Casa Robino

Friday night Rene and I decided, quite randomly, to go on another bike adventure. We had several possibilities as to where we could go. After some thought we narrowed it down to either National park De Hoge Veluwe, or all around the sea, north over the bride, then south and around, back to Amsterdam. The following morning, we woke up, and began to prepare. And finally around 10, decided on the national park.

Sadly gypsie could not come with me on this ride, rather I took the new red bike that was given to Robino, the night before. I think his name will be Raleigh. But, yes, we biked, stopped at the AH, and then biked out of Amsterdam to Weesp. After much more biking, going through Hilversum, and Amersfoort, we got to Otterlo, and found our way to the park. We saw the gate, and victoriously started towards it. It was like we were marathon runners about to cross the finish line, when all of the sudden the announcer came on and disqualified us, we looked to the right and saw a man inside of a small hut thing, with glass windows, looking out at us asking us for 3.50 each. Bewildered, angry, and tired, we refused to pay and went out to search for the ideal spot to pitch our tent. After some searching we found a nice wooded area past a valley, up in a hill. And immediately Rene went to work pitching the tent, 5 minutes later the tent was up, joint rolled, beers opened, humus and bread ready.

The following morning we awoke around 10, sat in the tent until 11, then started packing up. By noon we were ready to go in to the woods. After some adventuring, trying to find our way past the barbed wire fence, and in to the park. But soon after we found ourselves back at point A. These park people really try hard to keep people out, and animals (in? should they not roam free). So decision number two. Through the back country, skipping the cities, all the way to A'dam. We turned out 5 hour return journey in to an 11 hour adventure. South and then north, west. then maybe east by accident. Watching the cows, sheep, and goats, admiring the babbling brooks, passing by our forested bike paths. Until finally, we found ourselves 7 km from weesp. But, typical to our ride, we decided to take the alternate route, south to nigtevecht, the road we took was magnificent, it must be found again. We passed through it right as the sun was setting. And beyond the fields, filled with cows, and sheep, were little dutch villages nestled in to the horizon, the sky exploding with color. 2 km later we realized that the only way over the canal in to the Amsterdam area was by boat, which did not run past 5.30, and the bridge was a good 7 or 8 km further shouth. So, around we turned. Through weeps, in to Amsterdam, straight back to the casa.