We three (Best Beloved, son, and myself) took a ride on our bicycles to the beach at Parnassia on Saturday. Of course we rode into the wind going out and into the wind for most of the ride back home again. The starting point was Haarlem, out throught the Kennemer Dunes (Duinen) to the beach and back on the bike path by the main road a round trip of about 22.5 k’s. And this is up hill and down dale through the dunes and my lungs had a few quiet words – and we stopped and walked quite often. Well that is I stopped, and I walked for some stretches and son just kept on riding – it is amazing the power of youth over a little age. (sorry Karen had to use the age word)
This time in the Dunes we photographed the memorial to those killed in May 1945 – at the very end of the war when the allies were very close. We have seen it before but had not realised the full significance of it.
memorial to those killed in Kennemer Downs May 1945
The dunes are quite different without the summer green, and no wild flowers in flower to speak of. Everything seemed to be a sandy colour and what you could see in the distance looked a little like a sepia photograph.
We did not see any of the beautiful horses but did see quite a few of the orange Scottish Highland cattle grazing quietly by the path – and we watched as a young couple walked by them – and the cattle just kept on eating – unlike the curious one that made me more than a little uncomfortable last time.
The beach did have some hardy souls on it – including some intrepid kite surfers (I think that is what they are called). A few people took their dogs down to the beach as well. I expect that a few carried them back up again.
Parnassia - wild north sea beach
In the Netherlands the people are besotted by their dogs (like we are with the birds here) – and they do go to amazing lengths to take the dogs out with them, absolutely everywhere. There are doggy pushchairs so that the dog can rest when it is tired after a lengthy play or walk. The dogs are carried in baskets on the bikes themselves, and there are also bakfiets (bikes with a huge bucket or basket – permanently attached; and also on wheels – like a wheel barrow in front of the cyclist). The bakfiets can come with no seats – for carrying goods, seats for the children; or, with an especially designed carrier or bucket to carry their dogs. I will add some pictures when I manage to get some of dog carriers.
We have seen people riding a bakfiets with up to 4 children all with seat belts on and the children natter away as though they are in a conversation pit. It’s brilliant.
This dog thing also means that nearly everywhere you go to eat, like at the cafe at Parnassia, where I started this little story there are also many many bowls of water available for the many many dogs.
This is a Bakfiets - with real style
Inside the cafe, overlooking the beach at Parnassia, there were two fires going and it was delicious and warm and the place to be, and that is where most of the people were, including us of course. We had a great lunch before setting off on the journey home.
fragile flower enroute
We found the flower on one of the required stops to get breath back.
We both have bikes with 7 gears, son rented a bike with no gears.
Tags: bakfiets, beach, Bike Rides, daily living, dogs, Kennemer Duinen, Kennemer Dunes, Parnassia, wind
How wonderful to have Morgan with you, and I am sure his fitness and lesser age would make a difference, however you did not use old so you are forgiven. Your stories of what you are experiencing makes it almost come alive for us folks back in NZ. becuse of your wonderful description of the spring flowers you have seen I am about to purchase and plant spring bulbs for later this year. more people should cycle it would improve everyones fitness.
luv karen