We heard this morning that someone called eminem is performing tonight in Nijmegen which probably accounts for one of the several stages erected in the town in the last two days.
The ferris wheel we had watched being erected during our stay in town was completed this morning when the last of the gondolas was attached and two crew were putting the advertising panels in place when we left.
It was easy getting out of town and we were very quickly on the excellent cycle path which runs along a dyke and is numbered at every intersection, making getting lost virtually impossible.
We were not always close to but were in sight of the River Waal for most of today's ride. Along the way we stopped for a few minutes to watch a couple of thatchers at work,
again when we saw our first Dutch windmill
and when we detoured off the dyke into the town of Beneden Leeuwen in search of a comfort stop and a coffee each. The coffee was served with a mini icecream and a small bowl of fresh cream, for the cost of 2,50 euros each!
Later, we stopped to eat our lunch while sitting on a bench watching the barges go by.
Back on the path again, we were stopped by an elderly gentleman calling out to us. Thinking he was going to tell us that the path was closed or that there was some danger ahead, when we explained that we didn't understand Dutch he quite excitedly spoke to us in English. It seemed that he just wanted someone to talk to and chose us so we had a very pleasant 10 minute conversation with him before moving on.
In spite of having to battle a strong wind again today, it was an enjoyable ride and in what seemed like no time at all, we'd reached our destination and checked in to the hotel.
The town of Tiel is across the river from the hotel and reached by ferry.
We took the bikes across and rode around a little then parked them to go walking through the attractive town
which has plenty of shops, cafes, pubs etc., calling in at one of the pubs for a drink. On hearing our Australian accents, the man at the next table struck up a conversation in which he told us he had visited the eastern states several times as a younger man and was eager to reminisce about old days. We invited him to join us, he introduced himself as Rene, a native of Tiel and we chatted for an hour or so before parting, calling in at Aldi's for a few supplies on the way to the ferry for the ride 'home'.
No comments:
Post a Comment