November 14, 2026

Saturday. Left at 9:42. Nikor. After a clear and cold night, preceded by showers. Salt on the bikepaths and streets. Pavement damp to wet in lots of places, though never slick. Cool and sunny, with some white smudges in the skies. Light winds out of the south, but enough to get movement out of both of the windmills at Kockengen. The large one before Oud-Zuilen was in action too. Gele brug to Alendorp, which still has some color. Rivierpad with everything cut back, and the little bridge frosted over. Breudijk with some other cyclists out. A little group up ahead to the right at the start of Gerverscop. Just one or two cars there. Hollandse Kade without any other cyclists. It is beginning to look barren there also. Turning north, great views up ahead, almost without distortions (just a few oversized barns). Geerkade visible beyond the highway--and the two windmills. Spengen to Geerkade and Portengen. Still some cows in the field there. Galgerwaard to Breukelen and Gunterstein. What appeared to be non-stop Saturday traffic in town. Muddy on Scheendijk, then Strook, Veenkade, and Bethuneweg. Herenweg and Oud Zuilen, Vecht and the rest. The charade of the U.S.-led negotiations continues, the past couple of days with a focus on "European security" and possible European participation in the talks. On the one hand, the various European leaders who have said there's nothing to discuss in this regard are right. "European security" has always been a Russian excuse to throw its weight around, since the more it became a reality prior to 2022, the more it placed authoritarian Russia on the sidelines. To discuss specifics, such as Russia's beef with NATO troops and infrastructure in former Soviet-dominated countries, is to divert from the true cause of the problems, namely Russia's assault on independent Ukraine and, more broadly, the Kremlin's unwillingess to see itself relegated to the political and economic sidelines on the continent. On the other hand, it is entirely right for there to be European voices at the table, since for all intents and purposes Europe has been in this war to defend Ukraine's independence from the start. Until two years ago, the same went for the U.S., but that has changed. Perhaps that in 2024, Washington could have spoken on behalf of a collective "West" in any negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv, but those days are past. Thus, since Europe will inevitably also have a part in any peace arrangement, it will have to be at the table. There are other aspects of the current talks, such as the reported suggestion of NATO membership for Ukraine in exchange for the Donbass, or the exact make-up of any European representation at the talks. In the end, though, all these discussions are at best premature (they still have to be tracked), since at every step of the way one can see how Moscow is not moving an inch on any of the core issues. A sign of good faith would be agreement to a cease-fire during the talks, but that's not forthcoming. Russia still thinks it can prevail, and with the current mediators and the man they work for, who can blame it? Just yesterday there were new signs that Ukraine's access to Starlink continues to be uneven, surely a sign that people on the American side are doing Moscow's bidding. Democratic Senators are now asking for answers on this issue, but there are limits to what they can enforce here. And so it's quite possible that the war will continue for the next two years, if Ukraine manages to hold out that long. 

November 11, 2026

Wednesday. Left at 9:47. Nikor, but everything was dry; the approach of last night's rain really did stop at the rivers. Chilly morning, solid gray skies, light winds out of the northeast. The gray made its usual effective backdrop to the colors on the trees. Few of the colors were loud, but in many places the woods, yards, and roadsides were quite beautiful. The many leaves on the ground just added to the effect. De Bilt and Bilthoven to the trail alongside the railroad to Amersfoort. The Berg, three times, then Laan 1914 toward Zeisterspoor. Mid mornings on weekdays are the best, especially in challenging conditions, because most people stay inside. Soesterhoogt and around the back to the military museum and airstrip. Peace and quiet. Bosch en Duin, De Bilt and home. Møs is gone, and from the looks of it, its replacement may not arrive for weeks, if not longer. In the news, reports on the Abu Dabi "peace talks," conducted, on behalf of the U.S. by the modest, knowledgeable, and entirely selfless public servant also known as the president's son-in-law, together with the man who on camera has called the Russian president a "humanitarian." They're off to Moscow again, and so the war will go on. Russian representatives at the talks disparaged the idea of European participation in the talks, and that's really all you need to know about the way Moscow views its place on the continent. 

November 9, 2026

 Monday. Left at 10:43. Blacksmith. Cool and sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Light winds out of the southeast. All the windmills stationary. Koningsweg to Marsdijk. The poplars. A few wildflowers hanging on alongside the Achterdijk; the sunflowers still upright but brown. Werkhoven and the ugly green flats around the Hollendewagenweg. Smidsdijk to Dwarsdijk. Everything quiet. Kapellenweg to ARK and Lekdijk. A stable full of cows, which seemed cruel, but elsewhere still cows in the meadow. The river calm and low. Kayakers. Culemborg in a slight haze, also still. Not too many barges around the Beatrixsluizen. Jutphaas and Merwedekanaal back into the city. In the news the run-up to new peace talks on Ukraine, this time in Abu Dabi. Apparently, the American Secretary of State seems to believe that some hocus pocus with Europe's "security structure" can be a way out of the war. Obviously, Ukraine will need credible security guarantees--not just partners, but a credible Russian pledge that it will mind it's own sordid business. But Moscow, too, has talked forever about the need to have its "security interests" respected. History shows that, while Ukraine does need serious security guarantees in order to survive as an independent country, Russia's so-called security interests are a notion endlessly malleable and capacious. In the end, they will not be secured until the U.S. has pulled back from the European continent and Russia for all intents and purposes can act as a hegemon, meaning it can control and change conditions in Europe so that what Europe represents no longer threatens Russia's authoritarian domestic order. As everyone already knows--even the U.S. Secretary of State--it's a circle that cannot be squared. 

November 4, 2026

Wednesday. Left at 9:37. Focus. Breezy out of the northeast, and mostly sunny. Some stretched-out white clouds around. Cool enough for full gloves. Voordorp to Beukenburg (an indifferent, then startled, horseback rider) and Prinsenlaan. Maartensdijk to Eikensteeg and into the woods. Walkers, dog people, horseback riders, and cyclists, but not very busy anywhere. Lage Vuursche, then around Drakensteyn, back to the village, then right toward Wasmeer. The low sun hitting some of the yellow leaves beautifully, but on the whole there isn't too much color (any more?). Jeneverpad to Hollandse Sloot, then right toward and over the freeway, railroad tracks, and Utrechtseweg. Left toward Einde Gooi, where the water alongside was very still. Tienhovens kanaal with a couple sitting on a bench somewhere, otherwise deserted. The reeds at the beginning, in the field to the left, all cut. The water in the wetland section further down seems to have returned to its normal level. Tienhoven to Nedereindsevaart. A white heron in the field over to the right. Around the lake to the Gageldijk, then home through Overvecht. The news full of the Democratic victories. Now the question how this will change things. First, we need to get through the next two months unscathed, then the options really to change something in either Ukraine or the Gulf are limited. It is much easier to get into wars than it is to get out, especially if you can't see your way to a clear victory. The lame-duck American president, egged on by the lame-duck Israeli prime-minister, may still try to bludegeon his way out of his Iran war, although some kind of negotiated, longer-term stand-off can't be ruled out either. If only that could be a realistic option in Ukraine. There, the see-saw between bullying Kyiv and allowing greater support shifted once more already the other day, with the permission for more Patriots for Ukraine. They won't come soon, and if the war in the Gulf resumes, they'll practically be out of sight for many years to come. If better access to Starlink and Starshield could be achieved in the meantime--allowing Ukraine to target Russian ballistic missile launch sites--that might just convince the man in the Kremlin that a break-through can't be achieved. But for him, too, it will be almost impossible to quit without being able to point to certain achievements. It would all take something, someone, to prevail on the man in the White House to change course and, for once, stick to it. And good luck with that.

October 23, 2026

Friday. Left at 1. Nikor. Mostly cloudy with rain on the way. Stiff breeze from the southwest, but not cold. Overvecht to tweesporenpad and Korssesteeg. A few caravans left, and one lone little tent at the end of the field. No people other than a girl exercising a couple of horses. On the last bit toward Egelshoek the first moisture in the air. It kept threatening to rain, and occasionally it drizzled, but it never really got wet. Meanwhile, the bike paths were fairly empty. Bad weather, or the threat, keeps a lot of cyclists away. Hollandse Rading to Maartensdijk, then east. Embranchementweg still closed. Right toward Bilthoven. Lots of leaves, branches, acorns, and the like on the pavement. F28 rapid bike route through De Bilt, then Groenekan, Blauwkapel and home. In the news, the contrast becomes stark: with the U.S. in Russia's camp, Ukraine's prospects for the upcoming winter are ever more dire. This will require the Europeans to make good on their repeated assurances to do whatever it takes to sustain Kyiv, all those bear hugs for the Ukrainian president. But looking at Europe's streets, the war might as well not exist. Even the indirect cause of much of the social unrest--that other war so arrogantly and ignorantly begun by America and Israel--seems very far away. The demands are directed at Europe's national governments, some of them quite hapless, and concern resources for education, health care, and so on. People would also like some relief from high gas prices. It is those same hapless, besieged governments that will have to ask people for additional sacrifice, perhaps even military involvement, in the conflict with Russia. All this while friends of the Putin regime could come to power in several countries sooner rather than later. As has been the case since early 2022, Ukrainians will bear the brunt of the misery. But the rest of Europe will feel it too--ready or not.

October 19, 2026

Monday. Left at 10:22. Blacksmith. Cool, overcast, moderate winds out of the southeast. Gradually clearing skies, then clouding over again. Detour at Oudenoord, so Merwedekanaal to Vreeswijk and Lekdijk. All of the corn has been cut. The grass is still very green, and just a few trees and bushes have bright colors on them. It's either early, or there won't be many colors due to the drought. The reeds are brown, and they looked fantastic in the sun against their green background. Busy on the river, with multiple fully-loaded barges. Another detour at Lopik. Eventually an escape onto the Wielsekade. Flat, quiet, and green to Polsbroekerdam and Oudewater. Passing the cemetery on the way out of town, up and behind the hedge, a burial in progress. Snelrewaard to Montfoort quiet, as were Mastwijk and the Blindeweg. Harmelen, De Meern, and De Meernbrug back into town. Møs is no longer, but all over the news more evidence of Ukraine being pressured by Washington. Intelligence sharing gets turned on and off, so as to remind Kyiv who has the power. Moscow, meanwhile tries to take full advantage by launching ballistic missiles at an increasing rate to terrorize Ukraine into submission. This may not succeed very soon, but it's even harder to see how Moscow will come to the conclusion that it cannot prevail in its assault now that the American president openly has chosen its side. More evidence of the latter are the confirmed reports of explorations for a three-way meeting between the presidents of Russia, China, and the United States to "end" the war. Americans will have an opportunity next month to show what they make of this betrayal of what their country is supposed to stand for; Europeans, meanwhile, have to understand that they're on their own vis-à-vis Moscow. Many still think that "the Russians aren't coming," as witness statements by the leaders of the French RN and German AfD parties that aid to Ukraine will have to stop. Others may still believe that Ukraine is Europe's first line of defense, as it is. Even those people, however, will have difficulty pursuing that line of thought to its logical conclusion. If Ukraine can't lose--for our sake--and the situation gets desperate (we're getting there), Europeans will have to increase their involvement, they will have to escalate their conflict with Moscow.  

October 2, 2026

Friday. Left at 11:56. Blacksmith. Mild, light winds out of the southwest, partly sunny. The endless summer lingers on, as does the drought. A little test loop through the city's back yard: Blauwkapel, Ruigenhoek, Kooijdijk, Westbroek. Cows outside everywhere, grass still being cut, fields being plowed and seeded. Nedereindse vaart, Molenpolder, Tienhoven all very peaceful, as was the Bethunepolder. Scheendijk only to Gunterstein, since the construction signs were still up. Through Breukelen, and Straatweg to Woerdenseweg and Otterspoorbroek. ARK to Maarssen, then Oud Zuilen and Zandpad back into town. A purchased Volkskrant with a two-page spread on whether NATO already can be considered at war with Russia, or whether it's still more appropriate to speak of something like hybrid war. The secretary-general keeps declaring that Russia is testing the alliance, but the Kremlin essentially says that through its support of Ukraine, NATO--at least the Europeans--are in the war. This matters more than many Europeans care to acknowledge. Also in the news that the U.S.--the Pentagon--is excluding some key NATO members from its consultations over the future of the alliance: the UK, France, the Baltic states. It says something--and nothing good--that this administration retains the power to issue invitations for a process such as this one. The alliance, apparently, still depends on the choices of a key member state that in the past two years has become entirely unreliable. In light of this, it would be good if media in Europe meanwhile stopped using the term "war in Ukraine," and instead referred to "the conflict with Russia." Like it or not, we are in it, and push may come to shove well before we're ready.