Today started off simply enough. We had to get up and get out of the hostel. I'd looked up online about our bike trip for the day, and everyone assured it was easy. That the routes were simply numbered and simple to follow. Grab some sandwiches on our way to the train station so we could have lunch as we went. But that's about where the simplicity ended.
We checked the boards for the train to Rotterdam and found it, went and waited (we had 15 minutes), and then in the last 5 minutes they announced it had changed platforms. So we hustle from 4a to 15b. Luckily, we asked an official on the platform, because it turns out that was the express train and it cost extra for us to ride it. He kindly told us the train we wanted was at 2a, and that it left in 3 minutes. So we hustled as fast as we could and barely got to our seats before the train started moving.
Once we got to Rotterdam, we found a place that rented bikes. He gave us a ferry schedule to get to Kinderdijk, but told us to get the biking route, we needed to go to the information center below. I went in while Jen waited with the bikes, and she told me the roads to go on, but she didn't have any maps for me. So with a couple street names, and a single town in the middle, we set off. We found the fountain, headed for the river, and thats where things went wonky on us.
We turned one block too soon, and couldn't find the one street name I knew for us to be on. So we stopped at a little lunch stand and asked for help. The guy in the booth had no idea, but his two patrons jumped in, pulling out a smart phone, trying to help. Unfortunately , they had no idea what they were doing, but they did give me a general idea of where we needed to go: one more block up. So we set off that direction, and the road was going to force us to cross a bridge, which I didn't think we wanted to do yet. So we turned the other direction to look for a street name. Nothing. We stopped and asked for more directions, and were told the street we wanted was directly across a different bridge (the one on the street we started on, which sounded more correct,) and that there would be signs leading us on as soon as we got there.
So we huffed up the only not flight places in the Netherlands, a bridge. Crossed over, and there was a sign pointing us for a street I recognized in one way, then in a completely different one! We followed one direction and then stopped to ask someone else. She told us she didn't know the road, but that there was a ferry that would take us there directly if we went over this bridge right next to us, and then crossed over the red bridge, the one we had originally thought was wrong. Then a man pipes up behind her who had been getting out of his car. They start rapidly conversing in Dutch, and the words I gather about location and the hand gestures, I could see they greatly disagreed on how to get there.
We tried anyway. No luck. We did manage to tip over our bikes though while adjusting our packs. So back over the bridge we went. Then we saw a sign for the ferry on the pack the bicycle renter gave us. So we followed that. Back up and over the big initial bridge hill. As we near the bottom, I see there is no way for me to follow the car signs in a far lane to get to the ferry. Then I see it right in front of me. A sign saying Kinderdijk this way. At an intersection we had passed through 3 times, but had always been facing the wrong direction to see the sign. Along with a map with a couple of the numbered routes, though of course not ours, and we never saw another map the entire time explaining the numbered routes. I could see how it would be orderly if you knew which numbers to travel!
So on our way we go again. an hour and a half into the ride that was supposed to take an hour each way. To top it off, everyone we ask starts off with "that's really far!" Really? It's 15k, thats only like 9.5 miles. And here I thought these people biked everywhere! So we pedal, pedal, pedal. Jen doing well since she informs me part way in that she hasn't been on a bike since the last time with me...(that was 6 years ago). And here she was trying to convince me she would be able to bike across the Netherlands with her pack on her back! Luckily for her I couldn't find a bike place to rent in one city and return in another...
So the route takes us to the point with that red bridge that we originally thought was wrong. Again. But then I realize there is a path that goes underneath the end of the bridge rather than across it. And it is labeled with our middle city! So we hustle on down, and follow the path. And second guess ourselves twice, and end up back on that path again, luckily correctly.
We get to the town of Krimpen aan den Ijssel and there are no more signs. So we figure we should find an information center and start biking through the town. Nothing. Ask directions, they don't match with what we've seen, and it starts to rain. So we back track to the tunnel a block back to take cover, and an older gentleman is there too. Running out of options I ask him, and what luck! He knows what road to the next little town where the ferry that takes us across the river and then we are there! We couldn't thank him enough.
And off we go again. Biking across the dijk, like he said, passing all the farms. There was even a llama farm! Followed by a bunch of ducks. All I could think was llama, llama, duck! My web video friends should get that. If not, ask Anne Peasley and she'll happily fill you in.
We get into town and the road is closed and we are unsure if we can pass it on our bikes or not. A gentleman on a bike says he's not sure either and hollers down to the workers who happily wave us in. As we bike the road we chatted a little. He wanted to know about American politics, a subject I approached with extreme caution and neutrality. But he obviously enjoyed it and pointed us down the road to the ferry. We get there, get funneled straight across and Boom! We're in Kinderdijk, home of the best preserved Dutch windmills. And then we are biking amongst them and it is wonderful. We even got a ticket to go up inside one and explore. But it was getting late and we needed to catch a train to Brussels so we could catch one to Brugge. That's 3.5 hours of travel left ahead!
The windmill attendant shows points us towards the town of Alblasserdam which is closest to us, and has the fastest ferry. So we head out across the windmill dijk again and travel the 5k to the town. After asking directions again in this town, the most helpful was a 12 year old boy who knew exactly where to point us, we found the ferry and waited for the one we wanted.
Right as the ferry lands in Rotterdam 45 minutes later, it starts to sprinkle. So we take Jen's poncho and wrap up her bags, I situate mine so my bag with my electronics is most covered and we head out into a very mild drizzle. We take one wrong turn, quickly get back on track, and the flood gates open. It downpoured on us! I knew there was no way my bottom bad would stay dry, so I shortened it's strap as much as I could and put it under my coat in front of me. I figured the only things that might not dry out right are my ipad and my camera and that's all I cared about keeping dry. But when I pedaled, my coat lifted and my bag was still getting wet. And Jen's glasses were so wet she couldn't see. At this point we stopped in a slightly covered place and discussed what to do. We were both sopping, and we were so close to the train station. The choice made was to suck it up and walk the bikes. We were already as wet as we would get and Jen was moving slowly enough she could navigate while I could keep my bag dry (well, as dry as it still was...).
Finally we get back to the bike rental and unload. I check my devices and everything made it out okay, and when we step back outside, the rain is gone. Of course. When we comment on this one of the bike attendants starts singing "I can see clearly now the rain is gone..." as he passed us. All we could do was look at each other and laugh. Jen then pointed out how much mascara I had on my face. Whoops! And who really knows how far we traveled. Jen's pedometer was keeping each pedal she did as steps, so I'll have to ask her what it says we did. Unfortunately I managed to loose mine on a hike in Iceland, so we are dependent on hers now. That will teach me to climb on rocks with stuff hanging off my belt line.
So starving (Jen super thirsty), we grab some sustenance in the train station. since we haven't eaten in over 8 hours now, and double check that the train we are about to get on is good for our Eurorail pass, we board for Brussels at 7:I put down on our hostel booking in Bruges that we would try to be there by 5. Another whoops! At least that's never been a problem for me in the past though. As long as you pay for the night they usually don't have an issue with this, and luckily this held true, despite the fact that we checked in a11:45. Oh well, it is what it is.
Overall, I think we had a wonderful adventure and had a lot of fun, but then again, I slightly enjoy getting lost like that. Jen looked like I'd put her through the ringer at the end. I think she has the best idea of what she signed up for in traveling with me now. Hopefully a good night's sleep puts her to rights again, since this is going to be a fast paced train day to get down to Stuttgart, Germany and meet up with the Douglas' and friends.
The summary of this leg of the trip? Love the Dutch, they are very friendly and wish to be helpful. But this also means that if they don't necessarily know, they will try their best to know instead of telling you that they don't know, and this is not good in direction giving. They also apparently only bike in their own cities, and consider crossing into others to be "really far" which it would not have been if we hadn't got lost. Also, always bring plastic lining for your electronics in case of emergencies. Well, Belgium, it's your turn. Throw your best at us! You have a couple hours of our undivided attention before we hit Germany. (sorry Luxembourg, I think you might be out...)
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