22 June 2014 (sun, cloud, warm) 32km

Woke to a beautiful morning at 7am and first priority was to put a load of washing on before getting showers.  We then threw the washing in the dryer while we had breakfast and it was all done by 9am.  Folded the washing and got ourselves organised to cycle into Amsterdam and set off through the forest at 9.30am.  It was a beautiful ride in with the first 5km or so being through the forest on a purpose built cycle track – fantastic!  Then we hit the outer city and followed the signs to the Centrum, or city centre.  We were on cycle track at the side of the road and it was well signposted so had an easy fluid ride which culminated in a lovely ride of about a km through a city park called Vondelpark which landed us right in the heart of museum country. 

Took a ride around this area for a bit, taking photos, but there were hordes of people and we had a date with Michele, so we headed further into the city, looking for the Centraal Station.  On the way we came across MacDonalds so thought we’d stop there first and post the blog.  We were a bit nervous

about locking the bikes outside and leaving them out of sight, but we consoled ourselves with the thought that we’re fully insured and hoped for the best.

Got a great connection and finally managed to skype the kids!  It was great to see them

again and to see we have two new residents at Casa Dolan….Fabio and Milo, two guinea pigs.  Very cute!  Tomorrow we finally hope to be able to skype Briana.  We had to pay 50 euros each to use the loo at this Maccas – that’s a first.

Went outside to discover our bikes still safely locked to the

drainpipe outside and cycled to the train station two kms away.  Locked the bikes to another handy drainpipe and went inside to see if we could spy Michele and her family.  No chance.  Far too many people.  So we had written the address of where she was staying and cycled there and rang the bell, but there was no answer.  There was a coffee shop right underneath so we went in there and got lunch and who should happen along as we were finishing our sandwiches….yes Michele, son Jakobi and husband Curtis.  

It was great to see Michele again and to finally meet her husband and son.  We helped them upstairs with their bags but the cleaner was still there and they weren’t supposed to check in ‘til 2pm so we left the bags there and went to a restaurant downstairs with tables by the canal and sat in the shade having a drink and catching up.  And man did we have a lot to catch up on!  They have been living and teaching in India for the past year and have also visited Cambodia and Tanzania.  They are flying home to the States for two months but landed in Rome about a week ago, travelled to Paris and now Amsterdam before heading to London and then home.

We talked non-stop the whole afternoon and got on like a house on fire.  Walked round a bit to go see Anne Frank’s house (huge queue) so just kept walking and enjoying the spring sunshine, taking the odd photograph and talking some more.  We stopped off at a Mexican place for dinner and it was delicious and then back to their apartment where we uploaded the blog and checked directions to get us back to Vondelpark, as I was pretty sure I knew the way from there.

Left Michele and family at 8pm and cycled back to our little camp, got a little lost on the way but not too bad.  Got to Vondelpark in the end and from there it was smooth sailing.  Had a coffee back at the tent as our throats were parched from all that talking!  I guess we’re just not that used to it now!