A Month and a Day!

Saturday 28thSeptember 2024. Drink Beer Day.

Bad Bentheim, Germany to Deventer, Holland – 83km.

Wow, I have completed a month on the road, on the bike! My body is holding out….just and so is the bike. I’m into my last week (I have booked my return ferry). I have experienced Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic and Germany. Now is the turn for The Netherlands.

It was a bit of a chilly start but I had a day of sunshine and showers. It’s amazing how a border makes a massive difference to how people live. Instantly there is a different language and housing and character.

There had been lots of cycles and cycle paths in Germany but even more in Holland. My destination is Deventer. It is the most recommended destination of all the Dutch people I have met on this trip….thats two (thanks Henk and Ruud)! So it must be pretty good.

The cathedral bells were playing constantly through the afternoon but they were in competition with….

I got into my hostel when I could for a freshen up. I’m in a room for four but I was first in so I could grab a bottom bunk. I remembered that today was a choice between Drink Beer Day or Ask a Silly Question Day. Well it certainly was a ‘silly question’ as to which I would pick!

I had a walk around the city centre including the riverside.

Sadly, I missed the opportunity to go in the Geert Groote Museum….I have no idea who he was or what he did. I think it was something religious many centuries ago. It might have been a lucky escape. He may have been a Dutch version of Martin Luther….but I think he was Catholic!

I wandered around enjoying the city atmosphere. Sadly, I have less Dutch language than I have German….there is only so far you can get with ‘Danke Well’. The good news is that so many Dutch people speak very good English.

I was amused by a main market street called the ‘Brink’. I wanted to get on the Brink…and a Saturday market was in progress, so it was bustling.

I have been doing a good job picking photos with blue sky on them. It has been quite showery.

In the evening I went to a Lithuanian Bar….there’s a first time for everything.

I was back in the room as late as 9pm. No nightclubbing for me.