Canadutch
My husband took this photo of me at about 8am in the morning. We left the house sometime around 7:30am to go for a short ride while the wind was low and the sun was out a bit. It was so peaceful and lovely, I was in heaven! I’m so glad that we are both early birds and enjoy doing things together early in the morning. I really do think it’s the best time of the day.
We stopped at a picnic table by de Pendrechtse Molen (windmill) for a fruit breakfast before continuing on our 15km ride through the outskirts of Rotterdam and in through Zuiderpark, where we stopped again for a short while on a bench to have a cuddle and enjoy the solitude.
It was a great ride, long enough to not feel like we were home too quickly but not long enough to run me completely out of energy, as our 35km ride did on Thursday.
Yep, you heard me right! I biked my fat ass 35km around the countryside and made it home alive. That’s progress, people! I did alright for most of it, but the last 15-20 minutes were pretty hellish. Even Xander was getting cold and tired, so I didn’t feel so bad. If he was tired and ready to go home, I’m surprised I was still functional at all, as he is much more in shape than I am.
Anyway, it was still a hell of a lot of fun, even if it did wear me out.
Seriously though… this photo… windmills and bicycles, does it get more Dutch than that? If only I’d had clogs on, was three feet taller and 50 pounds lighter, I’d totally pass for a real Dutchie in this photo!
I think our next step is going to be getting a fietsdrager (bicycle rack) for the car. Our current car doesn’t have a trekhaak (god almighty my English is going to hell! I can’t remember the English word for this. It’s the hook on the back of your car for dragging things)… anyway, the lease is up for this car shortly so we are going to try to ensure that our new one has one to attach the bike rack to. We really want to be able to take the bikes to parks and nature areas all over the country and go for nice rides. For now we are happy with exploring our surrounding areas though. Plus, we can always get a train somewhere if we feel the need badly enough.
I have some photos from different biking adventures but I’m going to post them another time. It’s almost 11pm and with me being 35 now and all (my birthday was last weekend), it’s SO past my bedtime!
That picture IS about as Dutch as it comes. My dd just came back from the Liberation celebration and that’s one of the things she was amazed at: how everyone bicycles and that you have to treat them like cars when you’re a pedestrian or they’ll almost run you over. Her other observation was that Liberation day was one of the biggest parties she’s ever seen.
And yes, you want a trailer hitch for your car. (How cool is it that your Dutch has gotten so good that you’re having trouble with English?) See if you can get the type that just pops in and you secure it (can you tell how mechanical I am?!) so you’re not always hitting your leg on it.
Yeah bikers are hardcore here and they have all the rights when it comes to the road. It’s a major pain when you are in a car and you are constantly having to watch for them. No matter what the situation, even if they are in the wrong, if you hit a cyclist you are screwed.
My hubby did that. Our insurance rates went up :-(
It’s still very Dutch photo.
I could never get up that early to do something like that. I am not a morning person at all. Most of the time my girlfriend has to kick my lazy ass out of bed.
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I used to be sort of like that but then something switched. Now I’m up with the friggin birds. 7am is a MAJOR sleep in for me.
35km?? You are my hero!!!!
.-= Kara´s last blog ..Real Friends =-.
hehe you’d probably be surprised if you tried! I think I have the benefit of a pretty flat country though :)
Is that a light on the windmill to warn planes? Or am I just seeing things?
If you mean the white dot in the middle of the red square I think that’s the bolt. I don’t think there are lights.
Yes, I see.
I’m a morning person, but my boyfriend isn’t, so I’m envious of you both getting to go out for an early morning ride and picnic! Sounds wonderful!
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Foto Vrijdag 2.19 =-.
35km? Well done! I have spent years waiting for you to get into cycling.
.-= Darryn´s last blog ..why TK421 wasn’t at his post =-.
Oh you know me Darryn, it always takes me a few years to warm up to things :P
Thats a great photo and I think the word you are looking for is a hitch? lol My sons are loseing their english a bit too..they actually combine both dutch and english alot aswell.
Good for you for the long bike rides..thats awesome!
.-= Sonya´s last blog ..Quick Asian Chicken and Rice =-.
Yeah a hitch :) I so wish we had one of those on our car! grrr.. We’re definitely going to arrange for one on our next car though. It’ll also be good for when we go camping.