Category: Canoe Netherlands

Canoe the Netherlands

Weekend Escape

The Cedar Journal July 28, 2020

It finally happened, a weekend away. It didn’t happen without a risk assessment and long discussion about the risks. This trip almost didn’t happen at the last minute as warnings about increased cases in our local area on Wednesday had us thinking once again about the risks. Then, I started sneezing like crazy (I have crazy allergies…but in this day and age of rampant virus I questioned myself). We held our breath, I popped some Claritin and we packed the Caddy.

First canoe camping weekend with all our gear this year.

On Thursday (with no news of the threatened local lockdown) we hit the road, heading towards one of our favorite places to canoe paddle the Weerribben National Park.

First a cup of coffee before setting up camp!

Once we had arrived and set up our campsite, we headed out for a short evening paddle. Our paddle muscles cried out as we inched along. Months of sitting dormant and this sudden burst of use was a surprise for muscles that normally mid summer are well accustomed to paddling use.

What better way to give the muscles a real boost than to prepare chocolate pastries on the grill.

First time we have used our pizza stone for our grill to make pastries. A real muscle moral booster.

As with any camping trip we had the threat of rainy weather. We kept a close eye on the weather radar app on our phones the entire weekend. Scheduling our outings between rain storms. We accomplished that with success this weekend as we managed a 12km canoe paddle on Friday and a 20km bike ride on Saturday. Just as we finished up our bike ride the sky opened up and poured rain on us the entire night into Sunday morning. We stayed nice and dry inside the Caddy although we did have to battle a few mosquitos.

Friday canoe paddle with water lilies blooming.

Oh no! We forgot our tools to eat!!! No knife! What can we do?

A butterfly that thought the blue dry sack was a nice place to hang out.

Cedar at our lunch stop point. The canals were very busy with vacation people either paddling or with the slow electric motor boats constantly going past.

Camping Where The Dutch Rivers Meet

The Cedar Journal June 29, 2020

It was our first camping this summer here in The Netherlands.

Liberation Day 2020

The Cedar Journal May 5, 2020

75 years ago today the Dutch citizens danced in the streets to welcome the Allied Forces, their liberators after more than four years under Nazi rule.

Each year flags are hung to remember that day and to celebrate freedom. This year the national day off was, well less than normal.

We took the opportunity to head out on our first canoe ride of the year. We both needed to be on the water, to flex our canoe muscles, to free ourselves of the four walls of the house. I am usually on the water for weeks by May. Either in Minnesota or here but the last two years have presented some challenges. This year I am guessing most of my readers can relate to the cabin fever syndrome.

He travelled to Hillegom, NL to a place we have paddled before in the Spring. The canals lead through the tulip fields and usually are filled with color and scents of blooms.

The Bulb Canoe Route starting in Hillegom, NL

This was the first time we have had to place Cedar on our new (to us) VW Caddy. We were worried about how we would lift her to the much higher roof of this van. In fact we talked about it most of the winter, tried to watch videos of people who lift canoes onto higher profiles vehicles (no luck on that!), and finally came up with a system that seemed to work for us.

We love the fact that the VW Caddy has so much more room for our gear.

A step I have to use to reach the tie straps.

A Celebration Day – Kings Day 2020

The Cedar Journal May 3, 2020

Another week has gone past and it seems that time is either flying or standing so still that we can hear the plants grow.

I now have two chickens laying eggs (Most everyone missed out on the first egg event). Weaver was the first to lay an egg and then it was Kipass. Now, the two white hens are acting like they will start to lay any day. Today will be the first day I can actually eat one of the eggs, because the were all on medication earlier in the month.

Not everything in the world stops because of my chickens are laying golden eggs.

Yup, the Dutch Hubby has figured that we need to produce 10,000 eggs to break even in this chicken investment. We have now determined it is a hobby. A hobby is something you sink tons of money into without ever expecting a return on the investment.

Yesterday was Kings Day here!!!

Usually, it is the one day each year that the entire country turns out in anything orange in support of the royal birthday of the King of The Netherlands. This year it was not the usual party time seen across the Dutch countryside.

Yes, most people placed the National colors outside their houses.

Yes, some people wore orange if they went out of the house.

Yes, some people ignored the rules of no public gatherings.

Although, most families stayed home and then toasted the King with an adult beverage at 4pm.

A bit sad. But, very necessary.

As an American living here, I have found most people very kind and understanding to what is happening to my mother country.

But, many also want to vent to me about the dumb crap our President says, or tweets. I have decided that people just need to vent, so I let them. I also make it very clear that I did not vote for him!

I hope a pray for the sake of my children who serve in the US military that he is not re-elected in the fall.

Next week the Dutch will mark the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands in 1945.

Those many important lessons seem to have died with the souls who fought on all sides of those battles.

But, if each of you can take a moment on 4 & 5 May to think of those sacrifices our ancestors made during that difficult era and apply those lessons to today’s current crisis I feel we will have hope of making it a better world.

Freedom is never free!

2019 Dutch Open Canoe Festival

The Cedar Journal September 9, 2019

So another year of canoe paddling is under our belt. Marking the official end to our season was our attendance this last weekend at the 2019 Dutch Open Canoe Festival held at the National Park De Weerribben in Ossenzijl.