Day 3: Castro Urdiales to Laredo

Tuesday & Wednesday May 19 & 20

Another long day awaited us—approximately 19 miles from Castro Urdiales to Laredo. Fortunately, we all knew that the following day would be a rest day, which seemed to put a little extra energy in everyone’s step. It is amazing how much easier a difficult walk feels when you know a day off is waiting at the end of it.

The route took us through beautiful countryside and along stretches of the rugged Cantabrian coast. Unlike previous days, there were not many towns along the way where we could stop for a meal. By lunchtime, we were all ready for a break, so we found a grocery store and purchased a few supplies for a picnic lunch.

It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable meals of the trip. We found a shady spot beneath a grove of trees beside a fast-moving creek. Sitting there with our sandwiches, fruit, and cold drinks, listening to the rushing water and resting our tired feet, felt like a luxury. Sometimes the simplest meals become the most memorable.

The day grew increasingly hot as the afternoon wore on. The sun was relentless, and the miles seemed longer because of it. Several members of our group decided to take an alternate route that was both shorter and less strenuous. By the third day, everyone was beginning to understand their own limits and learning that there is no shame in choosing the option that allows you to continue enjoying the journey.

As the afternoon stretched on, the anticipation of reaching Laredo kept us moving. When the city finally came into view, it was a welcome sight. Situated along a beautiful bay with a long sandy beach, Laredo felt like a reward after three demanding days of walking.

We were especially pleased with our accommodations. The hotel was beautiful, and the staff could not have been more friendly or welcoming. After the frustrations of the previous night’s hotel, the warm reception was greatly appreciated.

Esther and I were among the first members of our group to arrive. We quickly checked in, enjoyed long showers, and then headed out to explore the town and find something to eat. Before long, we found a pleasant restaurant and settled in for dinner.

As we sat at our table, we began spotting familiar faces from our group making their way into town. One by one they arrived, and many joined us for dinner. It was fun to watch everyone’s arrival and hear stories from the day’s walk. Some had taken different routes, others had discovered hidden cafés or scenic overlooks, but everyone had their own adventure to share.

I did not fully appreciate how much I needed a rest day until the next morning. After three consecutive days of long-distance walking, my legs were tired, my feet were sore, and I was more exhausted than I realized.

Breakfast the next morning was served in the hotel’s grassy courtyard, where small tables were scattered beneath the open sky. It was a peaceful setting and a wonderful way to begin a day with no miles to walk.

One of our first missions was to find a laundromat. By then, our hiking clothes had accumulated several days’ worth of sweat, dust, and trail odors. Clean clothes had become one of life’s greatest luxuries. After getting our laundry washed and dried, the remainder of the day was delightfully uneventful.

We spent our time wandering through the city, enjoying leisurely meals, browsing shops, and taking more than a few naps. The slower pace gave our bodies a chance to recover and our minds a chance to absorb everything we had experienced so far. It was exactly the break we needed before setting out on the next stage of the Camino.

Day 5: Laredo to Güemes

After our much-needed rest day in Laredo, it was time to get moving again. Day 5 would be another long one—approximately 17 miles—and the weather forecast called for plenty of sunshine and heat.

Fortunately, our morning began at a relaxed pace. Unlike previous days, there was no need for an early start because the first part of our journey required a ferry crossing. We had only about a 1.5-kilometer walk from our hotel to the ferry terminal, and the ferry did not begin operating until 9:00 a.m. After several mornings of rushing to get on the trail, it felt wonderful to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and take our time getting ready.

When we arrived at the ferry landing, we found dozens of other Camino pilgrims already waiting. It was fun to see so many walkers from different countries gathered in one place, all heading toward the same destination. Backpacks lined the dock, walking poles leaned against benches, and conversations in several languages filled the air. We were fortunate to make it onto the first crossing, and before long we were gliding across the water toward Santoña.

Once on the other side, we resumed our journey through some of the most beautiful scenery we had encountered so far. The route alternated between peaceful countryside and dramatic stretches of coastline overlooking the Bay of Biscay. The ocean views were spectacular, with waves crashing against rocky cliffs and green hills rolling down toward the water.

Of course, the beauty came with a price. Several sections of the trail involved steep climbs and descents, particularly along the coast. The combination of heat, elevation, and accumulated fatigue from previous days made the walking more challenging than the mileage alone would suggest. By this point in the Camino, everyone had settled into their own rhythm and knew their physical limits. As on previous days, several members of our group chose alternate routes that were shorter and less demanding.

One of the things I appreciated most about the Camino was that there was never just one way to complete the journey. Each person could tailor the experience to their own abilities and goals. Whether you walked every mile of the official route or chose an easier option from time to time, everyone shared the same sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

After many hours on the trail, we finally arrived in Güemes, a tiny rural village surrounded by green fields and rolling countryside. Compared to the larger towns and cities we had visited earlier in the week, Güemes felt quiet and peaceful. It was the kind of place where life seemed to move at a slower pace.

Our accommodations were excellent and provided a welcome opportunity to rest and recover. One unexpected advantage of staying in such a small town was that there was a restaurant large enough to accommodate our entire group of 14. Throughout the trip, coordinating meals for so many people had often been a challenge. This evening, however, we were all able to sit together at one table and enjoy dinner as a group.

The meal was filled with laughter, stories from the trail, and plenty of discussion about sore feet, aching muscles, and the adventures of the day. By now, the group had developed a comfortable camaraderie. We had spent hours walking together, encouraging one another through difficult stretches, and sharing both the challenges and rewards of the Camino.

As the evening came to a close, it was hard to believe that we were nearing the end of our journey. We were tired, sunburned, and more than a little sore, but we were also beginning to realize how special this experience had been. The miles, the conversations, the beautiful landscapes, and even the challenges were becoming memories that would stay with us long after we returned home.

Day 6: Güemes to Santander

Friday, May 22

Our final day on the Camino del Norte had arrived. The route from Güemes to Santander was approximately 15 miles, a distance that felt manageable compared to some of the longer days earlier in the week. There was a sense of excitement in the air as we set out that morning. While everyone was looking forward to reaching Santander, I think many of us were also a little sad that our Camino adventure was coming to an end.

The weather could not have been more beautiful. Much of the route followed the coastline, offering spectacular views of the Bay of Biscay. The trail alternated between sandy beaches, rocky shoreline, and paths overlooking the water. After several days of walking through cities, villages, farmland, and forests, it seemed fitting that our final day would be spent alongside the sea.

At one point, many of us couldn’t resist the temptation to take off our hiking shoes and walk barefoot along the beach. The cool water felt wonderful on our tired feet, and for a few moments we forgot about sore muscles, blisters, and the miles we had already covered. We simply enjoyed the sunshine, the sound of the waves, and the realization that we had nearly completed our journey.

As we walked, I found myself reflecting on the week. Just a few days earlier, we had started in Bilbao as a group of friends and acquaintances eager for an adventure. Since then, we had shared long days on the trail, steep climbs, aching feet, unexpected challenges, and countless conversations. The Camino has a way of stripping life down to its essentials—walk, eat, rest, and repeat. In that simplicity, friendships deepen and small pleasures become more meaningful.

We arrived in Santander fairly early in the afternoon. Reaching the city felt both satisfying and a little anticlimactic. After days of focusing on the next mile, the next hill, and the next destination, we had suddenly reached our goal.

Our hotel was another excellent one, providing a comfortable place to celebrate the completion of our walk. After checking in and cleaning up, we spent the afternoon exploring Santander. The city is elegant and lively, with beautiful waterfront views, parks, shops, and cafés. Several of us visited a museum, while others wandered through the city or simply relaxed after six days of walking.

As often happens at the end of a trip, our group gradually began to scatter. Everyone had different travel plans, departure times, and destinations. Some were heading directly home, while others planned to continue traveling through Spain. After spending nearly every day together for a week, it felt strange to say goodbye and go our separate ways.

Esther and I planned to return to Bilbao the following day. We caught a bus in the afternoon and spent one more night at Cristina’s family home before continuing on to Valencia. It was a fitting way to end this portion of our Spanish adventure, returning to the city where our Camino journey had begun.

Looking back, the Camino del Norte was far more than a long walk along Spain’s northern coast. It was a chance to slow down, disconnect from everyday routines, and experience a different rhythm of life. There were challenging days, sore feet, blistered toes, and moments when the miles seemed endless. But there were also stunning landscapes, wonderful food, new friendships, and a deep sense of accomplishment.

By the end of the week, we had walked nearly 100 miles together. More importantly, we had collected memories that will stay with us far longer than the physical aches and pains. The Camino taught us patience, perseverance, and the value of simply putting one foot in front of the other. And like so many pilgrims before us, we left already wondering when we might return.

We had a group of 14 people, all from Athens, Georgia, who signed up to walk a six-day section of the Camino del Norte from Bilbao to Santander. The group organizers were Susanne and Cristina. Cristina grew up in Bilbao and still has a family home there. Others in the group included Kathy P., Amy, Denise, Dan. Mohan, Laura, Lori, Daniel, Janet, Susan, Esther, and me.

Susanne took charge of our training. For several weeks before the trip, she had us walking at 6:00 a.m., covering 8 to 15 miles, three to four times a week. After walking for four or more hours on Saturdays and Sundays, I was usually so exhausted that I had little energy left for anything else the rest of the weekend.

We used an organization called Santiago Ways, which arranged all of our hotels and transferred our luggage from one hotel to the next. The cost was about $960 per person and included accommodations, breakfast, and luggage transfers.

Our adventure began in Bilbao, a city that beautifully blends Basque tradition with modern architecture. Esther and I arrived a day early so we could explore the city. We stayed with Cristina at her family’s beautiful apartment on the seventh floor of a high-rise building in the center of Bilbao. Today, only her brother Nacho lives there.

Cristina’s father had been a civil engineer during the years of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. Following Franco’s death on November 20, 1975, he eventually retired. During our stay, Esther, Susan, and I took a walking tour of the city, where we learned about Bilbao’s devastating flood and saw the large marketplace that was built afterward. We also walked around the magnificent Guggenheim Museum and visited the Bilbao Museum.

The night before we began our journey, Cristina hosted a welcome party at her home for all of the Camino walkers. We enjoyed pizza, small bites, drinks, and plenty of conversation as excitement built for the adventure ahead.

Day 1: Sunday, May 17 – Bilbao to Portugalete

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at the hotel before setting out around 9:00 a.m. on our roughly 11-mile journey to Portugalete. The streets were quiet, and the morning air was still cool. It felt strange to begin a pilgrimage in the middle of a city, but within an hour the urban landscape began to give way to green hills and wooded paths.

The first day of any long walk is always an adjustment. Even though we carried only daypacks and Santiago Ways transferred our main luggage to the next hotel, my backpack seemed heavier than it should have been and was pressing on the small of my back. I kept stopping to adjust straps until I had the pack high enough it wasn’t bothering my back. Yet with every kilometer, life began to simplify.

Several small towns along the route offered opportunities to use the restroom, grab a coffee, and enjoy a quick bite to eat. One item that appeared in nearly every café was the Spanish tortilla, a thick omelet made with eggs, potatoes, and onions cooked in olive oil. It was delicious and looked somewhat like what we would call a quiche, although without the crust.

We encountered only a little rain along the way and were grateful for the mild weather.

By the time we reached Portugalete, we were hot, tired, and hungry. Fortunately, our wonderful hotel and a hot shower quickly improved our spirits. Portugalete is a historic riverside town located on the Nervión Estuary. Arriving beneath the famous transporter bridge felt like a fitting introduction to the Camino del Norte, where industry, history, and natural beauty coexist.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was taking the elevator to the top of the bridge and walking across. The views of the river and surrounding area were spectacular.

We also learned an important lesson about Spanish culture: people generally eat much later than we do in the United States. Most restaurants do not open for dinner until 8:00 or 8:30 p.m. If you’re tired, hungry, and hoping for an early meal, tapas are often your best option, as most cafés serve them throughout the day.

Day 2: Portugalete to Castro Urdiales

Monday, May 18

This was going to be one of our longest days on the Camino—approximately 21 miles. By the time we reached Castro Urdiales, we had been on our feet for more than 10 hours. It was simply too long of a day.

One of the challenges of traveling with a group of 14 people was that everyone walked at a different pace. Some hikers moved quickly while others preferred a more leisurely pace, which meant frequent stops and a lot of waiting. Decisions that would have been simple with two or three people often became group discussions. Choosing where to stop for coffee, lunch, or a rest break could take almost as much time as the break itself.

Food added another layer of complexity. Between vegetarians, gluten-free diets, lactose intolerance, alpha-gal syndrome, and people who avoided onions, finding a restaurant that worked for everyone sometimes felt like a pilgrimage of its own. It was a reminder that group travel requires patience and flexibility—two qualities that the Camino encourages you to develop.

The route itself was beautiful. We walked through small coastal villages, along country roads, and over rolling hills with occasional views of the Bay of Biscay. The scenery helped distract us from the growing fatigue in our legs and feet. As the miles accumulated, conversations became less frequent and everyone settled into their own rhythm of walking and thinking.

By late afternoon we finally arrived in Castro Urdiales, a picturesque seaside city with a beautiful harbor, sandy beaches, and a charming old town. After such a long day, seeing the water again felt especially rewarding.

Unfortunately, our hotel accommodations were less impressive than the city itself. Upon arriving at the Hostería Villa de Castro, we found ourselves crowded into a very small reception area while waiting for everyone in the group to arrive. The hotel staff would not begin distributing room keys until the entire group had checked in. Since each person had to present a passport and complete registration, the process moved slowly. After walking 21 miles, all any of us wanted was a shower, a chair, and a chance to rest.

The following morning presented another challenge. We faced another long day of walking, but breakfast turned into a frustrating bottleneck. Up to this point, most of our hotels had offered self-service continental breakfast buffets, allowing pilgrims to eat quickly and get an early start. At this hotel, however, breakfast was served restaurant-style.

Only one employee was responsible for seating guests, taking orders, preparing food, and serving tables. Despite working hard, there was simply no way one person could efficiently handle a dining room full of hungry pilgrims. The result was a very slow breakfast service and a much later start than we had planned.

By now, the realities of walking long distances day after day were beginning to catch up with some members of the group. Blisters were becoming a common topic of conversation. Every break seemed to involve someone removing a shoe, applying moleskin, changing socks, or comparing foot-care strategies. We were only on our second day, and already everyone was learning that on the Camino, taking care of your feet is almost as important as putting one foot in front of the other.

Monday – November 3
Lara a post-doc student of Esther’s, who now lives and works in the U.K., came in last night to visit for a few days. Esther went to meet her at the train station and escort her to our house. I stayed behind to prepare dinner and I was a little nervous because I was cooking in a new kitchen. I braved a heavy rain to go the market on Saturday to get some fresh salmon for dinner. After finally figuring out the oven I roasted some veggies – potatoes, beets and carrots. I also baked the salmon, made mashed cauliflower and a salad. Dinner turned out good.

We were going to eat out for dinner but decided to eat out for lunch instead.

Lara helping me make a Spanish Potato omelet. I got the recipe from Celia but Lara is from Galicia, Spain and knew very well how to make it – I’m ready to go solo next time.

Tuesday – November 4
Esther did a short run this morning and she and Lara headed to the lab at 7:45 this morning. It has been so busy over the last several days that I got behind on my journal so I took some time in the AM to catchup. A very rare weather day today – is was sunny and around 55 degrees a little windy so I took advantage of it an went for a bike ride.

Wednesday – November 5
I went to the market this morning to get some fresh fish for dinner tonight – fresh fish from the Wednesday market has become a thing now. after that I rode my bike to the Ede-Wageningen train station and took the train to Utrecht, a short 40 minute ride.

Utrecht – founded around 47 CE as the Roman fort Traiectum, is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Located in the heart of the country, it grew into an important religious and culture center during the Middle Ages and remains a vibrant university city today. Know for its iconic Dom Tower, medieval canals with unique wharf cellars, and historic architecture, Utrecht blends centuries of history with a lively modern atmosphere. It serves as a major hub for education, culture and transportation in the Netherlands.

The Dom Tower of Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, standing 112.5 meters (368 ft) high. Construction began in 1321 and was completed in 1382 as part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin.

Thursday – November 6
I rode to the city of Ede, explored our town, Wageningen and did some grocery shopping today – I needed a low key day.

Friday – November 7
Sunrise: 7:43 AM Sunset: 4:58PM
For Esther’s birthday Gerard, aunt Sonja and probably a few other aunts gave Esther a gift certificate from this nice jewelry store in Hoofddorp, where aunt Sonja lives. Hoofddorp is a town in the Netherlands, located in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, in the province of North Holland. It’s situated just southwest of Amsterdam and very close to Schiphol airport – it was about a 1-1/2 hour train and walk away from the Ede-Wageningen station. We had planned to meet on this evening so Esther could use her gift card and then have dinner. We left our house at 1:45 and arrived at aunt Sonja at 4:05.

We had a great time and Esther picked out a beautiful necklace and 2 pairs of earrings and dinner was a place called Fort Noxx – it was in an actual historic fort.

Saturday and Sunday November 8 & 9
After Esther did her run on Saturday we took off with our bikes to visit Emiel and Annamarie, Esther’s aunt and uncle, in Emmen. We biked to the Ede-Wageningen to Amersfoort station, then changed trains (different platform) to go to Zwolle, we changed trains and platforms again to go to Dalfsen. Once in Dalfsen we we had to ride our bikes to Ommen because of train track repairs. In Ommen we got back on the train and traveled to Emmen. Emiel met us in Emmen and we rode, in the dark, about 8 mile to his house. They have a nice, cozy house and we had a good overnight stay. They feed us dinner and breakfast. We headed home around 11AM and did everything again but in reverse.

and that ends a very busy week 6.

Monday – October 27
Sunrise: 7:23AM – Sunset: 5:18PM – rainy conditions expected around 8AM with wind gusts up to 31mph making the temperatures feel like 36 degrees.

Esther had an appointment at 11 am in Nijmegen to get her DIGID number. Nijmegen is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the ninth largest of the Netherlands as a whole. Located on the Waal river close to the German border. It is also one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and the first to be recognized in Roman times. In 2005, Nijmegen celebrated 2,000 years of existence. It poured cats and dogs the whole and we got soaked especially our feet.

It’s the end of October and on Thursday we move from Hanny and Roy’s house to Franc and Esther’s. To help make the move a little easier we are loading “Big Red” with some of the clothing items we know we don’t need any more and taking her to Gerard’s place in preparation for me to take back to the states in November.

Tuesday – October 28
Sunrise: 7:26AM Sunset: 5:16PM Weather was overcast and with no rain in the forecast.

Today was a very unproductive, moody day – the weather was cold and rainy and we hadn’t heard back from Hanny as to the exact day they were moving back. The contract said the 30th but there was some talk about the 29th so we were in limbo and affected our moods. Finally, midmorning they emailed Esther and confirmed they were moving back on the 30th which was a big relief for us because Esther and Franc aren’t leaving until the 31st.

Wednesday – October 29
Sunrise: 7:26AM Sunset: 5:16PM Weather was overcast and with no rain in the forecast.
I wanted/needed to work out the moody feelings from yesterday and since the weather forecast didn’t include rain, I decided to ride my bike to Nijmegen for lunch and to explore a little. It was a fairly easy 18 mile ride to the city center and even though the weather was okay the wind picked up considerably on the last 5km – it took about 95 minutes to make to Nijmegen.

I parked and locked my bike on one of the main streets and took a picture of the store across the street so i could Google map the store when I wanted to to return. I explored the city for a while then had some lunch at this small, cozy and very busy cafe. While waiting for lunch I used the ns.nl public transportation app to see about getting a train ticket for my bike so I could take the train back home.The process was fairly easy and I decided buy a ticket and give it a try.

Thursday – October 30
Sunrise: 7:29AM Sunset: 5:12PM Partly cloudy conditions with lows: 47 degrees and high: 56 degrees – prefect day to move into our new house for the month of November.
Our first night at our new place was good and we both slept very well. Esther had a trip to a company to give a talk in Leeuwarden which is all the way to the north end of Holland – a 3 hour train trip. She left the house at 9AM and didn’t get home till 9PM – a 12 hour day.

I got the old house all clean and met Hanny and Roy at 3:30PM so we could hand back their house and go over anythings that came up while they were gone. I made them some tea and we had a conversation about their trip and our time in their house. I was a little nervous about meeting them without Esther but we had a good conversation and everything went well – they want us to come back.

Esther and Franc had a party in Utrecht so they were leaving the house when I got back from meeting Hanny. I was physically and mentally tired with moving and the long conversations with both couples so I was happy to just relax in our new beautifully home. Esther wasn’t going to be home until late (8PM or later) so I was on my own for dinner. I hadn’t had time to buy any groceries and was to tired to go out so I just grabbed some items from the fridge and managed to make a mushroom, onion, red pepper, cheese omelet – it was tasty. . –

Friday – October 31 – Halloween
Franc and Esther left on their trip around 7:30 AM and even though they are a wonderful couple, who I like a lot, it was nice to have the house to ourselves now. We had coffee and breakfast together and then, after Esther left for work I went to Het Depot. The Het Depot is museum/gallery, located in Wageningen, which focuses on exhibiting contemporary sculpture, particular works that explore the human form. The works are presented across three interconnected buildings and a beautiful sculpture garden that overlooks the Wageningen Arboretum (Belmonte Arboretum).

We had a wonderful time and dinner with Annemeike and William – they are so fun and easy to be around.

Saturday – November 1
Sunset: 5:08PM – Rainy conditions expected around 8AM with wind gusts up to 25 mph making the temperature feel like 49 degrees. I got completely soaked at the market but, I wanted some fresh fish to have for dinner when Lara was here on Sunday.

We left for Den Hague around 10AM because Esther had an appointment at City Hall to be finger printed and photographed which is all part of the process of getting her Dutch citizenship back. – not there long enough for photos but, we’ll be back. After Den Hague we took the train/bus to Aalsmeer to have dinner with Garard and then we all went to Aunt Annemeike’s 75th birthday party/

Gerard drove us to the Schiphol airport around 10 PM so we could take the train home – its usually an 1-1/2 hour train trip. But, because of a soccer match and a big concert letting out at almost the same time the train station was packed. We took a very packed train from Schiphol to Utrecht where we had to change platforms and trains as we got to our correct platform, with hundreds of people waiting, we saw Annemeike and William also waiting for the train – what a coincidence. They had gone to the concert and were one of the thousands exiting. Since they had driven to the train station and are living next door we were able to ride home from the train station with them – saved us about 40 minutes. We got home at 1:40AM, exhausted and ready for bed.

Sunday- November 2
Because of our late night we got up late and had a leisure morning with a nice frittata for breakfast.

Esther and I went on a beautiful 18 mile bike ride and had lunch at restaurant right across the river from the ferry.

Esther left the house around 3PM to go the airport to meet Lara, one Esther’s post-docs students who worked in lab, who has come from the United Kingdom to visit for a couple of days.
….. and that ends another adventures week.

Monday – October 20.
The trains and construction cleared up enough for us to head back to Wageningen in the late morning. Spent most of the rest of the day unpacking and doing laundry from our trip to the U.K.

Tuesday – October 21
Pretty much a rest and catch up day – recycling cans, grocery shopping and some resting.

Wednesday – October 22
Sunrise: 8:10 Sunset: 6:28PM Beautiful day but partly cloudy conditions expected around 7PM Low was: 52 and the High: 58
Esther had a rough night of sleep because of her blood sugars and the calibration of her new sensor. She also had an industry talk and got picked up at 7AM for a 2 hour drive to the company headquarters – fun day for Esther.

Started my day by going to the open air market which is held every Wednesday from 8:30 to 1PM. What a great market with vendors selling all kinds of goods: fabric, shoes, veggies, bread, cheese, fish, meat, nuts, coffee, tea and all kind of gifty things.

Had a great ride to Arnhem and back today – not many pictures taken because I wanted to keep my momentum up so I could get a good workout to start burning the calories I consumed in the U.K. – the section along the Rhine River was especially nice. There were a few serious climbs in and around Arnhem.

Thursday – October 22
Sunrise: 8:16AM Sunset: 6:26PM – Windy conditions expected around 9AM. Wind gust up to 30mph are making the temperature feel like 49 degrees. Low: 47 – High: 57

I had planned to do a 24 mile ride today but I got a later than expected start and we had Maurice and Maartje coming over for dinner I decided to cut my ride short – with wind gusts up to 30mph the ride felt a lot longer than the 12.48 miles it was.

Friday – October 23
Sunrise: 8:18 Sunset: 5:47 Overcast, rain at times, cold and very windy today – wind gusts up to 30mph.
Esther registered me at the local doctors online then we rode our bikes to the office to see about making me an appointment about my chronic cough and possible sinus infection. I was able to get an appointment at 3:15 that day, Doctor checked my oxygen level(97), my breathing(lungs clear) and took a prick of blood to test for an infection – all was clear.
Rode my bike back to the bike store in Bennekom to get a helmet and saddle bags. It started to rain on my home and occasionally the wind was so strong I had real difficulty pedally against it.
Spent the rest of the day resting at home.
Dinner: roasted sweet potato, cooked cabbage with our leftover sausage and a salad with kol robi

Saturday – October 25
Went the the downtown market this morning to get some fresh trout and some other things we need and had lunch at Bisou Brasserie – I had the Stokbroodje Beenham and Esther had the Salade Carpaccio.
Dinner with Franc and Esther – It was a fun evening – they are great people to be around – fun to talk to. We arrived at their home at 5PM, amidst a driving rain and the evening started with tea, a piece of apple pie and a lot of fun conversation in the living room on the sofa. After a while we had some beer, cheese and crackers and Franc and I proceeded to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for dinner. Roasted pumpkin, onions, cooked fennel root, rice and salad- with goat cheese, figs and pine nuts – it was all very tasty.

Sunday – October 26
The weather called for a cold, windy and rainy day but at 9:30 there was blue sky and sun so Es and I decided to risk it and we rode the 14 miles to Kroller Muller museum. It was a beautiful ride and we both felt refreshed because of the extra hour of sleep we got because of daylight savings change back. About 2km away from the museum it started to rain pretty hard and we got fairly wet – so the hot cappuccino we got at museum tasted pretty good. The museum is the life-work of collector Helene Kroller-Muller and her husband Anton who between 1907 – 1922 aquired 11,500 artworks including Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Piet Mondriaan and others. The museum also houses the second largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings.

and that ends week 4 of our stay in the Netherlands – next week is when we move from one house to another – should be an adventure.