Day 4 Amsterdam - 3.8.05

We set out after Daniel had fully exploited the principle of a buffet breakfast, he ate impressively. We all took a bit for later. Our plan was to get to Gouda (pronounced Chouda) and the see how far south we could get after that. There was no obvious path so we set small targets and followed the signs on the bike pathsThen Daniel said his rear wheel was worse. I looked and it was. I loosened the brakes and knew the rim had to be replaced-we pressed on but kept an eye out for a bike shop. We stopped at one town to be told the shop had no wheels. The next shop in that town was closed for the holidays. Some weathered old cyclists directed us to another town where we were sure to be ok.

  

We wound our way there to find a good looking shop with "closed to august 12th" on the window. We were directed to another shop where the guy told me how busy he was, no way could he replace the wheel but come back in 40 minutes. So we walked through the quaint avenue of shops, had the most amazing cream cakes and enjoyed a small market in the town square. Back on the bikes, with Daniel's slightly straighter wheel I wondered if in Belgium we might get a wheel.

About an hour later we we passed a massive bike store. A further hour later we were of to Gouda with a new wheel. We ate cheese at Chouda at 5pm and rode with purpose till 7.30 to try to get some respectable km's under our belt. Found well priced motel at Gorinchem (pronounced best with a cold - chorinchn)

Stats Dist 115 Km, Average 17km/hr, Max ND, Climb ND

  Email John at John@CycleOdyssey.com.au
 

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