January 30, 2026

Friday. Left at three. Nikor. Moderate but chilly winds from the East. Fantastic skies: white-gray, blue-gray, steel-gray layered all around with pink over the horizon toward the south. One time, the sun tried hard to work its way through it all, but it failed. Koningsweg to Wayen and ARK into the wind. Passed by a good pace-setter. Schalkwijk to Tetwijksepad. Culemborg just faintly to the left. Achterdijk and Tull en 't Waal quiet. Tower of Everdingen behind the dike to the left, with pink-gray light behind it; tower of Schalkwijk in the gray to the right. Plofsluis to Jutphase brug and Merwedekanaal. Wind chills were above freezing, but 90-some minutes was enough. A new government in this country, with priorities that make sense: much more defense spending and limits on various social and care programs. The question now is whether the public can be persuaded this is necessary. Perhaps it can, but it is unlikely to happen if people most affected by these social and health policies continue to see evidence that--to name just one statistic of the recent era--the number of millionaires in the country keeps growing. No justice, no (investement in) peace.