Saturday Fun-on-Wheels

Saturday, 12-June-2016 - Veghel - I was alone today so I headed for Beek en Donk (photo), and then on to Gemert, before returning to the Sligro starting point.  The sun came out as I headed for Erp.  It was my longest skate of the year--it felt good.  One Fun-on-Wheels skater--good for 40 km.  pics (109) gps-tracked route part-1 part-2

Sunset Skating along the Maas

Thursday, 9-June-2016 - Macharen - Skating along the Maas (Meuse) river is always magical.  The ferry boat at Lith had engine problems, so we skated through low-lying (polder) farmland to return to our starting point.  We saw farmers using giant tractors and wagons hurrying to get grass for silage off the fields.   Six De Toren Skaters--good for 33 km.  pics (91) gps-tracked route

Warm Evening Skating in Geldrop

Monday, 6-June-2016 - Geldrop - This evening I went skating with the Eindhoven Rolleerder Skaters.  I was afraid we'd get rained out in Boekel.  I met Bart, Frans, and Jeannette at the 't Ven carpool parking lot.  In Geldrop, I saw familiar faces and two new ones:  Wim and Elly.  Yvonne was our guide this evening.  The route took us through wooded areas between Geldrop, Valkenwaard, and Eindhoven (photo).  Warm evening--great skate.  11 skaters--good for 27 km.  pics (52) gps-tracked route.
 

New Location for Builders Village Under Water

Monday, 30-May-2016 - Veghel - It's raining a lot today. Veghel in Hout arranged a new location for the builders village (bouwdorp) this year.  The drainage of Juliana park needs to be fixed, or an alternate location needs to be found, before August.  If it rains in July during Fabriek Magnifique, we will see what we can expect for our young builders. pics (27)

My Flag

Monday, 30-May-2016 - Veghel - It's raining and thundering outside.  They're throwing strikes up there--the loud, scary, startling lightning explosions coming close, sometimes right above me.  It's Memorial Day in the United States and for Americans all around the world--we remember and honor all Americans who died while in military service to their country.  We thank all those who have served, and all those still serving.  In a month, we'll have 300 war refugees staying at the old hospital here in Veghel--an emergency shelter in a safe, peaceful, free country.  On Memorial Day, I can only feel pride to have served my country to help keep it, and the countries of its allies, free and peaceful.  This is my flag. pics (17)

Skating to Kilsdonkse Windmill

Saturday, 28-May-2016 - Veghel - Today we headed for the Kilsdonkse Molen (photo).  Super weather--great skating.  Two Fun-on-Wheels skaters--good for 18 km. pics (29) gps-tracked route

Brún in Heumen

Friday, 27-May-2016 - Heumen - Today I visited Jan de Bruin (photo) owner of Brún schaats-skeeler Sport.  I didn't realize that brún is the Frisian word for brown (bruin) in Dutch.  Frisian (Frysk) is the official language of the Dutch province of Fryslân.  I went to Heumen to try on a Fila FM 100--a wider inline skate.  My Rollerblade Tempest 100C was a bit narrow, and I wanted to compare.  Before I left home I took a look at the garage door lock. I then biked to the Vrijhof Vishandel fish stand where Marij was working to pickup the car.  There I chatted with Tini. On the way back from Heumen, I dropped of a set of wheels for de Toren skater Monique's old skates and looked at her new skates that were giving her problems.  I collected some straw (Monique is a dairy farmer) for my strawberries before heading home.  Evening menu:  spaghetti. pics (46)

Saturday Fun on Wheels with Francine

Saturday, 7-May-2016 - Veghel - We both came to the Sligro meeting point on skates--Francine (photo) from Sint Oedenrode (6 km) and me from Spoorven (5 km).  We we waited until 1530 before heading for Nijnsel via Zijtaart.  Fantastic weather, great skate.  We were good for 13 km together before I dropped her off near her home.  pics (49) gps-tracked route

Vat-oe-Fiets 2016

Thursday, 5-May-2016 - Veghel - Today, it's Ascension Day, Dutch Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag), and also the annual bicycle tour Vat-oe-Fiets.  It's a tradition in Veghel and also in the Weiss Family.  I usually ride with Chris, but this year he was staying home with Marit enjoying their newly-born son Seth. This year the route took us through all six towns and villages which make up the township of Veghel.  In Eerde, we rode by the turning sails of the town's restored windmill next to the memorial (photo) to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment who landed here on 17-September-1944 and, after eight days of heavy battle, liberated this area of the Netherlands. Great weather, great ride.  I was good for 50 km. pics (134) gps-tracked route part 2 windmill video clip (33 sec)

Saturday Fun on Wheels with Tonnie

Saturday, 23-April-2016 - Veghel - Tonnie (photo) joined me today.  We headed north against the wind.  We wanted to see if the parallel road on the north side of the canal was finished.  We made it all the way to Middelrode.  We had the sun and a strong wind in our back as we skated back to the Sligro starting point.  Super weather, super skate!  We were good for 22.5 km.   pics (81) gps tracked route