May 18, 2025

 Sunday. Left a little before nine. Blacksmith. Almost completely overcast, cool, winds out of the north. Straatweg to Breukelen. Vecht nice and calm after Maarssen. Toward Woerdense Verlaat and Meije; clouds of little bugs alongside Galgerwaard. Wherever fields or road or canal sides had not been mowed, they looked just stunning, with yellow iris taking pride of place. The entire Meije was gorgeous, both people's yards and gardens and the fields, lakes, and marsh areas. Home-made apple pie at our back-up, very local cafe, just to the left after turning onto Nieuwkoop's Zuideinde. Going on eleven, the sun came out, mostly. Kromme Mijdrecht until the vacation park before de Hoef. Little tunnel to Gagelweg and Portengen. Lush, lush. Around the tourists at de Haar castle, then Maximapark and Hermelijnvlinderpad to the Gele Brug. Not very busy anywhere, but only a few places where you could be away from the world.