Day 19 - Rhenen

The Netherlands shares a similar climate to where I'm from in the States: the Pacific Northwest. June is a difficult month for PNW'ers because, after a long soggy winter that melts into a long soggy spring, people are ready for more than the same-old same-old: grey skies and drizzle. Sun and warmth! It rarely happens. Hence, people from this region generally refer to June as Junuary (pronounced Joon-uary) because even though the days are long and the flowers are pervasive, the sky is still grey, we're still in bulky sweaters, and our humor is not in tact. It's more grit than grins this time of year.

Seattle and Amsterdam share a similar latitude (47.6° and 52.4°, respectively) and thus a similar climate. I don't know how Dutch people feel about the weather in June (flowers are even more abundant than in the PNW and it stays light till 11pm) but I imagine, like PNW'ers, they're used to the temperamental nature of the summer season. It's a bit of a tease, really.

Our splendid shorts and t-shirt weather over the weekend takes a quick nose-dive and by 9am Monday -- just in time for breakfast on the terrace -- the skies are grey, a chill has descended, and big splots of rain begin to fall. By the time we're on our bikes at 10am it's raining steadily. We put on our rain gear and worry about the susceptibility of our panniers to the wet. But there's nothing to be done but carry on.

And it's actually quite nice, cycling in the rain. My socks and shoes and gloves are sodden by the time we stop for a morning coffee break in Otterlo, but the fresh smells of the wet forest and heide have been delightful. Today is our last day cycling through these rich and wild forest lands and I will miss them. I have gained such an appreciation for Holland's natural spaces this past week. Having spent previous visits in the heavily industrialized southwest corner of the country, I didn't imagine that the Netherlands had such beautiful open spaces.

Our B&B is in a small village outside of Rhenen (Achterberg). It's a large apartment over an old barn, with plenty of light, a view of the farm fields and the only (small) hill I've ever seen in Holland, and a small kitchenette with cooking facilities. Eating out has its benefits, but too much of it gets tiring. We're both craving a home-cooked meal. So we cycle into Rhenen -- just as another rain shower starts -- and pick up ingredients for a pasta meal.

Morning qigong on the terrace.

Followed by breakfast...with a farm view.

Our faithful companions.