12 August
Still in Haarlem

Still a bit chilly and overcast, but a bit warmer than yesterday and DRY! Heavens, it did not stop raining yesterday all day. It did let up from pouring to drizzling at one point in the afternoon so we went for a quick ride up to the Albert Heijn and the chemist (for a big syringe to put oil in something-or-another), well bundled up. Came home damp, but not soaked, luckily. Skip still managed a BBQ for supper :)

The cycle ride from where we are moored in Heemstede to the city is very pretty. We cross over the bridge just in front of the haven and then ride on the opposite side of the river a couple of Kms through woods dotted with the cutest small cottages and some upmarket houseboats until we come to the main bridge over to the old city center. Takes about 15 minutes, with the odd stop for traffic lights. We park, alongside hundreds, nay, thousands, of bikes around the Grote Markt and the Hooftkerk.

Just a handful of the many,many bikes parked around the church
I confess we left the camera at home, so pinched this pic off the net. Kudos to the phototgrapher on a great angle.

I had a day of retail therapy planned, and at first Skip tailed along. After the first shop, he decided he would much rather go home and install the solar panels which he now has all the bits for. I then spent a happy couple of hours checking out the sales ...

Meanwhile, back aboard, Zoe is now resplendant with double solar panels trickling free (well, you know) power into the batteries. All we need now is some sunshine so we can really check out how efficient they are.

Skip studying the solar panel controller manual.

TA DA! All we need is a sunny day now.

We decided tonight was gonna be "date night", so put on some glad rags and headed to the Irish Pub for dinner and a couple of drinks. Strongbow cider for Skip and 0% lite beer for me - I would not trust myself on my bike with the alcoholic kind....