Fantastic Week

This was our first experience of biking in this way and despite rain every day but one, it was wonderful. Our guide, Fred, was great, full of knowledge and good humor. Each day our route was varied, through deep forests, through small beautiful medieval towns, across fields where sheep and cows grazed, on dikes and along canals. The Netherlands has amazing system of bike trails which are varied and easy to follow. The Gandalf, with its captain, Hans, and wonderful crew, was a cozy place. The bikes were great and I especially enjoyed my electric bike on one day. We are Americans and the other 18 passengers were all German whose English skills were limited. We did not know this prior to arriving on the barge. Most Americans do not speak other languages. Fortunately we both speak enough German to get to know others and follow much of what was said. For some, this lack of other English speakers would have been a disaster. Fred was so so helpful.