May 20, 2024 Breukelen to Amsterdam

The boat engines started at 7 a.m. this morning, but we stayed in place until 8 a.m., the lock schedule is on holiday operations since today is a holiday, Whit (Pentecost) Monday. Outside it was raining but it ended after ten minutes. At 7 a.m. the temperature was 15°C, cloudy skies with occasional showers and wind was NNW 14 gusting to 23 km/hr. Most of the morning there were sunny breaks. The forecast for this afternoon was rain for the Netherlands and Belgium.

We had breakfast as we cruised on the way to Breukelen (Brooklyn). Within the first hour we went through three locks. Just after 9 o’clock, we were passing Utrecht. This is the final day of cycling to Amsterdam. The whole group picked the long route, which at 47 km was only seven kilometres more than the short route. The six independent cyclists signed the daily chart as “Rogue” this morning. There were three people staying onboard so the remaining 22 will be travelling in two groups. One group led by Mieke and the other group of ten Québécois led by Peter.

Around 10:30 a.m., the boat briefly stopped at a dock for the bikes to be offloaded in Breukelen. The cyclists were off. During the first hour there were two lift bridges open for a line of half a dozen or so pleasure boats to pass. The lift bridges were on village roads and only large enough to accommodate 1.5 cars and a sidewalk on either side. At the second lift bridge there were cars, small motorcycles, people, other cyclists and cyclists on fast bikes who were too impatient to let our group turn left. One impatient man side swiped Larry on the down slope leaving the bridge crest, causing him to lose his balance and fall. The cyclist didn’t even slow down. Larry suffered some minor scrapes and the bike’s front fender needed adjustment. The scenery was picturesque going along the river Vecht through the villages of Loenen and Vreeland, although the cycling paths were the busiest of the week with people, bicycles, scooters and small motorcycles. We passed more older windmills, some had thatched roofs.

We had an hour stop at De Willigen dairy farm, in the village of Nigtevecht, where we ate lunch after a tour. The farm also has a 50 unit bed and breakfast operation. We were shown the barns where the cows spend November to April. But this year spring was cool and rainy and the cows didn’t go to the summer fields until one week ago, just like in Ireland this year. Then we went to the thatched cheese making room. They make gouda cheese. It takes 10 litres of milk to make one kilogram of cheese. Next we went out to see the new calves, the brown and white calf was just one day old. Finally we walked over to the shop that sold cheese, souvenirs and ice cream. We tasted three kinds of Gouda, two with mild flavours added. Gouda is made with whole milk. Edam cheese has less butter fat in the milk than the milk used for Gouda cheese. Several people bought one kilogram cheese rounds that were just €12.95 and cheese slicers. We were told that a good cheese slicer should be flexible, the cheaper models are not flexible. The sun appeared for lunch which was at tables on the lawn along a canal with pleasure boats floating past. There was a stork nest with an adult stork in it on the top of a pole attached to the farm restaurant. We finished our lunch with some of the dairy’s pistachio ice cream or pomegranate ice cream.

We were back on our bicycles for a 4:15 p.m. ETA in Amsterdam and a forecast of heavy rain around 4 p.m. in Amsterdam. A few kilometres before the town of Weesp, there was a light rain. We needed to stop for raised lift bridge so most of us dove into our panniers to find our rain gear. It was a good move since the rain started in earnest and continued for the 40 minute stop in Weesp. Peter met our group and showed us where to park the bikes while we explored the town. He told us of a church just across the canal which was a restaurant and brewery, Half of our group walked over there and enjoyed craft beer while the rain poured with intensity the whole time. Back at the bikes Bob looked down as we were waiting for a few more people before departing. He saw four copper tiles in the sidewalk. Peter had been looking for these tiles in Dordrecht and we did not find any there. Each copper tile gave the name, date of birth, date of deportation of during WW2 to a concentration camp, and the date and place of death of the four Jewish residents of that house. As we left Weeps the rain slackened. Mieke had news that the boat had reached its mooring place across the river from Amsterdam Centraal train station. She was also told that the forecast was for heavy rain after 4 p.m. in Amsterdam.

We cycled for awhile without rain, then there was another downpour. Fortunately, there was a major highway bridge on the route, under which the bicycle path ran, so we took a 20 minute break beneath it with several dozen other cyclists. At that point Mieke informed us that it was just about seven more kilometres to the boat. We continued in rain gear, but there was very little rain. As we got closer to Amsterdam proper the sun came out. Mieke had warned us that the bicycle traffic could be heavy, but it was quite light. It got heavier as we neared the train station, which was close to the ferry terminal. There was a short wait for the ferry, then we all weaved our way onto the ferry with other cyclists and people. On the other side of the river Ij, the boat was about 500 meters away. Today’s journey was 46.49 km.

The sun came out for the rest of the day but there were white fluffy clouds around. The dining room was set with two long tables of 16 and 18 places. There was a toast to the crew made by Richard, the captain. The three course dinner was served including lobster soup, veal with scalloped potatoes and a strawberry mousse for dessert. After dinner we had our final briefing.

We were told of the procedure for leaving the boat in the morning. We need to place our suitcases outside our room before we go for breakfast so that the staff can take them up to the main deck. We need to pay the bar bill and decide on the staff tip and place it in a sealed envelope. We also must remove everything from the pannier and place our bike helmet in it, ready for the next group. We should not put anything on the beds as the staff will be stripping the beds to wash the linen for the new afternoon guests. We need to be off the boat by 9:30 a.m. Taxis can be arranged. It is just the ferry ride to get to the train station and take a train to the airport. Taxis can be caught at the train station and will be a lot cheaper than having them travel through the tunnel to get to the boat’s side of the river.

People said goodbyes, but we will see most at breakfast in the morning.

Total cycling distance this week about 262 kilometres. Today’s steps were 5,766