It was great to head on from our bed and breakfast with its traditional dutch styling straight into the countryside. There had been some rain in the night so everything was already looking a bit fresher from its drought stricken state.We cycled by numbers at first the green routes which take you off into the countryside and then went on a fast red direct cycle route to make sure we actually did cover a few kms before we had a coffee break, later we returned to cycle by green numbers to enjoy the countryside more.

We stopped in a little town called Rijssen at a great coffee shop, proper teas and big long milky coffee for Tim plus you get the free biscuit thrown in.I’d had to activate my optus phone for roaming in order to phone bed and breakfasts here in Holland ( Uk ee sim card not working long story) so took the chance to phone the family. I came back to find Tim chatting to the dutch couple on the next table who had a son living in Sydney and we discussed bicycles apparently 70% of new bikes being bought now in the Netherlands are ebikes! His wife was a bit like me if its flat you dont need an ebike! It is interesting that now we are in the Netherlands everyone greets us, in Germany sometimes and rarely in Denmark.

We had a beautiful route through forests , past fields of horses,cows and sheepThe highlight of today was a huge working windmill on our route..Crops were being watered by massive hosepipes.We stopped at a little rest place with a bench and a small hut with a freezer full of frozen yoghurts and tea and coffee facilities.We settled for a choc milk out of the cold box, now perhaps the Danes could learn a thing or two from the Dutch.You just put your money in the honesty box.Lunch was a bench in the shady forest.

We arrived into Devinter a town totally encircled by canals which are full of waterlilies so with more rain would look stunning.We had been struggling to find a hotel and ended up booking into a Boutique Hotel called The Finch.I was a bit embarassed walking in with my dust coloured legs yes a tractor had got us he wasn’t going to stop ploughing his fields for cyclists.The staff greeted us like royalty and we were given a room upgrade.As we walked into the room a gramophone started playing a record and it was cool, airconditioning that actually worked, magic.It had been a very warm humid day with storm clouds building but no rain.We had to reluctantly drag ourselves out of our amazing room to have a look at the town. The main square was unbelievably big and full of outdoor restaurant’s, the huge fountain was dry no spare water and the town history museum was in a very impressive 15th century building.We were too late for the museum so we grabbed a few delicacies and salads to have a meal in airconditioning comfort. Yes, I carry plates and sporks, the travel kettle nearly got chucked out but then we had about 3 places to stay with no kettle so it has continued its travels with us, on reprieve for the moment.

A spectacular night with lightning flashes and thunder, it also rained for some time but I was fast asleep and after the thunder and lightning didn’t hear a thing.

A relaxing breakfast surrounded by books I did start one and could have settled in for the day , definitely the sort of hotel you stay 2 days in.Breakfast served on a tray to our table just perfect.Anyway Tim was keen to get off so bikes were out in the street and Tim was actually putting my panniers on my bike.So I gathered myself and got on my bike.Not for long Tim had put my panniers on backwards so my foot was now wedged against my pannier and i couldn’t pedal, in serious danger of falling off I managed to get one foot out of the toe straps and down to the ground.Tim was laughing and assured me he didn’t know the panniers could only go on in a certain direction.

We set off on the fast red route out of Deventer across some huge bridges good inclines but we did actually overtake someone going uphill unheard of, no they werent 90, maybe 70.So it was a good ride into Appledorn where we went in search of coffee. We parked our bikes against the fence at the end of the coffee shop.When the waiter came out he told us we were lucky today as they hadnt put all the tables out in case of rain so we could park there.Apparently you can only park your bicycle at designated spots in Appledorn anywhere else your bike is taken away to the city bike pound and you have to pay 25 euros to get it back.It could have been a very expensive coffee stop.Very friendly waiter had a good chat he heard on the dutch news today covid cases on the rise again so new measures could be reintroduced soon, it looks like we are leaving at the right time.Houses today have been incredible many like mansions plus those with traditional 1/2 thatched and 1/2 tiled roofs. The dutch have developed a thatch which is more of a sandwich fibre which is less flammable and the steeper the roof the better the thatch works for water run off hence new buildings with thatch are very steeply roofed.

We then headed off on the green numbered routes which took us through huge forests with deer and wild pigs except we only saw squirrels. We then came out onto moorland “The Veluwe “which is quite famous in Holland so a lot of local people visit it.So the very narrow bicycle path could only be ridden at slow speeds to allow the myriads of other cyclists to pass our huge panniers.A sign warned of adders on the track and it was certainly warm enough for snakes but none emerged.The heather was flowering in spite of the drought but Im sure would have been a lot more spectacular with rain.Lunch was on a bench in the forest, peaceful.That was until chinook helicopters took to the sky as there is an American airbase USAG near here at Schinnen, although a USA airbase it still is under Netherlands law although making a racket on the moors is probably not an offence.

We cycled into Voorhuisen a pretty town but no significant historical buildings.We are staying in a small bed and breakfast as there are no hotels here, so we are up in the roof again, the steepest stairs we have ever encountered either, almost straight up.We do like the skylight in our roof room though.Our hosts don’t speak a lot of english still we have managed, as a lot of dutch words are similar to german.They are local to this area with photos of their grandparents who lived at Amersfoot 16kms away.They love their memorabilia. Our bedroom has a set of 5 pipes on the wall, someone smoking a pipe is now a rare event!Thankfully they dont smell of smoke or I’d be sneezing my head off.No shared bathroom either luckily the other person who rents the room upstairs is only here 3 days a week and not tonight.Phew.

Rain is forecast for tonight but nothing so far.