May 7, 2025
Utrecht
Wednesday
The Owl had a very nice breakfast, preparing me for the cold morning. I followed a route I'd uploaded from RideWithGPS. It was scenic and went past windmills and farms, all on bicycle paths, removed from traffic. Holland is extremely neat and clean. I didn't pass a home in disrepair or any litter. Many Dutch are fluent in English. The Dutch riders use hand signals and the cars give cyclists the right of way. I can't explain how my American mind couldn't fully grasp the reality. If not for the headwind and the chill, I would have thought I'd died and gone to bicycling heaven. What Holland doesn't have is hills, which I don't miss.
I did see one protest sign, "No 200 Meter Windmill." Someone was against an electricity-generating windmill. A Dutchman against a windmill, go figure.
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I stopped in Breukelen on my way to Utrecht, my home town's namesake, it was quite nice, had a lovely town center with restaurants, shops and no cars.
In Utrecht, I stayed at the Malie House, a very nice hotel, recently renovated in a 70s style with beige walls and brass fixtures. I lived through the 70s. Some bicycle blog recommended it, probably pre-renovation. It was a bit spendy and had a touch screen where you could adjust the lighting: Day, Night, Sexy Time (actually Relax). I don't think a solo, aging bicyclist was the intended demographic. They let me store my bicycle in the rear garden. Utrecht was lovely with many dining options, some along the lower level of the canal.
I walked around visiting the Dom and an old Art Deco Post Office that was renovated into a Public Library.
Today's ride: 40 miles (64 km)
Total: 60 miles (97 km)
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