23 August
Biesbosch

We awoke to the most glorious morning. The water was glassy smooth and the sky blue and cloudless. What a difference to yesterday morning. Even Skip got up early and spent an hour reading on deck in the early morning cool while I was still tucked up in my bunk.

We cast off about 10.30 and ambled through the channels looking for somewhere to moor where we could get the bikes ashore. All the spots were lovely, but no cycle paths, so we continued on up to Werkendam, just before the channel rejoins the Merwerde river. There are a couple of yacht harbours there but we did not like the look of any of them. Back down the channel we went to the other end, where it joins the Maas River. Up a side creek, we came across a charming small haven, JH Vissershang. Despite all the to-ing and fro-ing we were tied up by 13:30 and put the bikes ashore after lunch. 

The day trip boat was doing great business today. Look at all those people on deck.

I plotted us a cycle route and we spent the afternoon puttering around farmland, tiny villages, national park and eventually all the way along a high dike bordering the river. It was a bit hot, and we could have done with more trees, but still a nice way to spend the afternoon. We did have to stop a couple of times to let the blood back into the bottoms - BB's (bottom breaks) = excuses for coffee.


We could have done with more tree-lined stretches like this ...

 

... but our route took us mostly through open farmland.

At the one coffee stop, we were sat out on a wide terrace of a large building along with dozens of other cyclists taking refuge under the shady umbrellas. As I drank my coffee I though there was an "interesting" aroma around, but didn't want to say anything in case it was my imagination. When I went indoors to pay, the aroma got stronger and I realized that the back of the building was a huge stables with an indoor exercise arena where a lovely horse was being put through his paces. I rushed out to get the camera, but sadly he had just finished and was being led back to his stall.

Waiting for the ferry ...

... which cost .75 cents to cross the river. Tickets from the ferrywoman.

Back aboard we dug out the fans as it is 30.4 inside the boat and 33 on the aft deck. Skip muttering about air conditioners, but that is a step way too far.

The local radio reported that this is the hottest day of the year in Holland this year with temperatures reaching 33 in places - the aft deck of Zoe being one of them.

Mussels for supper ....