This Week In Wijnjewoude 2017: Week 28 A Tale of Two Bikes

Week 28

Ben had a job at the North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam) for the weekend. Back in Amsterdam and he went to pick up his bike from the "bike parking barge', only to find that it was missing! (his bike, not the barge).

(Curses)

So, he trudged off home... only to find that his "other" bike had been stolen from the side street near the Albert Cuyp Market!

(More curses)

This sign at the bike barge says "Attention" bikes not in the racks will be removed. and bikes left for longer than 14 days will be removed. Bike missing? Call....

Now, it seems that Ben had an extra chain on his bike BUT not through the rack itself... so he thinks that someone lifted his bike out of the rack (to make room for their own) and so his was "removed".

Ben rang the number and gave them the details (it had a sticker on it) and sure enough, it was at the storage compound - on the other side of town!

And for the princely sum of €22,50, he could go and pick it up - OR - for €35,00 EXTRA, they would bring it to him!

So, he caught the bus and was surprised to see about 10 other "victims" heading off to retrieve their bikes (video below)

And these are just the bikes at the compound... looks like a lucrative business!

Ben thinks it could be a good story to write about...

I went looking to see if I could find anything in English about the stolen bikes... not yet, but I did find this interesting little bit of history...

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/plan-your-trip/getting-around/cycling/amsterdam-cycling-history

(horrors, there was even a plan in the 60's to pave over some of the canals!).

Ben also had work at a Guns 'n Roses concert. In between (work) he was able to enjoy the €300,00 seats!

The Boat...

At Opiende, just down the road from the Chinese Wok restaurant!

and in Dokkum on Wednesday...

Also in Dokkum

Bolsward on Saturday

A typical scene in Friesland...

The bees are doing their work...(on my pumpkins)

Around the farm...

We actually sold one...

Jelmer's last day...(making sheep)

Janny's family are having yet another party. My contribution. a "Chocolate Ripple Cake" - without the Chocolate Ripple Biscuits which I still have not been able to find after 25 years!! - these are a cinnamon flavour with the right texture...

Bridges...

All our waterways have bridges, some of which are "openable". We experience this all the time from the water and occasionally on the road. "The bridge was open" is always used as an excuse for being late to work! There is usually a sign that says "Bridge Open, Motor Off", to avoid motorists sitting in a cloud of diesel fumes. When the bridge is open, motorists are confronted with the underside of the bridge itself. In a few places, enterprising businesses have used this space for advertising.

Next year, in conjunction with Leeuwarden being Europe's "Cultural City", there will be large canvas pictures hung from the bridges...