So it turns out that this is a guided ride -- I had read that in the brochure but assumed it meant that I got a paper or digital guide, but no, it meant we got Mark. He is a Dutch gentleman, just retired from his job with the Waterworks and now he does these tours.
The only other guided ride that I have done was in Portugal a number of years ago. It was great and got me to places that would have been very hard to find and rides that I certainly would not have attempted on my own. Other than that, I have had the briefing and the map to get me from place to place on the bicycle. I wasn't sure how I would like it.
Now, I can't stop when I want to to take a picture or have a snack, but the relief of not having to find my way is huge. I ride along in the line and look from side to side, enjoying the scenery. Or I can have a chat with another rider. The stops are interesting and the pace just under 20 kmph, so entirely comfortable. We stop for coffee in the morning, then again for lunch and if there is something unique to see, we will stop anytime. The schedule is flexible and it has worked out for our whole gang, including the 10 year old.
The first 2 days we cycled in newer polders where there were lots of canals and mostly fields for hay or grazing cattle. Today the scenery changed and were into older polders, less water and therefore fields that could take heavy machinery. Now there are all kinds of crops -- wheat, corn, sugar beets, onions, potatoes and some that I could not identify just going by. We ride mostly on the dikes as that's where the roads were first established.
The flowers are amazing too. Hydrangeas in all colours line the banks of canals or decorate the fences of the homes. Gardening is a national obsession and they are good!
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