Skating the Netherlands - Dan's Journal

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Skating the Netherlands - Dan's Journal

By Dan Kibler

Day 6 Sneek to Hindeloopen - 64.2 km

Lots of shopping done this morning. I bought a nice bike shirt. Kenny picked up some antique skates. Several new items sported a Frisian flag motif. The flag motif is seen everywhere. It has bright red heart shapes on a bright blue background. Actually, we learned that red shapes are lily pads - red lily pads?

Willem joined us as a guide today. At 76 years old, he's quite a character. He has a droll sense of humor and the ability to effortlessly skate all day. At his age he has also earned the right to comment on modern equipment and skate style. His new, sponsored Solomon speed skates didn't fit so he was on his low-cut, leather speed boots mounted on five-wheel frames. He doesn't think much the double-pull stroke either.

Finally hitting the road, we skate through open countryside, along wide canals and over numerous drawbridges. How many drawbridges are there in Holland? There must be thousands!

Just before lunch time we skate into a small town where a Gypsy band has set up in the square. It's a colorful family group with mom, dad and six kids. They played several songs and one of the band rode a pony through the gathered crowd to pass the hat. We could not have planned a stop better.

We met Allen outside of town where he had set up a picnic lunch on the grass along side a busy canal - lots of sailboats of all shapes and sizes. We had bread, and ham and cheese (including some of my leftovers), of course. There were also salads, fruits and lots of dessert goodies to replenish our depleted calorie stores. We watched a group of teens maneuver a small fleet of sailboats down the canal and onto the nearby lake for there sailing lessons.

Feeling refreshed we hit the road again. We soon found ourselves rolling through a lovely forest, the only one of the trip. There was a real hill with a fast downhill run under the leafy canopy. Steve and I pushed off the front of the pack and ripped to the next intersection.

The short route ended in Oudemirdum, a pretty little town near the coast of the Ijsselmeer. Dropping one here we climbed another real hill, took in the great view and roared down the long downhill. The sun was bright as we skated along the dike. The scene was beautiful with the Ijsselmeer on our left and bright green fields on our right. There were many bicyclists on the upright bikes with big map holders on the handlebars - poor wind resistance, but real handy. Kenny found a couple of fast cyclists to draft and was off for a few blistering kilometers.

Willem had been pulling the pack much of the day. He's incredible! He just keeps up his long, strong stroke that eats up the K's. He hated cattle grates though! He skates a lot better than he walks!

The pavement is pretty rough for our last few kilometers into Hindeloopen. It's not much fun for our tired feet. The last block is, of course, on rough bricks. Steve says he will never complain about pavement at home again.

Hindeloopen is a quint little town, the quietest on our tour. It's a sailing and windsurfing center surrounded by green dykes and filled with cute shops. We have a nice dinner of baked sole and lots of veggies, but no dessert! After dinner, awards, mostly tongue-in-cheek, are passed out in the little bar. I win the "his cheese is bigger than his stomach" award. Willem buys a round and I punch up some oldies on the classic jukebox. Liz and I take a turn on the dance floor while the group sings along.

See all our Holland Pictures
Learn more about Zephyr Inline Tours.
Read Day 7.

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Lots of shopping done this morning. I bought a nice bike shirt. Kenny picked up some antique skates. Several new items sported a Frisian flag motif. The flag motif is seen everywhere. It has bright red heart shapes on a bright blue background. Actually, we learned that red shapes are lily pads - red lily pads?
	Willem joined us as a guide today. At 76 years old, he's quite a character. He has a droll sense of humor and the ability to effortlessly skate all day. At his age he has also earned the right to comment on modern equipment and skate style. His new, sponsored Solomon speed skates didn't fit so he was on his low-cut, leather speed boots mounted on five-wheel frames. He doesn't think much the double-pull stroke either. Finally hitting the road, we skate through open countryside, along wide canals and over numerous drawbridges. How many drawbridges are there in Holland? There must be thousands!
Just before lunch time we skate into a small town where a Gypsy band has set up in the square. It's a colorful family group with mom, dad and six kids. They played several songs and one of the band rode a pony through the gathered crowd to pass the hat. We could not have planned a stop better. We met Allen outside of town where he had set up a picnic lunch on the grass along side a busy canal - lots of sailboats of all shapes and sizes. We had bread, and ham and cheese (including some of my leftovers), of course. There were also salads, fruits and lots of dessert goodies to replenish our depleted calorie stores. We watched a group of teens maneuver a small fleet of sailboats down the canal and onto the nearby lake for there sailing lessons.
	Feeling refreshed we hit the road again. We soon found ourselves rolling through a lovely forest, the only one of the trip. There was a real hill with a fast downhill run under the leafy canopy. Steve and I pushed off the front of the pack and ripped to the next intersection.
The short route ended in Oudemirdum, a pretty little town near the coast of the Ijsselmeer. Dropping one here we climbed another real hill, took in the great view and roared down the long downhill. The sun was bright as we skated along the dike. The scene was beautiful with the Ijsselmeer on our left and bright green fields on our right. There were many bicyclists on the upright bikes with big map holders on the handlebars - poor wind resistance, but real handy. Kenny found a couple of fast cyclists to draft and was off for a few blistering kilometers. Willem had been pulling the pack much of the day. He's incredible! He just keeps up his long, strong stroke that eats up the K's. He hated cattle grates though! He skates a lot better than he walks!
The pavement is pretty rough for our last few kilometers into Hindeloopen. It's not much fun for our tired feet. The last block is, of course, on rough bricks. Steve says he will never complain about pavement at home again. Hindeloopen is a quint little town, the quietest on our tour. It's a sailing and windsurfing center surrounded by green dykes and filled with cute shops. We have a nice dinner of baked sole and lots of veggies, but no dessert! After dinner, awards, mostly tongue-in-cheek, are passed out in the little bar. I win the "his cheese is bigger than his stomach" award. Willem buys a round and I punch up some oldies on the classic jukebox. Liz and I take a turn on the dance floor while the group sings along.

Inline Skating Newsletter Article

Skating the Netherlands - Dan's Journal

Day 6 Sneek to Hindeloopen - 64.2 km