Sun 30 – Volendam

For most tours, this is the introductory day to settle in and test the bicycles. For us old hands already on board, Nico offers an additional ride of 22 kms to Edam and Volendam where Elodie will deploy after cleaning.

About half the team mount and disappear into the stiff breeze from ESE at 9:00 as usual. The others disperse to personal administrative tasks in Starbucks or the Library. Two ladies make a successful raid on a knitting shop spied during the walk the previous evening. They return with the requisite materials, including bamboo knitting needles — allowable in airline cabins, notes Caroline A with satisfaction.

Elodie sails out of the harbour to the East, joining many other yachts taking a Sunday sail. Most have heavily reefed sails for the strong breeze. Elodie encounters choppy seas. Meanwhile, Michel receives news from Nico that the riders have reached Volendam. Docking there about 4 pm, it’s only a few minutes later that a large old sailing barge with lee boards, sailed by two young women from Germany, manoeuvres in to raft up next to us.