Back to Canada

I'm writing this post from Canada in my living room and I'm not entirely sure what to say. My trip was 1 week shorter than the original plan but I think it was still a success. It was my first time travelling outside of Canada and my first time having a biking/camping adventure. As far as risky adventures go, I'm sure it wasn't even super adventurous, but it was a start. On my first night camping, after my first day on the bike, I think I had a holy crap moment and attempted to rebook my plane ticket back to canada. Hence my 3 week trip.

I discovered that travelling solo is a blessing and a curse. It meant that I could stop after 35km at 1pm instead of biking 70km everyday and stopping at 5. If I had someone with me, the longer rides would have been enjoyable too but I was always wanting to be sure of my site early in case I had to bike further to find my next site. Camping wasn't hard, even in my tiny tent. A second person would have just meant someone to laugh about the day with. I have described it as the difference between laughing with someone about the two cows I saw, leaning butt to butt as they ate, and just telling people about those cows. It would have also meant that someone else could have planned the journey.

By the last few days I had figured out the subway (metro), trains, biking and grocery shopping. I think I could totally live in the Netherlands. I actually really loved both the cities and the countryside. I'd get a bike with gears, but I would love to live there.

I was less nervous about my flights travelling home than I was travelling there. I don't think I would ever book a flight with a 1 hour connection at Frankfurt! Even after landing it takes 10-15 minutes to get to a terminal. If you are on one of the planes that even gets to the terminal. Some get lined up on the tarmac and a bus brings you to/from the terminal. Inside you are pretty much garunteed a passport and/or security check!

Sculpture in Amsterdam airport

I hadn't told my family I was coming home early so it was somewhat a surprise. I pleasant one I think. My dad said he can finally sleep again! He was even happy enough to find me a chassis to build my replica pink trailer on!

I don't know where my next adventure will take me but I'm a little more sure I can handle it whatever it is. 

I've had requests to keep blogging so I'm thinking of continuing the blog but making it for my solo adventures in corner brook and my random musings (today those musings would have included people inability to push grocery carts!). So keep checking in. Next week I could be on an adventure!

Leann

Derby and more wandering

Block Around the Clock 2, was in Amsterdam this weekend. 24 hours of non-stop (mostly) derby scrimmages for charity (Women Win) and fun! I went before the event to volunteer to set up, which was mostly setting up tables, decorating, and chaulking a fitness route to the venue from the metro station. The 24 hours started at 2pm Saturday with a full length sanctioned bout between Amsterdam and Paris. Amsterdam won! Which was made even more nicer because it is their 5 year anniversary. After their bout it was non stop 30 minute scrimmages on 2 tracks.

Later in the day my volunteering consisted of sitting outside the skater VIP area as a kind of security. But I could see the games from there so, s'all good. I left in the last 10 minutes of the last bout. Its kinda what I do :p and I had been awake a very long time so I wanted a shower and food and beer and a bed. I wasn't tired until I laid down and then I mostly went into a coma.

This morning I was slow to get out of bed. Mostly because I know stores are later to open on Mondays usually. Then I got up and headed downtown. I think I've finally figured out the trains! So there are fancier, nicer, faster trains and country trains and the subway (smellier, more stops)! I even managed to find the 24 hour ticket I wanted! So much nicer even though once I'm done wandering around in the city, I still don't have the urge to go back.

Today I picked a different direction, more south east but I still avoided the red light district. It was very touristy. So I didn't like it as much as my first few days.

I just liked the look of those buildings.

The royal palace (don't worry, there is a better pic. I think the pockets of tourist and hotdog stand are funny!)

See much more Palacey

And what does the palace have for a neighbour...Madame Tussauds wax museum! Classy

Always a canal pic

Another house I liked

I like house boats but my dreams were crushed one day as to their house boat-iness.

I turn down non popular streets and I found this. The garbage gives it a lived in feel :p

I likes this subway car as it went by so I got in it.

Hello discount wine aisle!

Time to plan tomorrows fun!

Leann

Toilets & toilet paper

Yes, you read that right. This blog post is dedicated to toilets and toilet paper! Because everyone wants to know, how you go.

Firstly let me start by saying that I, like most, love a good flushing toilet. A solid one flush and its gone. No one wants to have to flush two or even three times (unless they are curtisy flushes!). Well let me tell you, its nothing but one flushes all over the Netherlands! And it is a very aggressive flush. Imagine a scaled down Niagara falls type flush.

Now where all flushes are mostly created equal, all flushing mechanisms are not. The standard north american toilet toggle is no where to be found. There have been start/stop (yes you eco friendly people, you can stop the falls) flappers above the toilet, there have been buttons on the wall or toilet and yes, one even had, what I image to be a more old British style, an overhead waterbox and pull cord!

And the toilets! They are shaped differently somehow. Some just seem very deep with the hole, for lack of a better word, in the front. And some have a ledge. Yup a ledge. But don't worry. The Niagara flush gets it all in one go ;)

But what about the toilet paper?! Superp. I bought cheap toilet paper at a corner store and it was still thicker than most 2-ply! Not to mention the sites and places that had their own. I cant imagine people buying fancy toilet paper at a hostel and its like 4-ply so what is expensive paper like. And while you're sitting there, I've noticed all the toilet paper has cute designs. I've seen ghosts (cute ones with hats) and ships and flowers and other random non bathroom specific prints.

So there you have it. Toilets and toilet paper!

Leann

Pics from the last few days!

Now that I'm back in Amsterdam and back at the hostel, both tablet and phone should work.

A cat at one of the campsites. Described as a monster. But he was totally nice.

These rocks were outside a small town. Perhaps rocks are rare. Not where I'm from :p

Campsite that night. The pics are all starting to look the same!

Found a grocery store. And a beer with a hobbit/smurf/elf/gnome/something on it.

Perhaps the theme of my bike trip!

Afternoon lounging!

For Derek: Yes, you can just have wine and cheese!

This tree has sea urchins growing on it! Its the only way to describe them. I wouldn't want to step on one.

Went through a town that had pictures made out of flowers.

Had to take a pic of the flower dragon too!

I think most of my pictures look like this.

Stopped for pub grub: bitterballen and frinkedel.

What's a campsite without some pets!

There was a neat air trampoline type thing in the ground to for kids.

Last site!

Trail was a little off road this morning so granny had seen better days!

Back at the hostel.

€3.35 for this and the grocery bag and...

A beer!

Derby tomorrow for two days! Better make room on my phone for pics!

Leann

Still Alive

Yes, I am still alive and on my last might of camping! The bike and I are catching a train to Amsterdam for a roller derby filled weekend.

The lack of posts has been because either the tablet was charging (ie dead) or the phone wouldn't grab the WiFi or the tablet wouldn't grab the WiFi or a combination of both. I'll post the pics tomorrow.

Leann

Thyencamp to Het Oosterse Veld

It was a nice morning. Not even as much dew on the ground or tent. I started packing up as usual, eating some bread and protein bar as I did. The chickens came by to say good bye (with the rooster it was more like good morning but at 5am).

The man that owned the campsite came out to meet me and have a chat which was nice. I really think the Drenthe province has had the nicest people so far. He even explained that the rooster is actually very kind and protective of the hens. Yesterday when I was trying to feed him some bread too, the hens would take it. But the owner explained that he let's the hens eat first before he does. This morning I even seen him share some the bread with the hens evenly and get puffy at one is she was being greedy. So I guess he's not exactly the pushover I thought he was.

The countryside has less sheep now and more cows and corn fields. There were a few very cute tiny towns. Not laid out the same as the others. They even felt different.

I still managed to find a grocery store for beer, wine and cheese tonight.

The campsite is quiet. No cats or chickens or goats or horses on the property. But one less rooster is OK.

No pics today because for some reason the tablet will connect to the WiFi but not the phone.

A few more nights of camping then a full derby weekend in Amsterdam! I can't wait.

Leann

Groningen to Assen pics (not many)

The morning fog

The bike path around Assen

Took a wrong turn but found a hill!!!

Race track. It was a very big area and it looked like they even have a race school.

Camp chickens. The rooster is a pushover and I think he's English or at least attempting to cluck back when I do.

Groningen to Thyencamp

My weekend in Groningen is over and Anna was a wonderful host. I may have been a slight jinx because it seems like everything we touched broke or spilt or burned etc. She says that sort of thing happens a lot with her so it might not have all been my influence.

We parted ways in the morning, me headed south toward Assen and Anna headed north to the university, with plans to meet in Amsterdam on Friday. I will miss our conversations for the next few days.

The morning was very foggy. At the apartment it seemed like the kind of fog that burns off when the sun gets higher but the further south I went, the thicker the fog. The fog was so think it started to collect on my shirt and eyelashes.  I biked in the fog along a little canal that had boys in row boats out for their morning practice and a girl on bike riding back and forth through the fog yelling stuff at them on a mega phone.

Most of the ride was very straight going, running parallel to a hiway or a canal. When I got in Assen I pulled over to check my map and a man also pulled over to do the same. We biked and talked for a bit until we both missed or right turn. He was very nice. I like it when people talk to me and I can tell them where I'm from and that I like biking in their country and they get to tell me something about their area.

Coming out of Assen required more navigating but i did find a grocery store :) so I picked up my favorite's. And headed toward the campsite. I passed a race track and thought of Andrew. I can imagine him dragging me back there right now since the site is so close and I can hear the bikes from here.

Made it to the site and set up tent. Shared some of my bread with some chickens on the property and had a lovely chat with the owner about the chickens and Canada and the Netherlands. Maybe people in Drenthe are friendlier.

Pics to follow

Leann

Groningen pics

Here are pics from around Groningen

Looking down the red light district street. Sorry if you want more excitement. My memories know what the side views look like!

Martini tower

At the rose garden

Pancake ship!

House boats

The bar bottle spinning dude.

Outside Groningen train station

"A" Tower (there is no B tower)

At on of the theatres

An interactive art piece we saw while wandering. If you put your hand on it the vacuum starts and the little black foam ball go shooting through the web of tubes.

Leann