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Stage 15 - Gouda to Haarlem 65km (24-Jun-2019)


Back in the saddle after a couple of lovely sunny days in charming Maastricht with our daughter Jessie who flew in from London. Hadn't seen her since she left Sydney early February.
Today's route created by my mate, Ellwood was beautiful and going through Leiden made it that much more special.
After a quick breakie, we hit the road around 9am on a lovely warm day, trusting that we would get into the cycling rhythm after Maastricht. You can't help but get into the rhythm with the sun on your back and bike paths, smooth as, along canals/dikes or flower beds and it didn't take us long.




The cycling infrastructure is second to none here and long may it continue. The Dutch take full advantage of it, as one sees people of all ages, from young toddlers to grandpa's and grandma's cycling.
Moving along, we rode into Leiden; it was that time of the day when Ursi needed her morning fix of decaf coffee. just as well for 2 reasons, one, it was the best coffee she has had in Netherlands (a happy wife is a happy life) and two, we got to discover one of the cutest little towns.










The ride after leaving Leiden was uneventful, but beautiful all the same as we rode on perfect clearly marked bike lane along this canal with very little traffic  




Coming into Heemstede, where we had to collect the keys to our apartment in Haarlem, on a path through the woods was also very special especially as it gave us some relief form the hot day.



Finally arrived in Haarlem where we plan to stay for a few days to explore Amsterdam and surroundings. 


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