Tuesday Skating

Tuesday, 27-July-2010 - Boekel - I rode my bike to meet Jan at his home. He and Yvonne live in the farm house where he grew up. A real nice feeling comes over me when I sit in their kitchen. When we got to Boekel, Jan put on his new skates for the first time outdoors. Their white wheels didn't have a scratch on them. We headed for Restaurant and Cafe Erica with 15 skaters. At every road leading into Boekel, we saw a straw-bale man proclaiming the upcoming harvest festival. We were good for 39 km.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100727_boekel#

Fun-on-Wheels Sunday Skating

Sunday, 25-July-2010 - Beek en Donk - 19 Fun-on-Wheels skaters, including two Roll Duke members, and one moped rider--good for 41 km. Super skating overall. As we returned to the starting point, a cargo ship passed by. I got back home just before it started raining.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100725_beek_en_donk#

Saturday Skating

Saturday, 24-July-2010 - Dinther - We met at the Sligro meeting point and decided to head for Dinther. Five skaters--good for 16 km.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100724_sligro_dinther#

Tuesday Evening Skating Time

Tuesday, 20-July-2010 - Boekel - A very warm evening. We headed for De Pannenkoekenhoeve (the pancake house) in Oploo. It was super smooth skating all the way. Just before we got there, we saw this hot air balloon. Sixteen skaters--good for 30 km.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100720_boekel#

Slokdarm Festival

Sunday, 18-July-2010 - Veghel - Food and fantasy. From El Cid to Jan Klaassen to Candy Dulfer (she turned my head too), they were all there in Veghel. After I got home from skating, Marij and I went to town on our bikes to experience this year's Slokdarmfestival (slokdarm=esophagus).

http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/Slokdarmfestival_2010#
clip Julianapark
clip El Cid
clip Candy Dulfer

Skating over the Maas

Sunday, 18-July-2010 - Ravenstein - Beautiful warm and sunny weather. On the way to the carpool meeting point, I saw people lined up for breakfast in the Juliana Park. It was the third day of the Slokdarm Festival. Today's Fun-on-Wheels tour took us along and over the Maas river. Fourteen skaters and one bicyclist--good for 27 km.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100718_hansje_brinkertocht#

Saturday Skating to Nijnsel

Saturday, 17-July-2010 - Nijnsel - Great weather! Skated to the Sligro meeting point today. Three Fun-on-wheels skaters--good for 18 km.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100717_nijnsel#

Birth of Baseball

Thursday, 15-July-2010 - Haarlem - Baseball (honkbal in Dutch) is born when a child sees his or her hero for the first time. Yesterday, I witnessed this for myself when I watched a pitcher Diegomar Markwell of the Dutch National team autograph a baseball (photo). I also got a to briefly speak with Team USA's head coach Jeff Willis. My son Chris, shortstop for the Oss Cardinals Mens Nr3 team, nudged me when a couple of USA uniforms came into sight. Chris invited me to join him today at the 2010 Haarlemse Honkbalweek. Claudia and Rosan joined us.

http://www.honkbalweek.nl/
http://njcaausabaseball.wordpress.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/Haarlemse_honkbalweek#

Super Evening Skating in Boekel

Tuesday, 13-July-2010 - Boekel - Super smooth skating this evening. Twenty skaters--good for 30 km.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100713_boekel#

New Furnace

Wednesday, 14-July-2010 - Veghel - After 14 years of service, it was time to replace our furnace. Ad Jilesen arrived at 0800. We got done before the thunderstorms came.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/New_furnace#

Bochtje Boxtel

Sunday, 11-July-2010 - Boxtel - Fun-on-wheels went to Boxtel today. Eight skaters and one bicyclist--good for 30 km. This evening NED-ESP.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/20100711_bochtje_boxtel#

Eten en Skaten

Saturday, 10-July-2010 - Oirschot - It got up to 37.5 Deg C (100 Deg F) yesterday. In such heat, most sensible people would have taken it easy by a swimming pool. Fun-on-wheels skaters chose to go skating from meal-to-meal: eten en skaten (eating and skating). For the second year, it was organized by Pieter Smits. We took along plenty of water and good spirits. 19 skaters and two moped riders had a great time along the 60-km route.
pics clip 1 clip 2 clip 3

Program:
1215 start Oirschot
1220 1.5 km coffee and something that tastes good
1355 18 km ice cream
1515 32 km soup
1645 40 km main course
1845 58 km dessert
1930 62 km return to start

Fourth of July Tour de France

Sunday, 4-July-2010 - Veghel - It's Independance Day in the United States. It's also the first day of this year's Tour de France, departing from Rotterdam, and passing through the middle of Hellevoetsluis--right by the Fire Department where Martin is a volunteer!
http://picasaweb.google.com/dale.weiss.planet/Tour_de_france_2010_ronde_01_rotterdamBrussel#
http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/COURSE/us/100/etape_par_etape.html