On a recent Active Travel Adventures podcast, host Kit Parks interviewed Charlotte, who is 70 years old and has taken eleven Boat Bike Tours so far!
In the interview, they mostly talked about the Southern Holland route, which Charlotte took this past September. As they talked, though, Charlotte dropped lots of great advice into the conversation that would apply to any of the routes. Here’s just a selection of her tips:
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Impressions of Boat Bike Tours
Charlotte had a lot of positive things to say about Boat Bike Tours. Here is some of the great advice she shared in the interview:
Regular bikes vs ebikes
For the most part the only hills you’ll get on a Boat Bike Tour in the Netherlands is going up or down bridges or under roads through tunnels. Otherwise, it’s flat. “But that is somewhat deceptive,” Charlotte added, “because … when the winds start you can have some huge headwinds.” That’s why she and her husband started using ebikes.
The bike paths, by the way, are excellent. “It is not that silly little slot on the side of a road that we call a bike path [in the US]. It is a true biking network and the paths are wonderful.”
Your cycling day
When you’re not following a tour leader, but rather cycling independently, there’s no need to rush. Even if you do a longer route of, say, 30 miles, you have six hours to do it, so only five miles per hour. You have plenty of time to stop and look at things. Charlotte said it took her a couple of days on her first tour to realize she didn’t have to rush.
The weather and what to wear
Bring rain gear. “It’s a place here on earth and it has weather.” And Charlotte added, “Dress in layers. You’ll start out in the morning around nine o’clock and it may be a little chilly there and then the sun’ll come out and you’ll be stuffing some of those jackets down into your pannier and by the time you get back to your boat you may just be in shirt sleeves. A windbreaker is ideal.”
What to pack
Pack light because it’s all very casual. “They bike everywhere all day in street clothes, so if you’re there in the summertime and you have a cute little sundress, wear it! You don’t have to wear bike clothes or anything.” Charlotte also packs a gel seat to put on top of the gel seats the bikes already have. She pointed out that while there’s no requirement in the Netherlands to wear a helmet, many people on the tours do.
Tours that start in Amsterdam
Spend a few days there after you arrive from the US. There’s plenty to see and do, and it’ll give you a few days to relax and adjust to the different time zone.
Tour leaders
They’re always available to answer questions. In the interview, Charlotte passed on a good piece of advice from a tour leader: “Please do not come back and ask me questions and try to describe it. Get your phone out, take a picture and show me the picture and say ‘What is this?’”
The need for flexibility
The tours all have a planned route, but weather and wind can affect that route. Charlotte’s advice? “You need to be a bit flexible in your thoughts on that and roll with it because they will come up with an alternative that they can do.”
Reflections on travel in the Netherlands
Charlotte has, on her many tours, collected lots of impressions of the Netherlands. Here are some tips about travel in Holland that she shared in the interview:
Sitting in cafés
If it’s a market day where you’re visiting, the cafés might be busy. If you’re traveling as a couple and taking two chairs at a table for four people, other customers might ask to join you at the table. Charlotte’s advice is to let them! “It’s a marvelous opportunity to talk to somebody and we’ve enjoyed that as much as anything.”
Language issues
Many people in the Netherlands speak English, but sometimes in smaller villages Charlotte has come across people in shops who don’t. Usually they have someone working there – often a young person – who can come and help – but even if they don’t, “Google Translate will get you close enough … I’m not talking philosophy; I’m buying a donut.” It’ll also help you translate menus or find out what the daily special is with its camera function. So download it before you go!
Edam (the place, not the cheese!)
“Edam has my favorite street in all of the world. It is a stroke of genius for city planning on this one little street on the side of a canal: you have a bread shop, a cheese shop, a wine shop, and a chocolate shop. That’s heaven right there.”
The Podcast
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Charlotte’s favorite tour?
So which was Charlotte’s favorite tour? “That’s like asking which of my kids is my favorite.” After a moment’s thought, she added, “My favorite one is probably the one I’ll take next!”
There’s much more in the interview, so have a listen here. Between Charlotte and her interviewer, Kitt Parks, who has also taken a Boat Bike Tour, you’ll get a clear idea of what the tours are like.
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