Pedal Power

Back to my travels to the Netherlands,

during our stay in Amsterdam,

it was often a battle

 to cross the road with not only motor vehicles,

 but competing with trams & bicycles.

Whilst sat comfortable outside one of the main cafes,

spoilt for choice in Rembrandt Square,

 it was just a relaxing time to take in the sights.

The taxi bicycles were really something different. 

 Definitely pedal power needed!

In almost any space at a railing,

 on one of the many bridges or outside residents dwellings,

bikes were parked up everywhere.

Eventhough cycling is free,

 the tram is really good value way

of getting around the city for sightseeing.

But, to reinforce the popularity of cycling,

even a barge was spied catering for parked up bikes!

The Netherlands boast a huge extensive network of cycle lanes,

 which really does make you feel more confident when cycling around.

But their landscape is very flat,

 which is of benefit if you decide  to use pedal power.

I use to love cycling when I was younger,

 but with even more traffic on the road in the UK,

I am reluctant to do so now.

Although English councils here,

 have made an effort to instigate some cycle lanes,

these are not consistent & 

it is still not as safe as I would like,

a great shame.

Recent Travels

Home once again,

 following recent travels to The Netherlands,

 which is where I had lived many years ago. 

  My visit was long over due,

particularly as I remain to have good friends there.

After flying into Sciphol Airport, Amsterdam,

we made our way to Rotterdam for an overnight stay.

The following day,

a further journey to the province of Zeeland.

This involved catching  trains & coach,

& finally a short ferry ride from Vlissingen to Breskens.

Whilst on the ferry,

we spied one of the many Windmills we were to see on this holiday.

After disembarking from the ferry, my very good friend,

whom I've now known for over 22 years kindly greeted us,

taking us to her home in Sluis,

via the coastal route,

allowing us to view the beaches,

which we had just seen from the ferry.

 Although the sea air was quite bracing,

we were grateful to beable to stop to take in the vast expanse of sandy beaches,

 as far as the eye could see,

& even a lighthouse to enhance the scene.

A very good start to the holiday!

 Much more to follow. . . . .

Age of Steam

The above steam train is called 'Duke of Gloucester',

& the location is Bishops Lydeard railway station.

The start of the Somerset Railway,

 which meanders through the somerset countryside,

 to  the coast & final destination of Minehead.

A journey that takes approx 90minutes,

with stops on the way.

The station feels it is taking you back in time,

especially with the characteristic old signs displayed.

There was even an old fashioned bus

 waiting to take passengers

 to the nearby town of Taunton.

Although this is fairly close to my home,

I have never been on the steam railway here,

but I mean to change this,

particularly as my Mother is keen to make this journey again,

a route she was very familar with when she was a young girl. 

She is now 86 years old.