Birds

It is nice to see birds behaving in a way which Keith had nearly forgotten. Swallows feeding low, less than a metre above the ground.  Others that are not alarmed by your presence.  Whilst walking along the road a group of jackdaws were feeding on the verge, as I approached they gave me a cursory look and carried on with their business. I passed within a few feet of them.  Ducks, coots and moorhens openly sit on the edge of fields next to the ditches.

The brochure describes it as  a treasury of bulbs, a good description. It is a seed bank of bulbs. A small site which is intimate and tactile which creates a great sense of peace and relaxation. These are varieties no longer grown commercially which represent the development of the bulb industry in the Netherlands. They also provide a source for bulbs to replant gardens at historical sites.

Statistics. 2,600 different tulips, 800 daffodil varieties, over 120 different hyacinths and dozens of minor bulbs.

If you get the chance go there, take your sandwiches and flask, sit on one of the seats and enjoy. If not, enjoy the photos. If you don’t blame Jan, she is artistic director. I only operate the camera.

We were told about the weekly cheese market so, decided to go and see.

It looks as if it is a long tradition which manages to survive modern commercial dictum’s, including H&S and food hygiene. Who cares? The guys who carry the trays, or whatever they are called, are a great example of kinetic lifting. Watch some smart ass of a jobs worth tell me I am wrong.

We don’t pretend to understand the process, what is evident is that it is a great way of connecting with the consumer.  Lots of consultants have made lots of money trying to create that in the UK.

Back to the porters. These guys pick up the load and then set of at a trot, some are not so young. They manage to coordinate it so that they set off exactly together and make it look easy.

In a field next to the site are a couple of ponies, one of which looks rather shaggy as it is shedding its winter coat. A jackdaw was perched on the ponies back pulling out hair, the pony did not seem at all concerned and carried on grazing. The jackdaw flew off with its beak crammed full. We assume for nest material?

Alkmaar is a pleasant town in northern Holland which, for those who care to visit, offers something for everyone. The old part of the town lies within an area encircled by a canal which is used commercially. The streets are a mixture of wide thoroughfares, narrow streets and alleys.   Most of which are formed around the old warehouses and markets, now shops, cafes or residential,  still retaining their character.  Cyclist and pedestrians rule.

The new town is built around the outside of the canal with many modern shops and services, and lots of traffic.

Today, Saturday we visited Dordrecht, the first Dutch city. From there we took a river bus to Rotterdam, about an hour each way. We did not land , it was just a nice way of seeing life on the water.

€12 a night, this is the best site yet. For that price we get a warm welcome from a helpful owner, electric, the use of an excellent shower, a toilet, a washing up area all well appointed, clean, and a massive pitch. . We have to pay extra to using the washing machine, shame.

We heard and saw our first cuckoo of 2010 at Kinderdjick. A male, it was sat on the sail of a windmill.

Kinderdijk is a UNESCO world heritage site. A total of nineteen windmills the oldest ones were built in 1738. A pleasant site on a warm sunny spring day.

We have heard  several times about Dutch hospitality, it cannot be overstated how welcoming and friendly they are.

The man in the next camper who loaded  directions to campsites, Aldis, liddll and LPG points across Europe on to our tom tom.

The bus driver who welcomed us on his bus, got off at the stop and showed us in which direction to walk. Parking and the bus were free.

Keith bought a fleece, it was 20 euros cheaper if you belonged to a club run by the shop. The man behind us offered us his discount. As it turned out I got cheaper because I am English.

The farmers wife who, when Keith was birdwatching, stopped her car and showed real interest in what was about, even offering to get her husband to show Keith around. It was nice that Keith was able to help her identify a bird they had seen on the farm.

It is almost embarrassing that they speak such good English.