Uitdam to Volendam: 2 June 12

We began the day at the airport and took the train into the city. Amy found some clothes that fit, at the airport train station no less. We walked to the barge along the main canal and were greeted at the boat like old friends. Were joined by 10 Germans in a group together, 2 Aussies, 2 Dutch women and one man who was Dutch but had lived for 40 years in Australia. We left Amsterdam around 3 pm and sailed right past the ship we will be taking to the Arctic in a week. We stopped in Uitdam to fit out our bikes and then took a quick spin to Marken where we crossed to Volendam on a ferry. Here is a view of the lovely contryside around Marken.

These are the two Dutch women, having tea in Marken while waiting for the ferry.

The weather was cooler than we had become accustomed to in Italy, so it was back to long pants, undershirt and chamois. Some riders back tracked and then rode the distance to harbor. Here the Noorderzon makes for its mooring in Volendam.

We took several nice strolls along the waterfront, one before dinner and one after. It is a lively, loud place.

We were seated at dinner with all the non-Germans. So far in the brief time we have been together the Germans have shown no interest in hanging out with anyone not in their group, but that might change. Everybody at our table speaks English so that is our language of choice. Dinner was a homemade beef broth with onion, salad, white fish with bacon and tomato, mashed beet and potato, fruit and yogurt. We went to sleep, quite comfortable in our cabin. Total distance 6.5 km.