4 September 2015 - Arrival in Amsterdam

Sleep didn't come easy to any of us but at least we were horizontal and could relax eventually when Luke was asleep.  We cannot fathom why the cabins are so overheated.

The North Sea and wind turbines

North Sea views~

Whilst we didn't see any whales or seals we did see some terns in the early morning and the haunting dark clouds over the sea...and then more rain!  We could see what we thought was land with wind turbines but as we got closer we realised that the wind turbines were placed in the water .  They were certainly getting a workout this morning!  They were other vessels on the water as well and especially as we neared the coast, there were more watercraft.  

Blue sky for a minute minute!

Not as cold as it looks....

Huge, eh?!

We docked at Ijmuiden, the port closest to Amsterdam and after a bit of waiting we were permitted in the car deck and apart from showing our passports, had no trouble entering The Netherlands!

The rain poured down and I was so glad we were not among the many cyclists disembarking.  They   were soaked even before they reached passport control!

This is our town!

A pomegranate tree

Our road!

We found our way to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and to our lovely accommodation on a little farm.  Our house is a typical Dutch house with 3 storeys and ladder like stairs to the bedrooms which are closed by a hatch and 5 kg weight and which Luke is finding impossible not to play with.  The Amstel part of the name refers to the river which is literally just across a little road.  There are boats going up and down the river all the time and bikes along the narrow road.  What is remarkable is that we are only about 4 kms from Amsterdam and yet right in a rural hamlet!

Luke's sleeping area - NB 5 kg weight for hatch.

Ladder like stairs!

Tim and Annika's zone, NB. Annika sleeps in a bed-stay cupboard

Our bed - have bumped my head already!

 

Our dining area

Lounge area with views over the River Amstel

Canals and water and flat land as far as the eye can see!...Amsterdam is the back ground.

The rain will stop eventually!  The land is lush and green and wouldn't be this way if they didn't have so much rain!  Do the animals here get foot rot often?

Bird sanctuary

So rural!

A tiny car fit for the bike tracks!

 The rain continued but we were eager and a little desperate to go for a walk.  We explored the local paths through fields and past cows and sheep and lowland soggy paddocks with many waterbirds. Somehow we found a Jumbo supermarket and bought our supplies and walked home getting wetter and wetter to the point of absolutely being drenched.

WET WET WET walk back from the shops

A crayfish on the road?!  So wet the poor thing couldn't tell the difference between the canal and the road!

Once home, and in dry clothes, we resolved not to leave the house again this evening!  Feeling very thankful for warm and dry accommodation and a washing machine and dryer!

And just down the road, just cos we're in Holland, is a windmill!