DAY 46: SUN 7 OCT - AMSTERDAM

Ride: 78km; total: 1,887km

Fine and sunny, yippee! 6-14deg

First fine day for 6 days so I got on the bike.   Left about 7:30am and headed for Marken, 20km, an island off the northern part of Amsterdam, which has been joined to the mainland by a causeway. Had previously seen the route markings so knew the way; the bike path was actually quite near our motel.    Nice little place, part of the Harbour Towns north of the big city.   A lot of tourists around but still ok to look around. Had a nice cup of black coffee on the harbour.  After an hour or so the ferry turned up so I caught that to Volendam.  

Similar to Marken but bigger and even more touristy.   Then rode to Edam, home of the Dutch cheese traditionally sold in spheres with a pale yellow interior and a coat of red paraffin wax.   After aging for at least 17 weeks the cheese sphere is coated with the wax.  Edam ages and travels well, and does not spoil; it only hardens. These qualities (among others) made it the world's most popular cheese between the 14th and 18th centuries, both at sea and in remote colonies.  However only saw two small cheese shops but no sign of any big factories.  

Got a bit of rain here but not enough to slow me down, I had my wet weather gear on to keep warm anyway.  I headed west, inland to Purmerend, which was very modern and kind of boring, so I headed south to Amsterdam.  Ended up at The Eye, a fancy film place on the north bank of Amsterdam, we had visited earlier. Caught the free ferry back to the city and rode to the motel.  

A great day out, saw lots of nice scenery, particularly liked riding along the top of the dikes early in the morning, the light is fantastic and it's so peaceful and quiet.   

Wendy was busy again that night so went to the Chinese place on the corner near the motel for duck and stir fried mushrooms.  Very nice for 22euro, A$27.

Great bike path along the top of a dyke

They don't quite have the same charm as the old ones

Marken Harbour, north of Amsterdam

Beautiful Edam (famous for its cheese)

Maritime Museum, Amsterdam

Replica of the three-masted Amsterdam, from the Dutch East India Company. She sank on her maiden journey in the English Channel on her way to Batavia.