Vat-Oe-Fiets 2012

Thursday, 17-May-2012 - Veghel - It's a tradition in Veghel and also in the Weiss Family:  the annual Vat-Oe-Fiets (Hemelvaart) Accension Day bicycle tour. Beautiful sunny skies--perfect for bike riding.  Chris picked me up and we rode to the town square.  We took the 25 km route to be back in time so Chris could do some bricklaying in Keldonk for his friend Richard. This year's route took us to the outskirts of Uden, along some bike paths I'd never seen before.  Saw some familiar faces along the way, including our neighbors Hans and Marie-José, and Boekel skaters Netty and Willy. pics (68) gps tracked route

Car Boot Sale

Sunday, 13-May-2012 - Erp - Marij and I got up at 0500 this morning.  It was a great day for a car boot sale. pics (80)

Saturday Sligro Skating

Saturday, 12-May-2012 - Veghel - Seven Fun-onWheels skaters--good for 18 km. pics (44)

Rained Out in Dinther

Thursday, 10-May-2012 - Dinther/Veghel - It was really warm, and it had been rainy of and on throughout the day--not too much, and the warm air helped evaporate what did fall.  Around 1730 the last bit of rain had stopped.  There were some more clouds headed our way, but I headed to Dinther on my bike anyway, hoping the rain clouds would blow over or go around us.  Got some raindrops as I entered Dinther.  Bart and Monique were already at the Cafe de Toren meeting point.  I asked inside at the bar about the weather radar reports:  we were in for some more rain around 2000.  No skating this evening.  We said goodbye until next time.  I put on my rain jacket on the way home.  At 2000 we got a good downpour.  I was glad to be inside.  pics (16)

Boekel Inline Skating

Tuesday, 08-May-2012 - Boekel - The sun came out for a few minutes as I was driving to Boekel.  Two photographers (Jos and Jule) arrived early to take a group photo.  Jos wasn't skating this evening, so I stayed with the third group. As we were nearing home, the fast group came whizzing by us.  Twenty-two  skaters we were good for 22.5 km. pics (50)

No Skating Today

Saturday, 5-May-2012 - Veghel - I stayed home today.  It had been raining today, and it was still threating. pics (4)

Liberation Day

Saturday, 5-May-2012 - Veghel - Flying the flag at full mast, the Netherlands celebrates the liberation of of the Netherlands from Nazi German occupation during World War II.

Backyard Birds

Friday, 4-May-2012 - Veghel - We have quite a bit of activity in the backyard now.  The koolmees (Parus major) chicks have hatched, and the parents are flying in and out of the birdhouse, feeding the chicks caterpillars.  The adults fly like small fighter pilots, skillfully maneuvering in and around small trees. pics (11) video

Remembrance Day

Friday, 4-May-2012 - Veghel - It's Remembrance Day in the Netherlands. At 8:00 p.m., two minutes of silence is observed throughout the Netherlands. pics (2)

Thursday Evening Skating in Dinther

Thursday, 3-May-2012 - Dinther - It was my first skate in Dinther this year.  I rode my bike to our meeting point at Cafe De Toren, Around 1910, we headed in the direction of Vinkel.  We stopped at the McDonald's in Heesch before heading back home.  We got back in darkness at 2120.  Eight skaters, good for 30 km. pics (14)