day 4

I don't know if there is an Esmerelda living in Dwingeloo, but the church bells rang on the 1/2 hour for her all night.  Apart from that and the ridiculous internet arrangements we have enjoyed our stay here.  This morning we got to try a Dutch tandem that was arranged so I could sit on the front for a change.   It would have been fine but for Ed throwing his weight about on the back!

Todays ride was a figure 8 through the Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld and then onto Westerbork for two nights stay there.  The Park is mainly wood trails around a central scrubland with a few lakes in it.  The weather at long last has improved and it was gloriously sunny and warm.  Navigationally the highlight was the closed cycle path along which we were supposed to cycle.  There was a diversion in place that would have taken us on the path planned for later in the day, so we bravely ignored that and relied on a main road to miss out the closed section.  Easy!  Having nearly completed the second loop we came across a second diversion  This meant we missed a bit more forest trail for main road, a real shame as they are such fun.

I can't keep the suspense up any longer.. The reason we have refused to change the computer to km is (small pause for fanfares and champagne corks)

Not the greatest picture, but that is the odometer clicking over 1000 miles. That is since we have owned it, not while we have been away.  1000 miles on a bike. 1000 miles on this bike. It feels like a real landmark.

Now for the windmill of the day

This windmill had been quite heavily restored and was open to the public at weekends only so we missed the opportunity to see inside.