My morning ritual is to go for a walk to the canal ( after breakfast) to see if any boats are moving. I was just in time this morning to see the lockkeeper swinging the footbridge open for this hire boat. The bridges are so well balanced that it takes a minimum of effort to move them. He swings it shut again after the boat passes then hops on his battery powered scooter and goes and opens the lock for them
Today we’re going to Heerenveen about 11 kms away , do our pastry and coffee check, then get back home before it gets too hot.
This way of growing trees is very popular in Europe, especially here. They’re usually plane trees grown on a frame. On the sunny side of a house they keep it nice and cool in summer. Very easy to prune and in winter with no foliage they let the sun through to warm the house. Popular with shops for outside dining too
Heerenveen town hall. Magnificent set of bells (unless you live nearby )
A great choice of coffee shop.! It’s a franchise called Brownies and Downies owned by a trust. There are 52 of them throughout Holland and they employ people with Down’s syndrome. The trays are adapted to make them safer to carry and the lad that served us, Boris ,was delightful ( they also serve brownies hence the name) Great coffee, great idea !
As a surviver of a ladder accident, this guy was freaking me out. It’s not even tied on while he paints balanced on one foot. ( I know , nor was mine! )
A further visit to the museum later today solved the mystery of the disappearing churches. The old floor with its tombstones from the 1600s are all that’s left of this one,just like the one next to our unit. After the reformation there was a surplus of churches. Also, it was no longer a compulsory ‘obligation ‘so some fell into disrepair and were eventually demolished ,just leaving the floor.
A little village on the way home had made a beach out of its pond. One of our endearing memories of Holland are teenagers out riding to school or somewhere ( it could be the next village ) chatting away as they fly along. And I mean flying ! Boy are they fit. Our kids would be wanting to use the car. !
Mind you the bikeways are so good. Even crossing a mildly busy road there will be an underpass
The floor of the demolished church next to us. The rich and famous would have had the ‘privilege ‘ of being buried inside the church. Now they’re outside with the peasants. 😏
Paris to Paris 