Last night in Amsterdam

It has been a very busy few days as we have been preparing to move. Today was the day!

This morning we finished packing and then moved almost everything - 9 suitcases, 3 boxes and 2 road bikes - from our apartment to the hotel, which is conveniently located across the street from the airport. In the afternoon, we went to the town hall to "de-register" as residents, then attended a move-out inspection at the apartment. After all that, we had a quick bite to eat and then returned the rental car to Hoofddorp, where Kevin's company has an office. The weather was difficult today, as it vacillated between light and heavy rain. Not the greatest for moving, that's for sure.

The final task of the day, which we had been putting off due to the weather, was to retrieve the bike from the stand in front of the apartment and ride it to the hotel. But, as it had to be done, I waited for the bus at the airport in the pouring rain. Fortunately, the rain had lessened by the time I reached the bike. And by the time I hopped on, it had stopped. My lucky day!

It was a perfect ride on a beautiful evening. It was the best possible way I could ever have imagined to be spending my last night in Amsterdam. The route to the airport went beside Olympic Stadium, next to the houseboats on De Schinkel, through the Amsterdamse Bos, past the marina and lake, over bridges and beside canals, as well as past bunnies, ducks and other birds. The sunset was beautiful as the skies cleared and I pedalled past many of the things I like best about Amsterdam.

This shot was taken from the bridge over the canal next to the long stretch of road where Kevin liked to train on his road bike. We had been there together a few times, both on road bikes and on omafiets. A little further along the canal there is an old style windmill and a lovely natural marshland park.