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Tired Post: Leiden and Gouda

 

Our cabin in Leiden

Hello there race fans.  I'm knackered.  Tough day.

We are currently holed up in the most salubrious accommodation so far - there were no trekking cabins available where we are tonight (7km out of Gouda), so we got upgraded to a "chalet" - where we actually have our own bathroom and a sink, and for the first time ever...A TV!!  We are currently sitting on a SOFA (OMG the luxury), and watching Dante's Peak, after some home made spag bol and salad for dinner.  

We are all tired.  Today was a tough 33km  - we left our cabin in Leiden (cutest cabin and campsite) this morning in 2C coldness, though the sun was shining for the first time, around 9am headed for Gouda, and then a bit beyond to this campsite.  We set off after an easy day yesterday of only around 12km and a really good night's sleep, so thought we'd be in power mode...but alas, the cold, the headwind that was with us the whole way, had us pretty knackered by the time we arrived in Gouda.  

We had hoped to stop on the way for some morning tea - but couldn't find anything.  Then as we rolled into one town with orange bunting everywhere, a marching band, loads of young kids all dressed up in orange with crowns on, and loads of people, we realised it was Kings Day today!  A public holiday.  So, we got all the way to Gouda with one stop - our last lollies and a drink from our drink bottle.

We rolled in to Gouda, through amazing scenery, like every day we can't believe how beautiful it is here, how amazing the houses are, the canals, the dykes...it's like cycling through a fairytale.  There were people everywhere for the holiday, and a big stage was set up with a band playing right in the centre of town.  We found food, sun, a beautiful church with stained glass windows dating from the 1500s.  Gorgeous.

We wandered around, ate more food, hit the supermarket to make our own dinner, then headed off to face the headwind again and get to our accommodation.  We are in the middle of gorgeous fields surrounded by sheep, ducks, canals, and other little cabins.  So nice and warm and snuggly.  We're having hot showers and we'll decide on our plan tomorrow over bacon and eggs in the morning.

I have to mention that our stay yesterday in Leiden was really fun, and so so so beautiful.  We rolled in from our campsite early for breakfast on the water, and decided that after the big day before of 50km we wanted to chill out a bit.  So we found our little cute campsite and booked ourselves in, then wandered around this gorgeous town for a few hours eating and seeing all we could.  Leiden is known as Little Amsterdam because it's just like Amsterdam with its canals and gorgeous old buildings - and it really was special.  

Enjoy the pics:

Breakfast in Leiden where we at the pancakes below


The Dutch LOVE their chips!  That's sacks of potatoes next to Mike inside the shop

Poffertjes - small dutch puffy pancakes - being made (above), being eaten (below)


The gang in Leiden



On the road to Gouda


The King's special pastry only available on King's Day (today) - DELICIOUS!!!


The amazing church in Gouda


Today's campsite - 7km out of Gouda


(such luxury)







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