Amsterdam

May 6, 2025

I managed to get a few hours of sleep on the airplane. I retrieved my duffle and eventually, my bicycle. I was waiting at the wrong oversize area. I put all the bulky items on a cart and worked my way through customs and immigration. I found an area inside the airport near the train and assembled Betsy.

I noticed that the front tire was a little low on air. When I tried to use the pump I brought, the locking mechanism and plastic housing shattered. I rode out of the airport, using the map I had created on RideWithGPS. Since I was nowhere near my start point on the map, I worked my way toward the starting point. It was a cold, gray day. I should have brought the puffy, not for riding, but for when I stopped.

I was getting turned around in the labyrinth of the airport but eventually found my way. The low battery indicator appeared on my phone. (The transfer to the eSIM was easy.) I stopped to look for my power bank but couldn't find it. When I tried to fill my tire at a gas station, my card didn't work and I had no Euros. I found myself off course riding through Amstelveen, where I stopped in an bike shop and asked if they could fill my tire. They were very helpful and pointed me in the right direction. I followed the signs toward Amsterdam Central. When I entered Vondelpark, I knew my hotel was nearby. I stopped at another hotel in the Museum District where they directed me toward The Owl Hotel.

I had a single in the Owl, a small room in an older building. It was so tiny that when you closed the bathroom door, it rubbed against the twin mattress. They had space behind a locked gate to accommodate Betsy.

I went out for dinner and settled on a curry. It was delicious but unfortunately, my stomach didn't agree. As Ashley later mentioned, having curry before a long bike ride is not a good idea.

Today's ride: 20 miles (32 km)
Total: 20 miles (32 km)

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