I confess no post was put in yesterday because the only bed and breakfast in Amerongen that would open for us on a public holiday was a luxury one which supplied 2 small bottles of red wine and as hubby cant drink alcohol anymore I had to help out.As I dont drink a lot I was then rendered incapable which is very dangerous situation when you are sleeping in one of those old fashioned timber bed boxes with a beam above your head.

The reason everyone was having a holiday as it was Liberation Day a public holiday celebrated every 5 years, you can see why everyone was making the most of it!Locals came to the rescue and located bed and breakfast owner who thankfully came back for half an hour ,gave us tea and cake,opened up for us and left us the whole guest house to ourselves!

Cycling yesterday was very scenic fields of horses,sheep and cows all rushing to see us as we peddled past, i felt i should have a bale of hay on the back of the bike to dish out…I prefer not to mention the 45mins trying to work out a deviation due to the enlarging of a lock for ocean liners which was at the beginning of our day, for some reason somebody failed to put the deviation signeage up for cyclists, we got through eventually….Morning coffees/teas was at Wijk bij Duurstede an atractive town with the odd bit of ancient stonework, castle and drive through windmill around.It was bitterly cold by Aussie standards so the morning stop was required just to defrost.

We stopped for the day in Amerongen a beautiful village full of pollarded trees and lunched by candlelight at the local pub/hotel.It had a very party atmosphere and the bar was full being a public holiday hence the hunt for a bed and breakfast.We needed sleep.

Word of warning if you dont like glassy eyes of stuffed birds and animals looking at you dont stay at the bed and breakfast in the main square..not cheap 120 euros but  that was probably  public holiday rate, otherwise great place, roomy and good breakfast and most importantly secure shed for the bikes.