But first, some cycling.
Today flew by as we spun our legs around (can’t really call it cycling) 80k from Volendam to Bodegraven, home of De Molen brewery.
We skipped the breakfast offering in the hotel and headed for Monnickendam, a town about 6km away with beautiful brick streets and lots more shops and cafés.
We squirreled half the breakfast away to have as lunch, and picked up a tailwind once back on the cycle route, clocking at least 25km per hour without elevating heart rates. Felt we earned it given headwind karma on the way north.
The cycle route follows the canal system, so we were treated to views of pastures, baby swans (who says cygnet?!) and even saw a crane catch a fish. The houses we do pass seem to be organized as fortresses, with moats and gates and the same sparkling windows Anne and Reece saw, and in the afternoon no shortage of kids playing and swimming near their homes.
Had another ferry ride (0.70 E each) and crossed a long lake via a cycle-only lane where tons of locals were out at a beach. Some small docks on the sunny side offered a chance to swim, but seemed full so we cycled on until we passed a ‘Pleisterplaats’ – “hangout”, a small park on a wide section of canal with picnic tables, fresh water, and a few couples out sunbathing. We ate aforementioned sandwiches and took a half dip in the muddy but perfectly frigid water.
Six kilometers more of spinning and we reached Bodegraven, a brick-filled canal town. We’re staying in a bed and breakfast in one of the aforementioned moat-fortified fortresses – really just a lovely home where a couple has created some extra rooms in the back of the house. A quick shower and we set out (on foot, for safety) to De Molen, where we’re now journaling.
Will leave tomorrow’s route to the bottom of the next glass of Imperial Stout, though our hosts told us of a cheese festival in Gouda (pronounced ‘Khhauda’) which is sounding better with each sip.
Total distance/elevation to date: 1484km/10’387m
Day 19 Route and Stats
The 1948 Tour 
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