Delft - dankerval

That is the one word we have learned today - thank you - dankerval.
We had a wonderful nights sleep last night - the best for days after all our excitement and alarm clock mornings. This morning had no alarm clock and we woke at 8.30am feeling very refreshed. After a lovely breakfast and shower we tidied things away in the van and prepared our cycles for the ride into Delft. This is the place where cycles are king! lots and lots of them and both drivers and pedestrians respect their presence - this makes for a wonderful experience around the old town of Delft. We could cover so much more distance with our bikes and really enjoyed riding in the sunshine through beautiful surroundings, over canal bridges and through old town squares. The places of interest were the old church and the new church, the convent converted into a prison, the one remaining city gate, the city hall and the canals of course with the multitudes of bicycles attached to every railing and riding through every street - alongside us! There were cars of course, but a lot less than we are used to and that meant clear air for us and everyone to breathe and a lot less noise. Very relaxed in fact, despite the fact that it is a bank holiday out here - the Queen's birthday and Ascension Day apparently.

We had a lovely outdoor lunch in a street cafe of their dark bread roll with bacon and brie and an accompanying mango chutney. This was washed down with a Delft beer each - gorgeous! Then we just had to share a famous appeltaart with whipped cream for pud washed down by a coffee - wonderful!

More cycling followed as well as a trip to a supermarket for stocks and these all fitted in the panniers on Steve's bike. Then back to base and a quick cuppa followed by a lovely bike ride around the local lake where we saw all manners of birds and wildlife - and all in the warm sunshine - this is what we prayed for and we got it!

Tired but very happy we returned to our caravan for an apperitif and were invited in by our neighbours for a short time. Duncan turned out to be a policeman from the Grampian police force, shortly to retire - do policemen attract each other or what??? Nice couple though - Duncan and Elizabeth. We exchanged stories and separated to prepare our evening meals.

We had minced beef cooked in onion, garlic, herbs, tomato and red wine alongside potatoes, carrots and spinach. We feel very relaxed, exercised and satisfied with todays exploits - and full of wine too! Andrea Bocelli is singing along in the background and we are tucked up in the van preparing for our next adventure in Holland - the Keukenhof Gardens. We leave tomorrow.