Woebrugge

Our first day out of Amsterdam proper we planned to get to Woebrugge (pronounced "vow-breh-huh"). But first we needed more space to carry food. Not wanting to spend 60 Euros on a purpose built racktop bag that wouldn't fit neatly anyway I was terribly pleased with myself for finding a plastic box with a lid for 2.99 at Blokker.



We left later than planned so didn't get in until after 8 with just enough light to pitch our tent. It was a disappointing campsite after MONnickendam. Lots of slugs and coin-operated showers with no lights. Still, it was a relief to actually find the spot after a long ride in dreary weather against head winds.

Despite the conditions during our ride, the sight of so many well-fed sheep, goats and cows cheered us up as well as the novelty of a canal crossing on a cable-driven punt.

On approach to Woebrugge we passed quite a number of serious looking young cyclists. I thought it was interesting that the locals were so into their sport, riding through drizzle and cow pat flavoured air. Eventually we came upon the starting point of what appeared to be time trials. Cyclists lined up in all their professional looking gear, coaches with stopwatches and parents with cameras shouting encouragement at their precious children. No one seemed terribly interested in us except as an obstacle although a group of older boys did seem amused at all our luggage. I later realised I still had a pair of my underpants hanging out to dry.