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Riding in tribute to Pat Bohn

By
Judy
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July 9, 2017 – Netherlands – Today I’ll be riding in tribute to:



f you would like me to ride in the name of someone you know, send their name, a jpeg photo, a brief note if you like, and your contribution of $100. The entire $100 donation will go toward Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Community.

CLICK HERE to donate securely online OR

Checks should be made made payable to “Cedar Community Foundation” 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095

Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

VIDEO | Enjoying delicious Stroopwafels

By
Judy
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July 8, 2017 – Hoorn, Netherlands – The Saturday market in Hoorn is written up in a number of travel sites as a “can’t miss” event. The market starts on Breed Street and stretches more than 10 blocks. Vendors range from flowers to food and textiles to wooden shoes. 

During a slow moment we caught up with a maker of the famous Stroopwafel, a specialty of the Netherlands made of a simple batter with a syrup spread in the middle. See video below.


Farm camping, it’s the place to be!

By
Judy
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July 8, 2017 – Volendam, Netherlands – Came across this great bike while leaving Volendam. Wooden feet carved into a front wheel and on the cart. 

Do you see what I see? Come along for the ride…

I read about farm camping before I left on tour and this little farm just outside Edam was fantastic. 
A parade of nosey ducks were at my home base in minutes as I started to unpack. 
Initially I thought it great country hospitality but then I figure out it was they’re normal scam as everybody fed the cute ducks. And yes, it was hard to get them to leave after you gave them a little bread. 

The working farm also had chickens and a dairy. 

My neighbors Gerard and Corrie van Paridon were across the way. Corrie carried on a long conversation with me in Dutch. Finally I went and got a young translator at the campsite and she said Corrie was inviting me back for coffee when her grandsons would get there and they could translate. 

Floris and Matthijs from Bussum arrived about an hour later and we chatted about their grandfather starting a trucking firm, how he was a great historian and how the couple had a huge family that would come visit while they camped. 
Everyone is so welcoming even when you don’t know what anyone is saying. 

Riding in tribute to Barbara Baldus

By
Judy
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0

July 8, 2017 – Washington County, WI – Today I’ll be riding in tribute to:


If you would like me to ride in the name of someone you know, send their name, a jpeg photo, a brief note if you like, and your contribution of $100. The entire $100 donation will go toward Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Community.

CLICK HERE to donate securely online OR

Checks should be made made payable to “Cedar Community Foundation” 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095

Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

Eel, the other white meat

By
Judy
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0

July 7, 2017 – Volendam, Netherlands – Northeast of Amsterdam by about 25 miles is the tourist town of Volendam. A fishing community that has a vibe for Dutch tourism with wooden shoes, authentic dress and an old part of the centre city with random narrow streets sometimes referred to as ‘the labyrinth.’


From the brick paved sidewalk you could see the history inside the corner fish market. 

A small woman with jet black hair worked the counter. She spoke only Dutch and from what I could understand the market had been in her family more than three generations. 

The walls of the small shop were filled with vintage photos of Dutch tradition including white, lace bonnets, white aprons and wooden shoes. 
With encouragement from some readers to tell more about some of the foods of the Netherlands, I was set to take the herring challenge; however, eels won out instead. 
The fully intact eels were about 15 inches long and had angry faces. The filleted eels looked a bit more manageable … and they had been smoked. 

Eel…. it’s the other white meat. 

My host was kind and only weighed out one small serving of eel. It was a little amusing how she referred to it as “eels” and she said it with a deep voice. 

The experience was a bit slimy.  It did  slide easily off the toothpick and there was a definite smokey taste. The consistency was what you would imagine; eels are more chewy and less flaky, with a very recognizable fish flavor. 

Let me just be clear, “eels” has a definite aftertaste that’s challenging to get rid of. My dinner was followed by a series of “eels burps.”  Simply not pleasant, but a good reminder of what was for supper. 


Goat cheese, extra old

By
Judy
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July 7, 2017 – Edam, Netherlands – The storms that swept through the campsite just south of Amsterdam last night were so fierce they knocked the waterproofing right off my tent. 
It was actually a series of storms with brilliant lightning followed by violent cracks of thunder and pummeling rain. Five series of storms moved through out the evening. Sleeping outdoors made you feel part of it as it did when it rained inside the tent too.

Good thing my maps and post cards pulled in a lot of the water. 

“Hell of a night,” said Sarah, my neighbor from Scotland.

She and her husband Peter and son Finn, 13, had rented bicycles and were on a summer vacation tour. 
Finn admitted he had a hard time with the storms as they felt like they were going to climb right into the sack with you. 
Making my way north of Amsterdam and a whole new atmosphere; it’s not as densely populated, there is a lot more agricultural base and more tourism – think, Wisconsin Dells. 

Braum was my guide at the Henri Willig cheese shop just outside Monnickendam.

Look in the background and the shelves just stacked with cheese wheels. It’s the aging process. Braum said the cheese shop did finish first in a recent contest. I liked the fact they labeled the entry “Goat cheese extra old.”



VIDEO | Ride along with me!

By
Judy
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July 7, 2017 – Netherlands – Come along with me as I video the ride!

Eel, the other white meat: Will she or won’t she?

By
Judy
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July 7, 2017 – Netherlands – Judy Steffes is currently in Volendam, a fishing town in northeast Holland that has streets set up “labyrinth” style. 

Continue

Amazing Tour Photo Gallery: Netherlands

By
Judy
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0

July 7,2017 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – A quick photo gallery and a list of some of the towns and cities I’ve pedaled through:

Amsterdam, Lisse, Leiden, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Monster, Hekendorp, Oudewater, Delft, Montfoort, De Meern, Breukelen, and Weesp.
Each day I feel like I’ve gone 100 or more miles but I think that’s actually the amount of times I’ve stopped and checked my map or asked for directions. 


The churches, canals and city centers have all been brilliant, colorful and full of life and history. 
I am never alone on the bike trails. However, my skills are minimal compared to the Dutch. They bike with purpose and enthusiasm – they can also bike with no hands and text at the same time. 


There is a reason so much of the Netherlands is green. The powerful overnight storms knocked the weatherproofing right out of my tent last night. 
I’m headed north of Amsterdam for the next few days.  Locals say that’s where a lot of traditional life is located with wooden shoes and women in Dutch caps. 
From the stories it sounds a lot like the Amish in Wisconsin where they rather frown on having their photo taken and the surroundings have also turned very touristy, probably similar to the Wisconsin Dells. 
We will soon find out. 
Thank you to all the supporters who have been so generous to give to the music and exercise programs at Cedar Community. 
And if you’ve received a post card please consider adding it to the collage on the second floor at Cedar Ridge. It would be nice to grow the photo quilt and I promise you can have your card back when the tour is over.



VIDEO | Flashback to last year’s ride and Harley’s concert

By
Judy
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July 7, 2017 – Erick, OK – On last year’s Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s ride I met Harley in Erick, OK. He delivered an impromptu concert and dedicated this song to my dad.

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