Visited Delft Blue factory to witness hand painting of pottery.

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July 2, 2017

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

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Judy

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July 2, 2017

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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

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Judy

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July 2, 2017

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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.’

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Judy

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July 2, 2017

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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

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Judy

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July 2, 2017

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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!

Something your grandfather liked with saltine crackers.

By

Judy

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July 2, 2017

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July 2, 2017 – Monster, Holland – My kind neighbors, Jan and Dineke, at the campsite just outside Monster, Holland.

A good introduction is to always ask for a bottle opener. Jan and Dineke were willing to oblige.

Our conversation ran the gamut from camping to health care to jobs and children and grandchildren.

Fun! The next morning Jan invited me over for coffee. “When do you eat?” she said. She brought out a roll and some slices of cheese, a box of chocolate sprinkles and a hard-boiled egg.

Jan was a foodie. I asked what food was unique to the culture in the Netherlands. She mentioned herring.

I already had a run in with that two days ago. I thought I was getting fried fish from a food truck. Instead I was given raw herring and onions in a sandwich. I gave it back.

Raw herring. Something your grandfather liked with saltine crackers.

I mentioned my tour in New Zealand when the couple from the church took me in and served me kiwi as cultural cuisine.

I said we had those in the US, too, and then I ate it skin and all.

“You ate the hairy outside,” said Jan.

I said, “Yes. That’s where the fiber is.”

She looked at me and then at my plate. “I’m going to hate to see what you do with that egg,” she said.

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

By

Judy

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July 2, 2017

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July 2, 2017 – Monster, Netherlands – Judy Steffes has arrived in Monster at a “pick your own” nursery. One of the owners, Marja, explains the history of the “Passion flower” in the video below. See more photos and read more travel adventure at imthebikewriter.blogspot.com

Kaas, Hines and Simon

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Judy

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July 1, 2017

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July 1, 2017 – Den Hague, Netherlands – A full day of museums under my belt and I was pushing to move along and get out of Den Hague.

Beautiful city in Holland but busy with lots of shops, narrow cobblestone streets and lots of traffic.

I have a physical map, the trusty Google map on my iPhone and the names of the streets on the side of buildings…. sometimes I still get twisted around.

I’m sure the construction worker in a brilliant reflective yellow vest knew I was confused when I pedaled past him five times in a span of three minutes.

But.. I’m getting better and yes, I know I said that yesterday, or was the day before.

One of the benefits of being directionally challenged is the people I meet.

I was south of Den Hague looking for a campsite in Monster. I found Kaas sitting on a bench and bothered him with my typical introduction. “Little English?”

He took a look at the map and we chatted. We were soon joined by his son-in-law Simon and his sick dog Hines.

On a good day Hines would have been barking at my heels and holding me to attention. Today, not so much.

Kaas cradled him and stroked his ear. Simon later took him home and Kaas and I talked about the bike tour and Alzheimer’s.

He relayed his battle with Parkinson’s and how the stress of a broken heart with his wife leaving made it that much worse.

In the horizon, the thought of a grandson in November was giving him something to look forward to.

My bike sitting in freedom outside the Prison Gate.

The alcove entering the Prison Gate.

The entrance to city hall.

The Hague City Hall is a library and city or town hall

that was built from 1990 until 1995.

Mauritshuis museum with the painting of “The Girl With the Pearl Earring.”

Child and father watching baby ducks in the park.

Riding in tribute to Bob Becker

By

Judy

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July 1, 2017

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July 1, 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.

Painting: The Girl With the Pearl Earring

By

Judy

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June 30, 2017

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June 30, 2017 – Den Hague, Netherlands – Stopped at the Mauritshuis. It was built between 1633 and 1644 as a residence for County Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegel, military commander and governor of the Dutch colony in Brazil for eight years.

The architect was Jacob van Campen he created the first and very finest examples of Dutch classism symmetry grand plasters and Tampania give the building it’s monumental quality since 1822.

The famed painting the girl with a pearl earring was on display. “This is an exotic girl,” said the docent.