Left around 9.15. Nikor. Mostly overcast, chilly northeasterly wind. Still no rain; it's starting to feel wrong. Full gloves and headband entirely appropriate. Ondiep to Straatweg to Nieuwersluis. Vecht to Nigtevecht. Rapeseed abundant now. Bridge open in Vreeland, larger sailboat motoring to wider, deeper waters than its home base of Loosdrecht. Velterslaan, Driemond, Stammerdijk, Overdiemerweg, ARK, Javaplein. Outside; not warm. In the paper the news of a U.S. arms build-up in the Persian Gulf. The report cited experts who fear a strike on Iran may be imminent. What a disaster that would be. Unfortunately, with the current people in charge in Washington and Jerusalem, it can't be ruled out. Iran has been weakened in the region, and possibly at home, and thus the hawks may think it's time to press the advantage. It's also possible that the build-up is just in support of the imminent talks with Teheran, but how do you not use all that assembled firepower when negotiations fail? We went down this road in 2002-2003, and this time could actually be worse, judging from some of the wargaming we have become aware of a long time ago already (I remember reading a report on that in the Atlantic, some two decades ago). BG2. Around noon it started clearing. The ride back with summer gloves and ears uncovered. Amstel, quiet side to Ouderkerk. Several koots nesting near the shore, and a family of geese by the side of the road. Ronde Hoep West, past the pretentious, ugly new mansions. More on the way, it appears. Botshol, Vinkeveen, and just after Donkereindsebos a hare in the field. A little later, in Portengensebrug, I spotted two hares to the right, when one of them shot across the road and took off toward the east. By then, the tailwind and the sun had made it comfortable. Haarzuilens, Hermelijnvlinderpad, and the rest.
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