Jon’s in Heaven

 

I really can’t believe how good the bicycling is here.  Somehow, when the Dutch created their bicycle paths, they forgot that bike paths are supposed to go nowhere useful and suddenly stop in the middle of nowhere, leaving you stranded (like we do in the USA).

 

Instead, we just went some 40+ miles totally on paths.  We not only did not avoid large cities, we made it a point to go straight to their centers to see their old town squares and such.  We had no prior route chosen, and never once were on a route without a bike path – no matter how small the road, how crowded the highway. 

 

We saw beautiful homes and gardens, canals and boats, hundreds of other cyclists: whole families, elderly couples, Mothers and Daughters, bikes with two small children hanging off the front and back, and even one with a large box in front holding a Black Lab.

 

What a wonderful country.  Guess you might expect that from a Country which has a primary industry of growing flowers.

 

Birds du Jour

 

This morning I awoke to a chorus of Doves similar to Mourning Doves, which continues as I write this.  Joining them are the ever comical Crows, Gulls, a Starling-like bird – but with a different accent/voice, and a few others I don’t recognize.  We have also seen wild Swans along the many canals.