21 June 2014 (sun and cloud, mild breeze) 68km

I lay motionless inside the tent. One false move now and it could blow our cover. I eased the rifle closer into my shoulder, controlling my breathing  as I did. Yes….. the moment was approaching.

Today it wasn’t the caw…. caw of the crows or the coo…. coo…. of the pigeons…….. no today we found we had camped in the flight path to  Den Haag airport. Yes…… today was bigger prey still….

747 400’s and Dreamliners. "Take that you bastard!" I yelled as I opened fire missing the first, but bringing a second blazing to the ground……………….. After a morning cuppa, we sat watching the commotion as emergency services rushed to and fro trying to drag the injured from the plane.

I was standing in the bathroom when a Dutch policeman rushed in.

“Did you see what happened?” he said

“Do you mind, I’m trying to brush my teeth here” I replied

Packed up our gear when all around was chaos and rode slowly away from the carnage, the barrel of the rifle bobbing up and down in my pannier bag.

After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast, we broke camp at 10.30am. Our aim today was to reach a campground we had sussed out a couple of days ago, not too far from Amsterdam.

Decided to get a good hours cycling in before attempting to contact the kids with our now hopefully fixed tablet. On into Leiden and out the other side heading for Alphen a/d Rijn where we found a shopping centre which was a hive of activity and waltzed into a McDonalds for a cold Moccha each.

As I ordered, Julia began on the tablet. First checking payments to our staff [ thanks guys, we love you ] then messages and anything else we needed to catch up on.  Should point out that the ride to this particular town had been very pleasant. Some riding close to the road, but also canal riding which on this fine day [ the first we’ve had for a while ] was quiet and peaceful. Beautiful old pleasure cruisers were making their way along at a very leisurely pace, with their owners quite content just to relax and take in the view. 

another unusual modern building

Some of these craft were spectacular and it was hard to distinguish whether they were originals, or new ones made to look old.

Found an Aldi supermarket in Ter Aar to get supplies for the next two days [ a lot of places are closed on Sundays, must be the religious thing ] and carried on

a converted water tower - now a spectacular house

up the canal heading ultimately for Amstelveen, our campsite for the night.  

Found a picnic table for a late lunch, (3pm), then continued on our merry way just enjoying the flat, traffic free canal paths and the sunshine.

Found our campground without too much bother, nestled in the Amsterdam Forest next to a lake.  Pitched the tent and then jumped on our bikes to look for a bar and see if we could catch some world cup soccer action as the games kick off over here at 6pm.  

Found an Argentinian restaurant with the Argentina vs Iran game on and had a great little booth for the duration of the game while the restaurant got busier and busier.  The people running it were lovely, probably helped in no small part by Argentina scoring a last minute winner.

Walked out to unlock the bikes and a couple of women walked past and we heard them talking and one of them had a definite antipodean twang.  I asked if she was Ozzie and she said “No!” with  great indignance, “I’m a Kiwi”.  I said, “So are we.   Where are you from?” 

Helen and Julia

“New Plymouth” she says.

“No way!  So are we!”

We introduced ourselves as Pete and Julia and she said ‘My name is Helen, Helen Bull”

Ju says “that name sounds familiar”

Helen says “I’ve got an identical twin sister”  and Ju says “So do I.  I went to school with you.  I’m Julia Hobo”

She goes “No way!”  Big hugs all round as they realise they knew each other when they were seven years old at Woodleigh School.

She introduced us to her friend Ingrid who I chatted with while Ju caught up with Helen.  Got her email address and promised to send a copy of the photo we took.

Then we cycled back to the camp and cooked up a delicious stir fry of vegetables and chorizo sausage.

what a nice spot to cook tea
shame I had to share it with a raving nutter!

Night was closing in……… the temperature always drops at the end of the day. The choppers had been circling all day after our quick exit from the camp this morning. I could tell they were suspicious, even then. We had decorated ourselves and the bikes in Holland World Cup flags and regalia whilst cycling today, but they’d been hard on the scent, like a person with obsessive compulsive disorder searching for a bucket and a mop. We’d purposely pitched the tent overlooking the lake. Aside from the stunning vista, the lake was about 25 metres across and since I’d got my gold medallion for 25 metre breaststroke at the age of seven, I figured it was a likely escape route.  Darkness couldn't come soon enough.............