While we are experiencing a very good summer in Holland this year, (at the time of this writing it's 30 degrees
Celsius (86 Fahrenheit)) the week of the visit was one of the worst weeks as far as the weather was concerned. On the
thursday of their arrival it rained (18C/64Fa). We canceled the skate in the evening, so our friends could stay in and
sleep away their jetlag.

Jay in the lobby of the hotel Preparing for the skate While still at work in the morning, the rain poored down severly, but I had still some faith in the weather forecast: "sunny and dry in the afternoon". And they were right: at 12:30 I got on my skates and moved to the Krasnapolsky Hotel at Dam square. A very nice five star hotel, but one of the worst places in Amsterdam to start a skate! You can hardly walk on the coble stones, a skaters hell. Start at the monument at Dam square. A very crowded Damstreet Safety first. Helmets everywhere. We all gathered in the lobby of the hotel and as more and more skaters put on their gear, the hotel staff became a bit nerveous. Have you ever seen a speed skater going through the lobby? Finally they asked if we could proceed outside :-) Mark Westbeek, one of the Friday Night Skate blockers who works out the routes, had made a special trip for us to Ouderkerk, just south of Amsterdam. Guiding about 70 skaters through the traffic without blockers is not easy. At some points the pack streched out over 200 meters (600 yards). I was sweeping at the back and occasionally I had to use my cell phone to call Mark at the front and ask him to wait up, because someone got injured, someone repaired his skates, or jumped into a store to buy something (no offence Bones ;-). In Amstelveen, Michael, Maaike and Aart joined us. Michael gave our guests some explanations about the history of some landmarks. The old windmill at the river Amstel was a hit. I never seen so many cameras. Loads of films and memory sticks were consumed. After a short rest in Ouderkerk, we returned to Amsterdam for a snack at the Vondeltuin in the Vondelpark. Mark is guiding the pack. Windmill spotted! Old windmill near the Amstel river. At 20:30 we started the Friday Night Skate (FNS). Mark had put together a very nice city tour 23km (14 miles) pure Amsterdam skating. Wide streets, smal bridges, the Rijksmuseum, we had it all. One member of the Flying Nurses (www.flyingnurse.nl), shot several pics of this FNS: www.feijes.com Skating along the Amstel river.. Ok, a bit unsharp, but still evidence of your Amsterdam skate. Jay as a guest blocker at the Friday Night Skate

Saturday August 11th: Waterland skate tour.

Entering Waterland.

Modern windmill

We had to get out of bed early for the Waterland-tour. At about 11:00 am we started at Dam square and skated in two groups to the Schellingwouder-bridge. Erik lead the first group. Other FNS blockers who helped guiding were Michael, Maaike, Bob, Sabine en David. The group was about 45 skaters big, including two Russians who we met during the FNS: Ilya and his father. The other Americans were exploring the city (coffee shops maybe ;-)


At the bridge the two groups joined and together we entered Waterland just north of Amsterdam. In the countryside some skaters started to take pictures of everything they saw, even cows and sheep. "Wow what a big cow".:-)

Racing across the dike

along the IJselmeer

with 45 skaters!

Above:Michael explaining. Below: narrow path.

Above: Ilya from Moscow Below: "inline" skating :-)

The weather gods were with us. It stayed dry and our guests were treated on a typical Dutch wind. We skated all the way up to to Marken across the dike along the IJselmeer (a big lake). Michael told them all about winning land back from the sea, dikes and polders. We also treated them on typical Dutch Stroopwafels.

In Marken and old fishersman village, we had lunch at the little harbour and even enjoyed the sun. Almost half the group took the bus back to Amsterdam, because on our way back we had headwind. Still for some skaters, the skate back was heavy. In Amsterdam we took the ferry to the back of the Central Station and via the Nieuwmarkt we got back at the hotel.

Relaxing in Marken	Lucia and me.	Harbour of Marken.

For the evening Cathelijne had arranged a dinner in Restarant Amsterdam (www.restaurantamsterdam.nl). And after that party-time in the Arena disco. Lower floor 70's and 80's music, and upper floor house, and similar styles. I have no idea how late we ended :-).

Ok. Dutch cycle track may seem a bit odd.	Zuiderwoude village.	Time for a break!
Nice "ophaalbruggetje".	Erik leading us back to Amsterdam.	On the ferry to Central Station