"On the Path again"

Back in Maastricht again we made our preparations to head out once again on the bicycle paths. We paused to listen to a street side string quartet

playing Bach and Mozart ....

Known in The Netherlands as Fietspaden, the bicycle paths are everywhere, are well marked and connect all the communities and cities in the country. We set out along the route known as LF7 which extends from the border with Belgium to Alkmaar north of Amsterdam.  We were to spend several days following segments of this route on our way north - a bit like following route 66 in the USA.  We continued our way along the Meuse river valley known as the Maas in The Netherlands.

Stopping occasionally for a treat along the canal.

  

Not everyone in The Netherlands 

considers biking as their only form of transportation.

While biking through an area of rural farmland and forest we came across a sign alongside the path. We dismounted our trusty Bike Friday to find the local baker hard at work in his traditional bake house. 

In the traditional brick oven fired with wood, he was producing bread for the local population, an occasional event which was enjoyed by all.

We were surprised by an eager interest in our tandem, a cyclist who had spent many years in the USA riding around the Boulder Colorado bike trails. 

After three days of biking along the trails with stops in Thorn and Geldrop, we arrived in 's-Hertongenbosch (shortened and pronounced Den Boss), to find an amateur singing festival taking place with standing room only in the streets!  The jolly singers even started a conga line.  We inched our way through, finding our way to the small and eccentric Terminus Hotel and Folk Pub! 

Our new friend had told us about the Verkade Fabriek around the corner from our hotel.  It is a former cookie factory which is now a community gathering place with a huge, comfortable area for coffee and much-needed Wifi!  It also has a theater for old and new movies, dance and plays, in addition to a really good restaurant.  We were made to feel very welcome there, no pressure to move on and so we visited it 3 times in 24 hours!

And now it is time to get back on the bike and head towards Utrecht for a visit with a good friend, one of Ken's former crew members.