The Low Country: A Cyclist's Dream

Saturday awoke with a 37-degree bite in the air, but the sun promised future relief. As a birthday gift from our lovely daughters Colleen and Alison, Martha and I were greatly anticipating the 4-hour bicycle tour through town and into the country.

They chose the company Mike' Bikes which caters to English speaking tourists. Fun group and a great guide, Carl, who hailed from the UK. The tour was a 22K course which included a farm to watch them make Gouda cheese and wooden shoes.

Martha immediately in front of me pedaling along the canals.

Our string of cyclotourists trying to not get separated.

One of the last four active windmills in the city of Amsterdam. Raise your hand if you knew that windmills were used for pumping water into the canals and were also used to reverse the process if hostile forces threatened. Good on you, mate!

Martha and I doing the windmill.

At the cheese farm and clog maker's shop.

The well-shod feet of our tour guides. They say they actually live in them pretty much all year long, but the clogs are the most effective during the rainy, muddy season. Anyone want me to bring 'em a pair?

Gobs of Gouda!

One of the more intricate carvings they do for weddings. After the ceremony, the shoes are hung on the wall. Problems arise if there are more than two pairs hanging up!

The postman on his appointed rounds to the houses on the dike. Everybody gets into the act!

One of the stunning, well-maintained manors along the dike.

Dogs and children just get to sit back and enjoy the ride!

Wild man Carl blowing his ever-present bubbles. We would have been lost without them!

We let our feet guide us through narrow streets, into open museums and along canal waterways. But our fascination with the bike culture continued into the evening.