European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The dutch Countryside abounds in windmills and wide expanses of Meadow. Is y a amp Ltd Quot a v \ \ left two youngsters fish in one of the country s myriad Waterways. Right the author prepares for the Day s ride at one of the camping Cabins along the route. That a couple of Guys on loaded bicycles did t seem particularly threatening but we found the people we encountered exceptionally warm and Friendly. There were a few exceptions of course. One was the proprietor of the last Campground we stopped a who seemed unusually Stern and inspected our hut in the morning like a bad tempered first sergeant before returning our key Deposit. But she could not Dampen our spirits in the least although the previous Day s weather had tried to. We had spent the next to last night outside Assen and As we Rode toward Emmen and then North in the direction of Mussel Kanal the Clouds thickened and eventually we were Riding in the heaviest rain of the trip. These weren t frivolous Little raindrops but. Heavy Acorn size face beaters. We were in the Netherlands to ride however so ride we did a for hours through this downpour that finally let up a few Miles before we found our campsite. I did not enjoy Riding in rain this heavy but accepted it As part of the trip. Although drenched i stayed warm As Long As we peddled fast and kept moving. Doug told me later however that he did not feel my trip Credo a Quot travelling Well is better than arriving Quot a applied in this situation and that he d considered kicking me and my Bike into a ditch. We stayed in the Netherlands As Long As we could crossing Back into Germany far enough North to leave us with a one Day ride Home. The last few Miles to Karlstedt were the hardest part of the ride because we were once again in familiar territory and knew the trip was nearly Over. Despite the rain and the wind it was an excellent and All too Brief vacation. We Rode our touring bikes 50 to 75 Miles a Day at a comfortable Pace on almost exclusively Flat land saw parts of two countries and met Many Friendly people. From this first extended Bike trip i also developed a still burning Case of tour fever that will not be cured until i have Ridden around the world. \ the Campground Cabins Are cozy but cramped. July 4, 1991 strip s Magazine 5