July 7, 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.
July 6, 2017 – Weesp, Netherlands – Dodging the rain tonight as I camp just outside Amsterdam.
A couple from Scotland are my neighbors. They’re touring the Netherlands on bike along with their 13-year-old son Finn.
The weather caught us all by surprise this evening. We all thought the rumbles of thunder were planes taking off from Amsterdam.
This is Finn’s first tour. He’s been sunburned. A fair skinned ginger, Finn is a tough kid that enjoys the biking, seeing the sights … and the food.
I made it out of Breukelen this morning and chased these women off the road. One yelled and I could tell they were from the states; three sisters on vacation with their families in the Netherlands.
Moving from south of Amsterdam to northeast and a more cultural experience, from what I’m told…. i.e. wooden shoes and authentic dress.
Not sure if this is a Dutch treat like the heavy cream Gelato in Italy but the line was out the door so it had to be good.
Coffee ice cream with Oreo cookie as a chaser.
Another true cultural treat is the stroopwafel which is made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle.
No way was there any thought given to eat a whole one. They were the size of a healthy pancake the likes of Breakfast on the Farm.
Biking into a new city and someone yells, “Judy.”
It is oddly someone I know.
Jan and Ria Noordmans from the last campsite. I joined them for coffee. Ria is a nurse who works with people who have had stokes and Jan is a former insurance agent with a volunteer spirit.
One of many tree-lined bike paths in the Netherlands.
July 6, 2017 – Netherlands – As Judy Steffes winds her way through the Netherlands on her bike, her list of tourist attractions is garnering quite a broad spectrum of interests.
July 6, 2017 – Netherlands – During my journey pedaling through the Netherlands it’s amazing how many people I meet.
Alex ran a small camp site just outside Delft. We talked a bit about Alzheimer’s and the tour and he let me camp that night for free.
Very Gothic church in Gouda
Stained glass windows from St. John’s Church in Delft were removed prior to WWII and put away for safe keeping.
Giedo and Juana helped point me in the right direction coming out of Gouda, then we started talking food. “You have to give the raw herring a chance,” said Giedo. “At least try it twice.” Juana agreed, twice was the secret to liking it and getting past the raw and slimy first experience.
Marella Mulder from camping De Mulderije in Hekendorp.
One of the best camping spots so far; a fifth-generation farm. It’s also odd when someone comes around the corner and calls you by name. Marella brought a mean extension cord to power up my electronics. She also supported the tour by waiving he camping fee. So kind.
Adrian was the fourth generation owner of the farm.
A beautiful roadside cherry stand.
Many of the street in the city center are all made of brick pavers and, NO, I haven’t fallen yet.
July 6, 2017 – Washington County, WI – Today I’ll be riding in tribute to my Dad:
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.
July 5, 2017 – Oudewater, Holland – Let’s just be clear, if I sat on a broom I’d crush it; there would be no sailing about. But no matter, according to the executive director of the Museum de Heksenwaag, also known as the Witches Museum.
From 1450 to 1650 it was a low place in history because of the witch trials. Witches, don’t you know, were as light as a feather and able to fly.
Burning of witches was a real plague. A rumor was enough to declare the accusation official, thus, thousands of people were killed.
During the witch trials, if someone was accused of being a witch, a “water test” was performed to prove whether or not the accusation was valid. Examiners would throw a suspect with tied hands and feet into the water. If the suspect sank, then innocence was proven and she was dredged up and released.
If the ‘witch’ stayed afloat she was proven to work magic and subsequently brought to court.
People from across Europe and beyond flocked to Oudewater to be weighed and given a certificate declaring they were not a witch.
It wasn’t the scale in Oudewater that was specifically spot on ….it was a matter of the person manning the scale being honest.
I agreed to be weighed and tested. As the executive director, Jeanette Blake, said, “there was really no way to win.”
Listen in when I say I’m too fat to fly a broomstick and she comes back with the claim that I schmeared boiled baby fat on the broomstick and that helped lift me off the ground.
Eventually I passed and was given a certificate worth framing.
What an odd time… but what a great museum. Hat tip to the hostess, Jeanette Blake; she was a great storyteller!
July 5, 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.
July 4, 2017 – Gouda, Netherlands – Hokey and loving it. Gouda is a community in the Netherlands known for its clay pipes, treacle waffles and of course it’s cheese. Upon my entrance to the city I find this cheeky cow made of Legos. Reminds me of home.
Toured the historic Museum Gouda. The location used to be a shelter for the homeless, begging monks and escaped serfs. They were allowed to spend the night.
Also at the museum was a remake of the hospital pharmacy. If a pharmacist wanted to display his status to his clients he put crocodiles and other exotic animals like salamanders and snakes on show. Snakes were, by the way, also used as a cookie ingredient; viper cookies kept you young.
Agypy was the medicine made of finely pounded mummies – believed to give you eternal life.
Felis was made of dried cats good against rheumatism as cats are flexible.
The famous cheese shop in Gouda (photo, above) where they even made blue lavender cheese (see video, below).
July 4, 2017 – Gouda, Netherlands – you just don’t know what you’ll find that reminds you of home as you traipse across the country.
Bumped into this Harley dealership while leaving Zevenhuizen. And then I happened upon another bike shop in a little town of Moordrecht.
Lene, 59, started the shop as a bicycle business and Shell gas station.
About five years ago he started to get ill because he was working 13-hour days, so he cut back to just bikes. The electric bicycles are big business in Holland.
“They’re called the Transporter,” said Lene. “People love them but after about five years the battery goes bad and then it’s about €400 to fix. People don’t like to hear that news.”
He said the new engines were too quick to market.
After 30 years in business Lene hopes to retire in just 3 more. “So I can do what you’re doing,” he said.
I happened to like the variety in Lene’s store refrigerator.
July 4, 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.
July 6, 2017 – Netherlands – As Judy Steffes winds her way through the Netherlands on her bike, her list of tourist attractions is garnering quite a broad spectrum of interests. 
