Tram, Train, Bus, Bike - a perfect final day

We lucked out, yet again.   The weather was perfect, blue skies with a few wispy clouds, and we set out after a respectable morning of coffee and juice.   And our connections worked like magic.  We approached the tram stop; #24 appeared 15 seconds later.   Purchased tickets at Centraal, wandered through to the station and literally walked onto our train.   A fast 30 minutes later at Leiden, our bus to Katwik was patiently waiting for us.  It all felt surreal.   

Our rental bikes were superb and Dave handily found the start of the trail through the dunes and alongside the North Sea.   These are paths specific to bikes and/or walkers, and therefore the worry of traffic doesn’t exist and you can really appreciate the beauty around you.  We managed to add about 15 km but no one cared, it was so beautiful and it felt so good to pedal along in the clean sea air under the falling leaves and silver poplars.  We passed by impressive Dutch estates, embassies, canals, and about a thousand other happy bikers and walkers.  Destination:  Scheveningen, with white sand beaches framed by beachside restaurants.  

It felt great to sit down and sip a rum & hot chocolate and enjoy some tacos before we turned back to Katwik, this time selecting the correct pathway.   All was going well until I passed through a sandy patch and suddenly heard an ominous crash behind me.   Rick was rear guard and I knew he had gone down, and  by the time I stopped he was already bouncing up, assuring many concerned passerbys that he was just fine.   Yes, just fine unless you count a knee that left most of its skin on his pant leg, a wrist that kind of got bent backwards, and a few other unmentionables.  After a good dusting off and more assurance to some Nordic beauties who hovered over him, we all mounted up and continued the next 2-3 km back to Katwik.   Reverse order of bus/train/tram and we found ourselves back at #1 Tweede Jan Van Der Heiden Straat, just in time to put our feet up, have a hot bath, apply antiseptic cream, Band-Aids and then enjoy a final cocktail.

It has been the most magical day to end this incredible journey.   Tomorrow our cab arrives at 8:30 am and we’re in for about a 14 hour journey home.   I can only hope that we will have the same flawless connections and efficiency that we enjoyed today, minus the crash!   😳  Holland, you have my ♥️.