Leaving Amsterdam.

Wonderful breakfast, but sadly our last at Fleur d’Amsterdam.  If you are coming to Amsterdam you must stay here. The most fabulous hosts you can imagine, bicycles and museums and family atmosphere are all included. By noon we were at our barge the Anna Antal. A quick tour assured us we would be very comfortable surrounded by this recently refurbished boat from the early 1900’s.

Our journey led us through the center of the city with drawbridges magically opening so our vessel could pass through.  We are accompanied by two sister boats run by CycleTours.  We moor together at night for the first two evenings as their groups are doing a similar trip and then going separate ways.  

One of the any homes floating in the canals of Amsterdam.

  It is quite fascinating to see how the Amstel River is higher than the surrounding fields and towns. We pass many dairy farms and see people gathering water from the river, a vessel waiting to ferry people and cars across the water, some birds and a bird on a bike.

 

Gathering water from the river.

Notice how the river is higher than the surrounding land.

We gather for a tasty supper and then we are introduced to our bikes for the next 8 days.  They are very comfortable (read sitting up) after a few minor adjustments.

Our leader Mike takes us for a 14 km. ride around the area and we return as the sun is setting, head for bed and ready ourselves for the first full day ride tomorrow.