Enkhuizen to Medemblik: 3 June 12

We awoke to overcast, wind and rain. The water was choppy. We were originally scheduled to make for Hoorn over breakfast, but the wind out of the northeast made that impossible so we went to Enkhuizen instead. The combination of wind, rain and low temperatures made for a raw day of cycling. Amy decided to stay with the boat and travel to Medemblik the long way, traveling well out beyond the destination and then angling back in to keep the boat from moving too badly. The Germans chose to leave the boat, but take public transportation to find their way to our stop. I borrowed a rain poncho and, with a couple of others, made the trip. The rain let up after half an hour, and the trip was actually quite pleasant. The route took me out of Enhuizen past this fanatically decorated street.

The ride was mostly along the way along the top of a dike where I saw this spectacular sailboat in a picture reminiscent of the old Dutch Masters.

I arrived in Medemblik a few hours before the boat to discover that they were having a choral festival, so I was able to listen to half a dozen singing groups as the rest of the company arrived.

Dinner was mushrooms, shallots and parsley sautéed in butter and served on toast followed by salad, oven baked fries, green beans with garlic and tomato and chicken. We finished with desert of strawberry rhubarb compote. The sky appeared to be clearing, which gave hope for tomorrow which is planned to be the first really substantial ride of the trip. Total distance 28 km.