As I check out, I’m surprised to see three people ahead of me in line. It’s only 5:45 in the morning after all! But I’m in a big city. It’s a change from the villages of the last few days. I meet up with Delphine in the hotel garage and the two of us set off. I remember that in 2021, there were quite a few detours after Amsterdam, and that was really annoying because we were entering a section with a lot of water. There aren’t many roads. Being diverted can mean doing a few extra kilometers.
There’s still work going on, but not in the same place. The GPS is having a bit of trouble re-routering, so it’s nice to have someone to chat to. The sunrise with the mist over the canals makes it all a bit magical. It’s hard to imagine that we’re touring the whole country in a week.
The first few hours of the day pass calmly. We ride at our own pace, never far from each other but not often next to each other. I even get a crazy boost from the Cranberries’ playlist, and Delphine sees me racing ahead of her. At Edam, we stop for refreshments and set off again. We skirt the coast, but are sheltered from the wind by the sea wall, and the sun is warming us up nicely. In Enkhuizen, there’s a snack right on our route. It’s a good sign to stop for a bite to eat! Well, we’re not the only ones who want to eat. We’ll have crows landing on our bikes to try and peck at the food through the bags. A few ducks will also be begging for crumbs. It all makes for a good laugh and a good time.
No more laughing after that, at least for me. The passage through the industrial zone after Edam goes off without a hitch, but we now have the headwind all the way to Den Helder. And now it’s my turn to struggle. Delphine is racing ahead. And the music isn’t helping. It’s going to be a tough 50km before we turn south onto the dike at Den Helder. I much prefer the wind ¾ back than head on! I’ll be able to move forward more easily.
Els catches up with us and we head for the dunes together. But we have to be careful with the timing, as we have to be out of the dunes by 8pm. The dunes are a nature park with opening hours to respect the animals that live there. We arrive at the entrance around 6.30pm. That’s a bit tight. We decide to take the detour to avoid getting bored. Els goes ahead, as she still has more kilometers to go than we do.
The end of the day is rather complicated for Delphine and me. We chat to pass the time and get to know each other better. We arrive at Ijmunden, the stopover town, but the problems begin. We have to cross a huge naval structure with multiple bridges that could close at any moment. The sun sets as we begin the crossing. And, of course, the last barrier closes in front of us! I can tell you that when you know you’re 10 minutes from your bed, have 220km under your belt and it’s already 9pm, it’s a real drag! The only positive point of the day is that we’re finishing a section of the route given to us by the organizer, and there’s a certain satisfaction in that.
We arrive at the hotel in great relief. But it’s short-lived, as we’re not allowed to take our bikes into the room. The receptionist insists that there’s no risk, but we’re tense. And we also have to take the time to empty the whole bike. Which means that when we look for a pizza to eat, it’s already 10pm and everything’s closed… We fall back on the hotel’s soup and hot chocolate dispenser, but it’s not a crazy evening meal.
