Today our first 15 miles brought us to the Canadian War Ceremony to honor those young men from ww2 that freed this part of the Netherlands! I'm moved by Bill. Dressed in his full military regalia from a by gone era. He came with his daughters and grandchildren to visit "my buddies". He's 92. When I asked if I could kiss him... He leaned in and said "I'll come back tomorrow for another one!" Frail but proud, he handed out poppies and Canadian flag pins to everyone who approached. He stood at attention for photos. He said he was here when he was 17. He said 18 friends of his are buried here. Honored to have run into him and his entourage. This Country honors him! He is loving his Celebrity!
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Travel FAILS
To complain at all about any part of this trip seems childish. What is there to really complain about when you are in a beautiful part of the world? We are blessed to be here, right? So I'm writing this blog more as an FYI than a travelers pity party! I mean really, cue the smallest violin. 1. Choosing a hotel after traveling all night with early Check in is a MUST! Even if that hotel says they will let you Check in early you ought to Check their early Check in policy. We walked around Amsterdam for 5 hours in a travel coma waiting for our early check in! Ugh 2. Amsterdam has the red double decker hop on hop off buses! 6 buses... They over sell the tickets so the hopping on and off is a myth. It's part of their business model. So if you go to Amsterdam and want this tour...stay on the bus for one full round and then get off where you were most intrigued! But don't expect to get back on!!! 3. Tam Way is a popular Chinese restaurant in Amsterdam. Make reservations. Our party of 6 waited 2 hours ...in a crazy stairway...while people with reservations breezed by us... 4. Wear comfortable shoes. Always! 5. If your bike leader says "20 minutes to hot shower on the boat" after riding 10 miles in wind driven rain between canals, don't believe him. You must take into account he's on an electric bike. That the pace is set by him and what he really meant to say was 45 minutes! Push through it.. 6. Always pack your most comfortable sweats even if you think they are too old and ratty. Because after two days and 44 bicycle miles...you will want your very favorite comfy clothes. End of rant! Bruges or bust! We met Jack today! He's our bicycle tour guide. He is married In his 60's. A retired social worker who woke up after his 55th birthday and asked himself "what do I really want to do?" So for the last 6 years he's been leading these bike tours! He works 3 weeks and has 2 weeks off . We rode 12 miles with the other 33 guests to Utrecht. Beautiful country side and magnificent farms. Loads of livestock and high end house boat s! The ride was effortless. Our international tour includes a girl from Russia, a couple of Swedes...there is a group from New Zealand, a few Australia and some Germans. The bulk of the tour however is this crazy group of 22 mis matched people representing the Upper Cape Ski Club. Our first meeting as a group is much like a 7th grade dance. Instead of the girls on one side and boys on the other it was more Us vs them! We are the Americans. Mark brought Jack a Cape Cod ball cap as if to let him know right off the bat which group was the best group and in case he forgot he could refer to the hat.. Jack wore the hat during the meeting therefore telegraphing to the others that we were the coolest group on the tour! After we've been schooled on the rules of the barge and excused to go change into our padded bike shorts...MARCY and Linda start assembling license plates for our group! Cleverly they have made a personalized plate for each person representing the Upper Cape Ski Club. If jacks new Cape Cod Ball cap didn't intimidate our "United Nations " on board these license plates will! The license plates are truly cool. Also generous. You see. Marcy lives in North Carolina and Linda lives in Ohio. Their only tie to this trip is me and now it's license plates... A brilliant idea. A great way to meet everyone in the group and a lovely take away! Bravo girlfriends! Bravo Bruges or bust! We met Jack today! He's our bicycle tour guide. He is married In his 60's. A retired social worker who woke up after his 55th birthday and asked himself "what do I really want to do?• So for the last 6 years he's been leading these bike tours! He works 3 weeks and has 2 weeks off . We rode 12 miles with the other 33 guests to Utrecht. Beautiful country side and magnificent farms. Loads of livestock and high end house boat s! The ride was effortless. Our international tour includes a girl from Russia, a couple of Swedes...there is a group from New Zealand, a few Australia and some Germans. The bulk of the tour however is this crazy group of 22 mis matched people representing the Upper Cape Ski Club. Our first meeting as a group is much like a 7th grade dance. Instead of the girls on one side and boys on the other it was more Us vs them! We are the Americans. Mark brought Jack a Cape Cod ball cap as if to let him know right off the bat which group was the best group and in case he forgot he could refer to the hat.. Jack wore the hat during the meeting therefore telegraphing to the others that we were the coolest group on the tour! After we've been schooled on the rules of the barge and excused to go change into our padded bike shorts...MARCY and Linda start assembling license plates for our group! Cleverly they have made a personalized plate for each person representing the Upper Cape Ski Club. If jacks new Cape Cod Ball cap didn't intimidate our "United Nations " on board these license plates will! The license plates are truly cool. Also generous. You see. Marcy lives in North Carolina and Linda lives in Ohio. Their only tie to this trip is me and now it's license plates... A brilliant idea. A great way to meet everyone in the group and lovely take away! Bravo girlfriends! Bravo Bruges or bust! We met Jack today! He's our bicycle tour guide. He is married In his 60's. A retired social worker who woke up after his 55th birthday and asked himself "what do I really want to do?• So for the last 6 years he's been leading these bike tours! He works 3 weeks and has 2 weeks off . We rode 12 miles with the other 33 guests to Utrecht. Beautiful country side and magnificent farms. Loads of livestock and high end house boat s! The ride was effortless. Our international tour includes a girl from Russia, a couple of Swedes...there is a group from New Zealand, a few Australia and some Germans. The bulk of the tour however is this crazy group of 22 mis matched people representing the Upper Cape Ski Club. Our first meeting as a group is much like a 7th grade dance. Instead of the girls on one side and boys on the other it was more Us vs them! We are the Americans. Mark brought Jack a Cape Cod ball cap as if to let him know right off the bat which group was the best group and in case he forgot he could refer to the hat.. Jack wore the hat during the meeting therefore telegraphing to the others that we were the coolest group on the tour! After we've been schooled on the rules of the barge and excused to go change into our padded bike shorts...MARCY and Linda start assembling license plates for our group! Cleverly they have made a personalized plate for each person representing the Upper Cape Ski Club. If jacks new Cape Cod Ball cap didn't intimidate our "United Nations " on board these license plates will! The license plates are truly cool. Also generous. You see. Marcy lives in North Carolina and Linda lives in Ohio. Their only tie to this trip is me and now it's license plates... A brilliant idea. A great way to meet everyone in the group and lovely take away! Bravo girlfriends! Bravo |
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