April 8, 2026

 Wednesday. Left 9:50. Blacksmith. Sunny, mild, moderate winds out of the east. Through the Berenkuil toward Zeist. Around town to the Tiendweg, then Driebergen. Akkerweg to Zuwe and Caspergouw. Rows of light green willow trees. The little fruit trees are beginning to blossom also. Dwarsdijk and Kapelleweg. Across a quiet ARK to the Lekdijk. Sun, peace, more and more cows, and lots of little lambs. Back by way of Plofsluis, Jutphase brug, Merwedekanaal. Mos with today's paper, which closed too early for the news about the truce in the Middle East, but lots of people have pointed out how little has been achieved, given the cost for all involved. The question remains whether, in the face of a criminal, fundamentalist regime such as the one in Teheran, a five-week bombing campaign works better than a sophisticated strategy of containment. The regime is still there, even if much diminished in its capabilities. What America has become under this administration at least has been on full display, as it is currently in Hungary, where the vice-president is openly campaigning for the authoritarian friend of Moscow. Speaking of Moscow: another piece in the same paper confirmed earlier impressions of a possible shift in the balance of power in the war. Apparently, Ukraine has regained some territory in the past two months while Russia has more and more trouble to replace its dead and wounded (a staggering 85,000 in the first three months of 2026). The same article also reported on how, in a recent exercise, some regular NATO units were quickly dispatched by a Ukrainian unit using its drone-based systems. Another confirmation of what we saw in recent weeks when the Ukrainian president visited Gulf nations: acquired the hard way, Ukraine's drone capabilities (both defensive and offensive) are now at the cutting edge of what makes a difference on the modern battlefield. In the not-too-distant future Europe may need Ukraine more than the other way around. Lots of things need to happen--and could still go wrong--before we really get there, but our world is already very different from the one we had just two years ago. 

April 5, 2026

 Easter Sunday. Left a little before 10:30. Blacksmith. Mostly cloudy skies, with many layers and shades of white and gray, and space for some blue, more so as time went on. Fairly stiff winds out of the northwest made it on the chilly side. Overvecht and Klopdijk to Gageldijk, Herenweg, and Maarssen. People out, but not the usual Sunday groups. Maarssen ARK bridge, then left to Zuylensebrug. Toward Oud Zuilen, but back to the Straatweg, to the Deka brug with its inadequate way up. Empty ARK as seen from the top. Lage Weide deserted, first going north, then south toward the Gele Brug. Past the coffee corner a little bit along the Merwedekanaal, and into Oog in Al. Daphne Schippersbrug, then left toward the De Meernbrug. A bit of ARK to, under, and up the Prins Clausbrug and the alienation of Papendorp. Jutphasebrug into Laagraven and the headwind up the Nieuwegeinsebrug. Plofsluis was the tenth crossing. Home by way of Wayen, Lunetten station, and Singel. In the news more reports of Ukraine hitting Russian oil refinery and shipment installations. This should make Moscow's ability to wage war more difficult while also complicating economic conditions in the country at large. How, or if, this will also cause the regime to give up on at least some of its war aims, is much less certain, but it certainly can't hurt. Same with political turmoil--in the country (not so likely) or in power circles (perhaps more realistic). It can't be ruled out that if this keeps up, eventually the battlefield will be affected also, as in no more Russian advances, and perhaps retreats here and there. The current leader may never yield at the negotiating table or anywhere else; but if others get the feeling he's taking the whole ship down with him, it could be time for a forced retirement, a new leadership and, presumably, a way out of this horror.

April 1, 2026

Wednesday. Left around 9:15. Nikor. Cool, clouds in all kinds of shapes at various altitudes. Some blue and some sun. Light winds out of the south. Straatweg to Maarssen, then ARK. Almost the whole way up to Amsterdam light raindrops, never enough to wet the pavement or anything else. But they were there, as were, at the same time, shadows. Quiet on the levee, crews on the boats busy with hoses and other tools. Spires of Nederhorst den Berg to the right after Loenersloot.A barge coming through at Driemond. Company until the Uylanderbrug. Coffee at the Javaplein. In the paper the good news that Ukraine is hitting Russia's oil port and refinery on the Gulf of Finland hard, interrupting exports. Unnamed allies have asked Kiyv not to do this now, since less Russian oil reaching world markets means even higher prices. Tough. Ukraine is fighting for survival, and there are indications that life in Russia is getting ever harder because of the war. The more disruption the better, and whatever disruption our part of the world has to deal with as a by-product pales in comparison to what Ukrainians have had to deal with the past couple of years. On to the Bushuis. The city is getting awfully busy already. Return trip in milder weather, at least toward the end, when the sun came out more. Magere Brug, Omval (nothing left), Weesperzijde, Duivendrecht, and Abcouderpad. School kids and others on fat bikes. Past Abcoude to the Indijkweg along the tracks. Baambrugge and the magnificent bend. Loenersloot to Loenen. Lambs everywhere, but no baby waterfowl. Rapeseed abundant  now. Vecht with its reinforced shoreline, all the way into the city, headwind the whole way.

March 29, 2026

Sunday. Left a little after eleven (daylight savings time). Nikor. Just a little bit of damp pavement left from yesterday's showers. On the chilly side with partial sun. Decent clouds, but mid-day light. Moderate winds out of the west. De Bilt and Den Dolder, and the railroad trail to Amersfoort. Lots of people using the newly widened trail out of Amersfoort. Belgian way up the hill, then down Vondellaan and up again by way of Balilaan, Arubalaan, and Genestetlaan. Late in the morning, but the city still very quiet. The cooler weather seems to have slowed down the emergence of blossoms and buds, although tulips are now a common sight. Down Laan 1914 and on toward Leusden Zuid and de Treek. Headwinds made it cool. Up Treekerweg, also with Sunday walkers. Down the Traaij to Arnhemse Bovenweg, roundabout to Driebergseweg, and eventually left onto the Bunsinglaan toward Bunnik. From Bunnik back to the city by way of Amelisweerd. In the news, more reports on how, after four weeks of war already, the White House and Pentagon have now given themselves the option of ground operations in Iran. And what an option it is. One wonders what will be next if, after employing troops somewhere, the Islamist regime still doesn't collapse or the Straits of Hormuz remain too dangerous for most shipping. Looking at who is in charge in Washington, it can't be good for anyone, except that it may give extra impetus for U.S. allies in Europe and Asia to make themselves less dependent on Washington and on fossil fuels. Whether that's good for those European and Asian countries remains to be seen, but the fact that its allies around the world are giving up on the U.S. where they can afford to surely isn't good for America.

March 27, 2026

Friday. Left around ten. Blacksmith. Overcast, but not solid, interesting-looking layers of gray with space for the sun occasionally. Fairly chilly winds out of the south. Koningsweg to Wayen. Langeweg around Heemskerk and the golf course, then Plofsluis. Some golfers, some riders. ARK on the bricks. Schalkwijk spire up ahead. Bricks are good, bad bricks yield even less traffic. Nobody until the turn-off onto the Elpad. Colors on the Kaaidijk toward Schalkwijk, then right toward the Achterdijk. More colors, some traffic. Groeneweg to Lekdijk. The dike quiet, the river even more so. Lots of lambs at a farm past the fort. Strijpweg, Waalweg, Beatrixsluis, and Vreeswijk. Tailwind alongside the canals, all the way to the Gele Brug. Into the city to Mos. In the news the latest ultimatum before Iran's energy infrastructure will get hit. Another delay, which could mean that bombing, or some kind of invasion, could happen any day now. Lacking interest in expert knowledge on the country and the regime, and with partners urging you to do their bidding, how could we not get an outcome soon heralding a more benign future for the region and the world? 

March 26, 2026

 Thursday. Left ten minutes to ten. Nikor. On the cold side, with sun and showers. Moderate winds out of the northwest. Blauwkapel, and by the side of the road a goose with five chicks. Ruygenhoek, and past the swimming area the stark line of small trees on the driveway to the farm on the right. There and all the way to Egelshoek the interaction of the white and gray clouds, the blue, and the light. In Westbroek, people still feel victimized. On the extension of the Korssesteeg a dark gray cloud over Nieuw Loosdrecht with a lighter, dome-shaped area right over the church. Rain and hail after Egelshoek. Maartensdijk wet asphalt, but the sun coming back. Turning onto the Lindenlaan, the bricks have been leveled out. Groenekan to de Bilt. The colors and the light on the Kerklaan glorious. Berenkuil into the city and Mos. In the paper a discussion of the NATO secretary general's juggling of European misgivings and U.S. expectations of support, and a report on how in Spain the German Chancellor has been criticized for not criticizing the U.S. president's criticism of Spain's criticism of the war. All that needs to, and can, be managed. One has to hope that the same can be said of those other bits of news, regarding Ukraine: increasing U.S. pressure on Kyiv to cede territory to Russia, and a potential dearth of supplies for Ukraine because of the war on Iran. Ukraine, and Europe, is mostly on its own. The good news is that Russia's new spring offensive seems to have stalled the moment it was launched.

March 23, 2026

Monday. Left 9:45. Blacksmith. On the chilly side, somewhat hazy, but sun. Light winds out of the northeast. Through the city to the Merwedekanaal. The world busy with the working week. Schipperspad to Vreeswijk and Lekdijk. Beyond Klein Scheveningen everything peaceful. Birdsong. Lopik to Polsbroekerdam and Oudewater. Lambs along Snelrewaard, and maybe a baby goat. Early spring coming into its own, with blossoms, forsythia, and more and more light green everywhere. Weeping willows especially beautiful now. Montfoort, Harmelen, and de Meern back into the city, to Mos. In the paper election news: populists failing to break through in large French cities, and in Slovenia, but gaining significantly in Germany. Interesting report on an emigration fair over here: all kinds of people (a growing number coming from two native-born Dutch parents) not liking it here any more, for example because the government keeps sending our money to wars that don't concern us. Imagine that: you can't or won't stay in your own country anymore, and another country lets you in, also if you're just looking for a better life. If your favorite populist turns out to be a snake oil salesman, the lucky people in this part of the world still have the option of going elsewhere.