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VIDEO | The singing bears and my party invitation

By
Judy
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July 3, 2017 – Rotterdam, Netherlands – The communities in the Netherlands are pretty tight knit. There is a lot of agricultural area with farm fields and livestock. Today I happened upon a family of swans just outside Rotterdam. 
This was the neatest idea in Zoetermeer where a historic photo of the street would be posted in the same area of the current street. 


Just an FYI: This is also a grocery in the Netherlands. I rode past it about three times before finally asking where the food store was located. 

Met Wilma in the grocery. I asked her about the singing bears (see video below). She was extremely friendly and chatty. “Happy 4th of July,” she said. “Come celebrate with us. My American friend is in town.” 

And with that I’ve been invited to a July 4th party!


A new reality show.

By
Judy
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0
July 3, 2017 – Delft, Netherlands – Broke way out of my box this morning and asked my Polish neighbors at the campsite if I could tag along on their kayaking adventure. 
I’m not sure any of us knew what we going on until I climbed in the kayak with Wojciech. 
And make that Wojciech No. 2 as both boys had the same name. Susanna was our translator.

This could be the next successful reality TV show. Drop an American in a kayak with a group of people who only speak Polish. It was quite a bit of time spent in the weeds.
Susanna packed a GoPro and the boys a lighter and a six pack. It was a co-ed team in each kayak. 
During a break on shore we connected through music. Justin Bieber drew a laugh. Pink garnered no reaction. AC/DC got head nods from the boys. Very fun.
Hat tip to my camping host Alex who connects with the Alzheimer’s tour and let me stay the night for free. Such nice hospitality. 

Started off after the noon whistle to Rotterdam. 

Diana helped me find the grocery in Rotterdam. “I’d very much like to come to US but I hate flying,” she said. So cheerful and with many questions about the US. “Is it big? I watch shows about the states on documentaries.” 

Diana has a little girl born on Christmas Day. She was just so genuine and kind. 

I get by with a little help from….an interpreter

By
Judy
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July 3, 2017 – Delft, Netherlands, – The Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s continues in the Netherlands as Judy Steffes meets up with Polish kayakers. Judy decides to take the watery plunge with the help of an interpreter.

Read more here at imthebikewriter.blogspot.com

Connecting deeper with the Dutch; spreading the word about Alzheimer’s

By
Judy
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July 3, 2017 – Naaldwijk, Holland – I connected with Cor at the Pluktuin gardens in Monster. Just received this email:

“I am sure you have met a lot of people here in Holland and one of them was me last Saturday, July 1, where we met in a place in Naaldwijk called de Pluktuin.

 I apologize I did not have the time to talk more with you because I had to go to my daughter’s birthday. And actually I was already late…. because I took some more time to do my photography.. 🙂 I hope you were able to find a camping in Hook of Holland which was the nearest I think. It was nice to meet you and saw the passion in what you are doing.

So here the passion flower I photographed at the Pluktuin for you for your good work.
 All the best and feel free to mail me. 

With kind regards, 
Cor de Voogd – The Netherlands”

Riding in tribute to Barbara Baldus

By
Judy
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0

July 3, 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.

Visited Delft Blue factory to witness hand painting of pottery.

By
Judy
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0
July 2, 2017 – Delft, Holland – From Monster to Delft. About 23 miles on the day with a stop for Mass. 
Woke up to this treat from the chocolate nutrition fairy at my tent flap door. Someone from the cozy campsite I imagine.  Every day it’s a new adventure. 
Sunday Mass at a huge church, St. Antonius, just at the outskirts of Delft – all of it in Dutch. I understood ‘Amen’ and ‘bruzzers and sizzers.’  



Visited Delft Blue factory which is where they hand paint the pottery. If this woman looks annoyed …..she totally was.  Not sure if it’s because she’s working on a Sunday or because she has to paint in front of simple tourists. 
Below: Just a little trinket in the Delft Blue gift shop.

Mural, below, is called “The Nightwatch” – a painting made by Rembrandt in 1642.


Interesting note – the company will make anything in Delft Blue.  From a classic painting to, well… how about paint a cow. Just a little trinket in the Delft Blue gift shop. 


This church is very Goth – and it’s huge. The Nieuwe Kerk is located on Delft Market Square (Markt), opposite the City Hall. 

These canals are part of the fabric of Delft. I can’t believe how close the waterline is to the threshold of these doors. Just tell me they don’t have water issues in the basement. 
Sporting my Delft Blue glasses. Just kidding…  I got them at the Dutch dollar store…  or I suppose they call it the €uro store. 

This is disconcerting.  The bike rack is right next to the canal. Look across the water. No safety rail. Just trust to park your vehicle by the side … I’ve yet to see someone exit their car because you would drop right in the drink. 

On to Delft and original hand-painted pottery

By
Judy
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0

July 2, 2017 – Delft, Netherlands – Judy Steffes biked from Monster to Delft where she witnessed the painting of original Delft pottery and more unusual pieces as well as attending a Mass in a Dutch church.

Read more about today’s ride at imthebikewriter.blogspot.com

Riding in tribute to Pat Bohn

By
Judy
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0

July 2, 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.

VIDEO | De Plucktuin means ‘pick your own flowers.’

By
Judy
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0
July 2, 2017 – Monster, Netherlands – De Plucktuin is a nursery run by the mother-daughter team of Reit and Marja. “My parents married 50 years ago and they moved here and have been working this nursery,” said Marja.  
There are over 300 species of flowers and plants. De Plucktuin  means ‘pick your own flowers.’
Marja explains the history of the passion flower below:
The nursery and its flowers with rich colors is magical.

Marja offered me a cup of coffee and a healthy piece of homemade apple pie. It had thick chunks of apple and soft raisins and a thick crust.
The array of tea cups and saucers reminded me of Mary Ann 
and the Morning Glory in West Bend. 

Mary Ann had the best bakery and she had that big white dog at the doorstep. What was that dog’s name?  

After coffee, pie and flowers I stumbled into a water skiing course on a small lake outside Wateringen.

A little turnabout with the maps: Bikers Jannom and Femke helped guide me to my final campsite. 
“We want to tour like you in the states,” said Femke. She talked about biking the Great Divide. “We’re told to wear our helmets because the cars in the US don’t see the bikers.” 




Sounds and sights of the sea in Monster, Holland

By
Judy
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0

July 2, 2017 – Monster, Holland – Woke up Saturday morning to the sound of the sea; it lulled me back to sleep for another two hours; a weekend luxury, but (full disclosure) it was also raining. 
Packed up and headed to the sea. Windy weather was perfect for the kite surfers. Their speeds were fast and their kites lit up the sky along the shore. 



Pedaled south to the small community of Monster. 

Sam, 22, said he was 2 years old when his parents drove past a windmill and he was hooked. 

Sam took me for a tour and explained the mechanics of the mill. We stepped outdoors on the deck and he slowed the wings of the mill. Back indoors he pointed out the ‘horse and the general.’  You could tell Sam loved his hobby. 

Teaser: Came upon this Passion flower in the nursery outside Monster called De Plucktuin. See next story!


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