Riding with the wind for a change.
This island is 20 kilometres long, 10 kilometres wide and has more than 135 kilometres of cycle paths. It’s not hard to guess which country we’re talking about.
Texel, the most southerly of the Dutch Wadden Islands, is flat. Mostly.
If that makes riding sound easy, imagine a force 4 wind whipping through an air temperature of 9 degrees and blowing straight into your face. Mevrouw T’s electric bike’s motor worked overtime, and managed a creditable 56km of support before leaving her legs to their own devices.
Hills generally have another side. Wind doesn’t.
It was a hard day’s ride, but a beautiful one.
Because the landscape was flat, I kept my photos flat too.
Let’s leave the bikes here and go and look at the lighthouse.
“When all at once I saw a crowd…”
…and another crowd. A host of golden daffodils.
Of course there has to be a windmill. It would be a shame to waste all that nice cool wind.
Dykes conveniently hold back the sea…and also funnel the wind straight into your face.
It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Beach house for rent. Take your pick.
Not much there but flatness.
The gulls enjoyed riding the wind more than we did.
Hi Richard,
Good to see you back in the Netherlands. 2 years ago we did the same tour in Texel. Went to the lighthouse, were birdwatching and struggled a fierce cold wind. During the nights it was still freezing, but in our tent and warm sleeping bag no problem at all. Tomorrow, after the free market, we will leave for a five day cycle touring along old Hansa cities in Netherlands, including the unknown Hattem and Hasselt. Hope to see you in Amsterdam when it is less crowded.
Regards to mrs T.
Herbert
Thanks Herbert. Beaut to be back here and our rear ends are gradually getting reaccustomed to the saddles. I’ll have a look at that Hansa route. There could be a story in it.
Yes, I think the Hansa route is known in the Netherlands (LF3), but forgets the Hansa cities that are not connected to the route. We will find out if this is with reason, or if the route makers have taken the easy way. Also Harderwijk (old university town) and Elburg are on our list, often forgotten as a Hansa city. And don’t forget that the Hansa pact was very important in late mediaeval time for trade in the western world between London and Veliki Novgorod. But the Hansa never extended to Texel, what makes this island more liberate than other parts of Holland.
I first came across the Hanseatic League in Tallinn, Estonia. I’ll be interested in finding out what the route is like through Nederland, where I’m always looking for cycling adventures, and if there’s history attached to them, so much the better.
56k sounds impressive but hopefully you weren’t only half way there? I played golf last week and the wind was in my face for all 18 holes and I don’t know how that was possible!
It’s a rule of cycling that when there’s wind it’s always in your face. It probably applies to golf too, where it helps your fade and your hook.
You will most likely feel at home cycling here in Cape Town, as the wind, at times, comes from all directions.
Love your blog.
Hazel
Cape Town is high on my ‘to-do’ list, Hazel. And I can imagine that Table Mountain directs the wind into your face any time of year. Nice backdrop to the cricket, though.
Oh, I know about that…
jeez I wish I were there!
We wish you’d been there too, Betsy, preferably cycling just in front of us so we could find shelter from the wind behind you!
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