All Orange Here!

Saturday morning and great anticipation in Holland as the country prepare to support their soccer team who play their first game of the Euro 2012 tournament tonight. The first game of the round robin pool level is against a very good Denmark team. The pool Holland is in has being called the “pool of death”. The whole country is draped in the national color, orange. Flags, streamers, lights and just about every combination of orange and black is in full view everywhere. Whole city blocks are draped in orange and it is unlike anything I have ever seen…even beyond the look of a Canadian city whose team is in the Stanley Cup final. It’s the whole country participating.

We will be out to a party tonight to watch the game and it should be a great time!

We had a great visit with Puk and also with Fran & Ruud and family which included a ride with Puk and a stop at an unusual gallery. So good to see Puk! Dinner out was very good and again we were spoiled far too much...but appreciated it!

The riding has been very good. We have managed to avoid most of the rain, but not the wind which was blowing 35-40kms/hr yesterday as we found our way north to Eindhoven for dinner with Riet and Tini and then onwards to Geldorp for the night with Twan and Brenda. Puk started us off and then turned back after making sure we were headed in the right direction!

Our route was quite entertaining as we first peddled at half speed to the west and into the wind, and then we would turn north and find the wind howling from our left side allowing us to make up a bit of time. Happiness was finding an unexpected national park area where there were lots of trees and a bit of wind shelter. We could stop at a café when possible where we could find a cup of tea…and a cookie! Then off again, through some very beautiful country.

Today we are cycling north for the day to see a new Van Gough gallery which celebrates his life and is located in the area where he was born and spent his early years. The gallery is not yet well known, so we are looking forward to this excursion.
One week to ride and we are hoping that the weather will cooperate…then on to warm, sunny Portugal and the good wine and long walking beaches!!
Go Holland!