take risks hotel manager encouraged us to climb onto roof to take photos of the windmills. No nanny state here!

Friendly coffee spot and lunch overlooking the lek river however our guide book did say our final town of today had accomodation but on arrival noone knew of a hotel anywhere.That headwind had taken it out of us but after asking around we finally were directed to a bed and breakfast….not just a bed and breakfast a whole apartment overlooking the main attraction of Vreeswiljk the famous lock gates.The downside 3 flights of very steep stairs agggh my bike is still not quite right so knees are suffering.When owners were not looking I crawled up much easier .Hubbys knees ok but muscles suffering so equally difficult. Maybe we have to absail out in the morning….

A mere 53kms clocked off the 950kms left to Bodensee  will we make it…..

Bed en Broodjes Vreeswijk Jan en Lies Monster

DORPSTRAAT 52

jl.monster@planet.nl

Ps.Only 1 apartment hence a secret B@ B no sign outside…..it took us 4 leads to find it just aswell or wed have been sleeping on the streets maybe we should have booked ahead…..

I