Wolveg to Vierhouten
I over sleep and wake to the arrival of a car near my tent. I have camped in a little clearing next to a canal side path, that has a road that leads to it. This puts the fear in me, and I pull the tent down and am off before the harmless man comes back from walking his dog. There is a surreal lack of visibility, riding between waterways, no sense of direction. Not even a subtle variation in the grey to show where the sun might be hidden. Empty stomach, coffee craving, but its another easter holiday, and everything is still firmly shut. After one and a half Bob Dylan theme time radio shows, a mini golf course and inflatable boucny castle emerge from the mist, coupled by a cafe, where I devour cake, and about a litre of coffee. Soon the mist burns off, and the day is bright.
One of the most delightful towns yet is Blockzijl, where I make up for my black liquid breakfast with my first bought meal in Holland. The town clock strikes the hour twice before I pack my belongings, thank the friendly waitress and head south. My glasses are shattered and held by tape, I bike against the sun.
Zwolle and Hatten pass by beofre I reach forest. Pine needle paths, light strobing though trees, and even inclines and their subsqequent decents. This is Hollands mountains. Homemade tomatoe chutneys in wicker baskets outside a house nestled in the forrest.
There is no danger in getting lost here, every road is beautiful. Even if you stray ontto a major road, it is often lined with trees, that stand between you and the speeding traffic. And with this attitude I rode with more freedom today, mixing and matching my cylcle routes rather than religously searching for a certain path. Riding along the network of roads in a general direction that I determine from where the sun is setting.
I have a beer in vierhouten. I am excited about tonights meal, a curry thing using a turkish sauce that I bought from one of the few markets that seemed open in Zwolle.
I camp amongst leaf litter and branchs, near a great stone slab of a table in the forrest.
