Amsterdam: A Look Out the Back Door (Mon July 9)

We've been heavily influenced in our trip planning by travel guide writer Rick Steeves.  (Apparently his books are very popular, because every time we see another American with a travel guide it has the characteristic blue cover.  In fact, this is how you can spot the Americans!)  Anyway, Rick Steeves has a travel philosophy that he calls "through the back door."  He encourages you to get out of the "tourist spots" and see the places real people eat, play and live.  Today we did just that.

We set off from our apartment and headed around to the back of the train station where we caught the free ferry across the river.

Some man without hair was messing around with our bikes.  No wonder
people use those industrial style chains.

Three Little Ducklings following the leader.

The throng of people getting on the free ferries across the river.  You can
take your bike, moped, motorcycle or even mini-car.  These little mini-cars
are allowed to drive on the road or on the bike path.  

Two minute ferry ride across the river, north of the train station and the main
portion of Amsterdam.  Very few tourists this way.

On the other side we quickly entered a more suburban type setting.

We rode along the dikes for a while. 

The houses and boats started to thin out.

A then came to a stop...

...and the landscape opened to a beautiful countryside. 

Criss-crossed by little canals,

with some scattered villages,

small herds of cattle, 

and the occasional set of swans (flock of geese in the distance).

The Bike Path took a sudden jog around this house.  Signs on either side say "Pas Op Gladheid" which
means something along the lines of "Slippery When Wet" or "Beware of the Driveway."  We weren't
sure.  

Davis wanted to check the sign on the opposite side because he was
sure it would be in English.  He was so busy looking around that
he fell off his bike (no serious injuries).   He soldiered on.

We ended up biking around 15 miles.  The boys were tough and never complained (Logan is posing for the
camera).  Even little Davis pedaled away.  The completely flat terrain is very helpful. 

Bike paths get their own "road signs" just like the streets.  Boys have put in about 10 miles at this point, and are going strong, but hamming it up for the camera.

The Village of Holysloot, pop. ~ 100.  The end of the line in this direction.
To go any further you had to take a little ferry just big enough for bikes.

Sign at the Holysloot playground.  "Play without dog poop!" it says.  Our sentiments exactly.  

Holysloot Playground

Giant Slugs.   

On the way back into town.   The Netherlands is a duck's paradise.

Within 1/2 mile you go from sheep farm to suburb.  When land has to be
reclaimed from the sea it discourages sprawl I guess!

Towards the end of our ride the rain started to blow in.  We did get caught in a medium strength rain for about 10 minutes at one point, but everyone was a good sport about the whole thing.  We dried off on the way back.  It was much easier to get back, now that we knew the way.  We hopped the ferry, negotiated busy in-town traffic, and turned in our bikes.

Turning in our bikes at the rental shop--which was at the back of
a skinny little alley.  Very "Harry Potter" now that I think about it.
The proprietor was a bit of a character too.

After the bike ride, we stopped back at Centraal Station for a little late lunch (3:00 pm at this point). 

All these tired boys needed was a trip to the "Happiness Station."  Look how happy they are!

We went to this automat place and bought one of everything (except the Hamburgers).

Some of it was good, some was gross.  Our favorite was fried chicken on a stick and some sort of fried cheese.  It seems Alabama isn't the only place where the natives believe in frying everything.  

We took our tired crew home, cleaned up, caught a nap, and ventured out for a little dinner.  We are packed up again and leave tomorrow for "The City of Light", Paris.  Thanks for riding with us!