8-11 May: Fantastic welcome in Amsterdam by the Tibetan community.
I visited one Tibetan school, we cycled with flying colourss through the city and I lived a Lhakar dance and picnic party at the Oosterpark.
Today I am leaving Amsterdam. The programme that International Campaign for Tibet Europe had laid out here was pretty tough and I am not good at public appearances -stress stress stress stress - but that will hopefully get used to.
Before turning northwest towards Den Helder could turn, I first had to go four kilometres east to the ICT office in Funenpark. Wednesday during the weekly Lhakar Tibetan dance afternoon in the Oosterpark, I had once again received a large amount of donations from the Tibetans present for the Manjushri alphabet blocks project. Those people show so much solidarity with their fellow sufferers elsewhere. Truly heartwarming.
City outwards, as usual, there was a lot of cycling in Amsterdam. It was a relief when I finally found myself on a quiet cycle path next to a railway.
Just before Zaandam at the Hempont Square ferry stood a large statue of a Dutch kissing couple.
Zaandam (main photo) with its buildings painted in bright colours I found, for the little I saw of it, an alienating city. Those colours did bring some life to the otherwise rather monotonous landscape.
Kissing couple at Hempont Square ferry
The route was mostly on an LF cycle path next to a provincial road, with a brisk headwind from the left. Pretty monotonous cycling with cars whizzing past nonstop, I was glad when I saw the turnoff to Castricum/Bakkum. However, there turned out to be no food shop in Bakkum, so I had to go back to Castricum, adding another three-kilometre diversions.
Camping Bakkum, the first one I passed was not an option: 34€ for a tent camper. Insane. Camping De Hooiberg 2 km away was within my price range though!
And my friendly Dutch-Limburg neighbours allowed me to borrow an extension cord so that I had electricity in the tent! Thanks Margo Maessen !
Today was a fantastic day of cycling! There was a strong wind, but I had it mostly at my back. If I would have had it against, I wouldn't have arrived at a reasonable hour in Den Helder hit, as I was only at around 12:30 in Bakkum left and rode at my leisure because the route was so beautiful.
The North Holland and Schoorl Dunes were impressive to cycle through along the car-free cycle roads, apart from a few service vehicles. With quite a few tough climbs too - 250 altimeters, not bad for the Netherlands - but with tailwind, these are not too bad.
It also looks like a great hiking area. You'd have to buy a dune pass to contribute to the cost of nature management of the dunes. I actually have nothing against that, then only walkers who respect nature will come.
During the climbs in the North Holland and Schoorl dunes some gears shot through half a pedal. This was quite tricky, as there were steep bits that I had to take in small gears and then when your chain starts creaking and rattling you have to get off the bike and push it further uphill.
Lunch in North Holland dunes
Today, I first drove to the nearest bike shop in Den Helder, Verdoes Cycling.
They immediately hoisted my trusty yellow one onto the stand. The cable was a little too loose, just turn the adjusting nut and it was fixed! This intervention was free of charge.
Thanks @Verdoesbikes!
I then cycled on to the ferry terminal for Texel.
There was a market going on in the city centre where I treated myself to a serving of fresh kibling for lunch. Which is always tastiest and freshest at Dutch fish stalls on the coast, I find.
Retrieved from Texel I cycled along the north side via a junction route to the village of De Cocksdorp, at the very tip near the boat to Vlieland, the next Wadden Island. Via a varied route along dykes, through polders and small woodlands, as well as beautiful stretches through the dunes.
Camping-wise, things ran a little harder than previous days. I had sent a booking email in the morning to Farm campsite 'De Hoek sent to which there was no reply during the day. When I arrived there by six o'clock, it turned out to be full. Ten minutes earlier, they had let me know this....
A few hundred metres further on, I did manage to get onto a farm campsite, for 25€, very expensive for a bicycle camper. And that couldn't even include a sheet of toilet paper... Was this a rip-off? Probably prices are a bit higher on the islands. The next few days will tell.
16 September: Opening the door at Diamondway Buddhist Centre in Tallinn The centre's meditation sessions are open
