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.

September 27, 2026

 Sunday. Left at 10:01. Blacksmith. A beautiful day, starting in early fall and progressing to late summer. Arm warmers and undershirt only excessive afterwards, on the bench, in the sun. Mostly sunny with light southerly winds. On the cool side, especially under the trees, but comfortable in the sun. De Bilt, past Zeist, toward Woudenberg. Griftdijk with successive sections of cut grass, sunflowers, and corn. Sunday quiet, but not without other recreationists. Car traffic on the Amerongseberg was light too. Down the hill into Amerongen fraught with tensions with motorists, as is frequently the case. Up at Leersum, past Ginkelduin, Ginkelseweg, and Haarweg. Hoogstraat, then a Ruiterberg busy with approaching cyclists, and Maarnsegrindweg. Up to the Pyramide, and on toward Zeist, de Bilt, and Møs. This particular loop gradually takes more and more effort, too much for even superficial observation. Saturday's AD with a story on how people in Narva, Estonia live right next door to Russia. There was some talk of NATO's role in case of a Russian intrusion or attack, but in such a way that the full implications (possibility of military escalation, or, perhaps more likely, the disintegration of NATO) in no way became clear for the casual Dutch weekend reader. But in other news there was the meeting between the German foreign minister and his Russian colleague. It appears the German minister said the right things, while the response from the Russian is instructive for all those in Europe arguing for "dialogue." There is no dialogue, there is war. Russia is determined to achieve its security goals, which, of course, are about much more than Ukraine. Ukraine did not invade Russia. The only way it threatened the interests of the regime in the Kremlin is through its association with the West. Back in 2022, that still included the United States. As the Russian president has stated over and over again, he sees Russia's (his regime's) security threatened by NATO and the EU. That is to say, he feels threatened by the things these organizations and its member states stand for, most of which are the opposite of what he deems important: the right to choose (and fire) your own government, respect for basic human rights. In the Kremlin's eyes, the West, what's left of it, is guilty by virtue of what it (imperfectly) manages to be. Existing right next-door as a community of open societies where governments are accountable to voters, it is an example to Russia's own people of how things could be different. In the early years of the twenty-first century, the West did a lot more, particularly taking in East and Central European countries eager to join the EU and NATO. Another way in which it challenged the Kremlin was through its support of, and work with, Russian civil society organizations, and through its criticism of the government whenever it limited basic civil rights. Some Westerners may have believed that rather than confronting the Kremlin, they were simply doing the right thing, standing up for fundamental human rights, but in this belief they misunderstood the Russian leader's own beliefs, including Russian imperialism, the latter widely supported by ordinary Russians. And so even though prior to 2022 there was quite a bit of East-West diplomacy, in the end the substance of the "dialogue" between Russia and the West was very meager. The Russian president was misunderstood in his anti-Western views and his determination, come what may, to push back Western influence from what he views as Russia's legitimate sphere of influence. The West, back then including the United States, could have accommodated him only at the price of abandoning its core principles. Given Washington's current line, Moscow is winning. After all, the current administration has essentially left the Western alliance. Just the other day, the two highly successful businessmen-peacmakers (Gaza, Iran, Ukraine) acting on behalf of the president told the Russian foreign minister that the war in Ukraine is the war of their boss's predecessor in the White House. It was only the latest example of Washington endorsing Moscow's view of the war. 

September 23, 2026

Wednesday. Left at 3:53. Blacksmith. Late summer weather, with sun, light winds out of the south, and mild. Gradually clouding over, but never cool. Singel to Koningsweg and Wayen. Commuters beginning to appear. Langeweg with all the corn gone. ARK calm; south of the Schalkwijk brug just gravel, so back to Tripdijk and Lange Uitweg. There, fresh-mowed, fragrant grass on both sides. Lekdijk past Tull en 't Waal, then Sluispad. A lot of barges queing up to enter the locks. Water level on the rivers remains too low, so perhaps more boats are still needed to move the same amount of cargo. Juthpaas back to the ARK. The whole world apparently riding home from work, one half electrified, the rest old-style cycling or scootering. Even busier around the Gele brug--an entirely different world from the one mid-morning. The news showing evidence of Russia's all-out push--conventionally, for now--to force Ukraine to its knees. Also more, and more aggressive, provocations of NATO countries. All this has increased calls in the West for "dialogue," for alternatives to this violence. Even the well-meaning innocents seem to be incapable of understanding the basic facts of this war. Somehow, they seem to think, talking to Russians, or their government, is going to promote peace. As well-meaning as these people may be, they're still the Kremlin's useful idiots, since their arguments, such as they are, can only serve to undermine Western (European) support for Ukraine's fight for survival. Worse is the invitation sent to the Kremlin by the U.S. administration, for the Russian president to attend the upcoming G-20 meeting in Florida. One week, the president signs Congress's latest sanctions bill against Russia and its enablers into law, the next, he sends the Russian president an invitation to join the conversation on global financial and economic issues. Every day we get more evidence of what happens when the government of the country at the heart of the post-World War II order gets taken over by a group hostile to just about everything that order used to stand for. There are plenty of opportunists in Europe too, as witness the lifting of sactions on two Russian oligarchs this week. The old order is being dismantled, replaced by selfish opportunism and might-makes-right. As the president of Ukraine said yesterday, we're already back in a world of war, it's getting worse, and the end is not yet in sight. 

September 21, 2026

Monday. Left at 9:54. Blacksmith. Mostly sunny, mild, moderate breezes from the northwest. Not summer anymore, not quite fall yet either. Straatweg to Maarssen, then ARK and Woerdenseweg. Across the ARK at Breukelen, toward Angstelkade. Same illogical puddle on the stretch back to the ARK as earlier; there must be some kind of overflow underneath the grass. Corn still up alongside the Polderweg; elsewhere, the smell of fresh-cut grass. Loenersloot toward Oukoop. Fine views of Vinkeveen from the Haanweg to Demmerik. On to Wilnis, then left along the Wilnise Zuwe. Just before the crossing with the Bovendijk, in a recreational area to the right, an old fat guy standing behind his fishing rod, urinating into the wide open. On toward Kanis, then left to Teckop. Hollandse Kade south, with no evidence of the city in the distance; just some grain elevators or buildings like it to the far right, at Woerden. Laag Nieuwkoop past the carnival at Haarzuilens. The park, the trail, and the Gele brug back into town and Møs. The AD full of sports, but also a timely article on the predicament of the American president with regard to Saudi Arabia. It finds itself at war with Jemen's Houthis, and in spite of the billions and billions spent on military kit from the U.S., it has still gone begging for help from Washington. In the end, the president decided to turn down his friend in Riyadh, which shows the limits of the friendship the two men and their respective families seemed to have built in recent years. Washington has its own deal with the Houthis, and the president really can't use another conflict on top of the disaster he has created for himself and the world with Iran. This emperor has no clothes, and neither does his buddy in Riyadh. Their hubris and incompetence, meanwhile, contiues to create real hardship for people the world over. Nobody ever voted the crown-prince into office, but it's getting high time for people who do still get to participate in real elections to stop plumbing for the kinds of populists now wreaking havoc in Washington--or in Germany, for that matter (or, potentially, lots of other European countries). They have nothing to offer but trouble.

September 19, 2026

Saturday. Left at 9:52. Blacksmith. Mostly overcast, stiff southwesterly breeze, fairly mild--long sleeves not really required. De Bilt and around Zeist toward Woudenberg, but closure at Quatre Bras, so Treek to Amersfoort and Hugo de Grootlaan. Soesterweg not fully open yet, but improved. A.P. Hilhorstweg quiet. Corn mostly down, wildflowers remaining. Soest tower in the distance apparently scaffolded. Baarn and across the tracks at the Torenweg. Eventually Noorderweg to Soestdijk. Past the palace, then left toward Lage Vuursche. Fewer cars than feared. Another detour in Maartensdijk. Tweesporenpad into the wind with the Dom up ahead. Blauwkapel and Singel to Møs and the AD. It's not the go-to place for international news. They are searching for a new editor-in-chief, who should try to do a little more. As the non-tendentious mainstream daily, there's an opportunity to help people who aren't naturally inclined to think much or hard about the wider world about its relevance for daily life over here. In the news the new agreement between the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark, touted by Washington as a great accomplishment. In reality, it may not amount to anything more than what existed during the Cold War, and thus would be the latest example of how the administration time and again manages to waste a lot of time, energy, and goodwill to accomplish next to nothing. The president's signing of the new bill sanctioning those still doing business with Russia is a little better in that regard (but also not an administration initiative). Still, the real test is if Russia's greatest supporter in its war on Ukraine, China, will be targeted by the administration. The AD did have a background story on the upcoming meeting between the president and the Chinese leader, although this issue didn't come up. But it's unlikely that Washington will try to punish China for doing deals with Russia where its own diplomacy toward Moscow has the exact same goal, not counting all the other ways in which the American president shows himself to be unserious about confronting his Russian colleague. 

September 17, 2026

Thursday. Left a little after ten. Blacksmith. Early fall. Partly cloudy, cool, breezy out of the southwest. Private race car driver, or potential killer, on the Adelaarstraat. Westside Vecht to Rode Brug, then Zandpad to Groeneweg. Tuinbouwweg to Herenweg and polder Bethune. Other people busy beating the rain. Breukeleveen parked up for no apparent reason. It doesn't require a lot of cars for there to be too many. Boomhoek and Muyeveld both better, as was Loosdrecht, new and old. Bloklaan, with evidence of a recent shower, to Straatweg. Nieuwersluis, then the wind alongside the ARK. At Maarssen back to the Straatweg and into town. 

September 14, 2026

Monday. Left at 9:54. Blacksmith. Fairly mild, light winds out of the south, mostly sunny, later clouding up with some vague gray cloud formations, then clearing again. De Bilt to the bricks of Bilthoven, then Den Dolder and the new trail alongside the railroad tracks. All pretty peaceful, but people. Amersfoortse berg "beste kant" torn up, but Hugo de Grootlaan wide open. Down Laan 1914 to Zeisterspoor, Soesterhoogt, and the airfield. Under the trees, the pavement still damp from yesterday's rain. Bosch and Duin torn up too, so Ruysdaellaan to the highway. De Bilt, Berenkuil back into town and Møs. The AD was there. It was full of sports, and virtually without mention (let alone discussion) of the Russian strike this weekend on a passenger train near the Ukrainian-Polish border. That's an escalation, though not unexpected, which is why the European response so far has been disappointing. Just to send Moscow a message--about this provocation, but also the armed drone earlier this summer at the Leipzig airport--Germany could change its view that "Ukraine no longer needs" its Taurus missiles. It could say that, while Ukraine remains capable of striking targets deep inside Russia, Berlin will still supply it with Taurus missiles, just to underline that Moscow should be more careful in its approach to Ukraine's European supporters (for starters). Given the recent domestic political developments in Germany--election victory by Putin's allies--we should not hold our breath.

September 12, 2026

 Saturday. Left just before ten. Blacksmith. Fairly mild, moderate winds out of the south. Mostly overcast, with gray cover, but also some woolly white, all of it with sporadic room for the sun. Late morning light beginning to get more interesting this time of year. Koningsweg to Vechten and Achterdijk. Corn being cut. Wildflower borders and fields, with sunflowers prominent. Werkhoven to Dwarsdijk. Pears beginning to come off the trees. Wijkersloot to Irenesluizen, then Lekdijk to Beatrixsluizen. The bend in its entirety, starting at the Beusichem ferry, spectacular: the view of the curve of the dike, and to its left the lower marshland, then the river. The marshland still very dry. Further on, the river also looked low. People out, but on the whole fairly quiet. Schipperspad to Merwedekanaal, where the whole world appeared to be out exercising. Into town and Møs. The AD full of domestic and local news, with some Saturday life-style articles added for good measure. If this, indeed, is how the population gets its view of the world, one wonders whether the government's willingness to assist Ukraine as a first line of defense against Russia will find enough supporters for very long. Fortunately, there was one report on the visit of the foreign minister to the Baltics, to receive the advice not to be intimidated by Russian provocations. Instead, immediate countermeasures are the way to show Moscow that Europe can actually stand up for itself--effective deterrence, in other words. Part of that is to maintain credible armed forces, sufficiently staffed. From other articles it appears that the military isn't confident it can find enough suitable volunteers to make that happen and is now developing ideas for some kind of return to forced recruitment; a draft, in other words. That would not be such a bad thing, because the chance that one, or one's child, can be made to serve in the military will at least place the growing emergency right in the middle of lives of people who, until now, blissfully live their lives pretending nothing that goes on beyond our borders (other than wildfires near your vacation address) holds any relevance.

September 10, 2026

 Thursday. Left at 9:54. Blacksmith. On the cool side. Calm. Very light winds out of the southwest. Mostly overcast. A gray blanket with some sunlit lines traversing through it. Toward the north clearer skies with  cumulus clouds on the horizon. Gele brug to 't Zand and Alendorp. Pavement still damp here and there. Rivierpad magnificent, with some barren fields, corn still up, and a pumpkin patch as if from a postcard. The land very quiet. Breudijk to Gerverscop. A few cars. The view west from Rodendijk and the poppy section on the Wagendijk. Schutterskade empty, workers at the Groote Heicop. Gunterstein, Strook, Bethuneweg--all quiet, save some other cyclists taking advantage. Oud Zuilen and Zandpad back into town and Møs. The paper (AD) beginning to commemorate 9/11, twenty-five years ago tomorrow. Also a report on how the latest war in the Middle East will make heating your home with natural gas expensive this winter. Given that stores are fairly low at the moment, how expensive is not clear yet. Letters-to-the-editor also concerning themselves with tight budgets. One writer arguing there is enough money, if you look at how much is being sent to Ukraine; another making the unhelpful suggestion that the EU should try to stop the war, since that would save a lot of money. By all means, let's just stop the war. Such people either don't understand or don't care about the war's reality since day 1: if Russia stops fighting, the war is over, if Ukraine stops, it ceases to exist as an independent nation. Given Europe's financial, political, and moral investment in Kyiv's survival as an independent, EU-oriented country, the latter outcome would be a major defeat, and it would not be the end of it. The Kremlin has a few other non-negotiable demands with its war, and it would surely be emboldened further to test NATO's (in reality: Europe's) ability to draw a line. Some Europeans would, others certainly would not, and so Russian probing in the wake of a Ukrainian defeat could easily lead to the break-up of the alliance. It is far from inevitable, but it could also happen next year. 

September 7, 2026.

Monday. Left at 5:45. Blacksmith. Still on the warm side, but clouding over quickly. Breezy out of the northwest. To the east still some blue sky visible over the horizon, but opposite already some dark gray rain clouds. Eventually there were a few brief and light showers, not enough to wet the pavement. Blauwkapel en Groenekan to Kooijdijk, then past the angry farmers of Westbroek. Dutch dinner time made for fairly quiet roads. Nedereindse vaart to Molenpolder and back to Tienhoven. Then Middenweg to Griendweg, where, it appeared, two drivers blatently ignored the one-way traffic rule. Strook to Veenkade and Bethuneweg. There the showers were starkly visible just to the west. The rain that fell wasn't even enough to produce a smell. Herenweg and Groeneweg to the Vecht and back into the city. In the news more depressing reports on Ukraine's desperate need for air defense, and more military aid in general. The two American mediators just left Kyiv feeling optimistic, but the Ukrainian president predicts war through the upcoming winter. It appears he listened more closely to the Russian president than the peacemaker-businessmen, since the man in the Kremlin this weekend repeated his standard line that for the war to end, Russia's basic security demands will have to be met. He may be able to intimidate NATO and divide the alliance, but how he thinks Ukraine and its people is ever going to submit after more than four years of terror and murder is incomprehensible. Except that the Russian president probably just assumes that Ukrainians can be intimidated--terrorized--into obedience the way the great majority of Russia's population has been rendered passive and harmless. One could go on wondering what it is the U.S. administration and its higly successful peacemakers (Gaza; Iran) really think they are accomplishing here, but energy is better spent on the factors that matter in this war, which aside from the main players, could still include Europe. At least some European governments are preparing to see what more they can do to help Ukraine, which is a good deal more than can be expected from Washington. 

September 2, 2026

Wednesday. Left around 11:15. Nikor. Nederhorst den Berg, after a lake swim. Lake quiet and cooler, Ankeveensepad a little greener than last time, which was still before the rain. Same for the fields and roadsides on the way to Amsterdam. Mostly cloudy skies, but with lots of variety, including some very dark gray clouds. Blue patches also, and the sun did interesting things with it all. Moderate winds out of the southwest. Pleasure boat season seems well past its peak. Quiet in Muiden, but still some vacation groups on the trail to Overdiemen. Coffee and the paper at Javaplein. The German government is calling out Russia for its drone provocation at Leipzig earlier this summer. There are some countermeasures also, and Moscow has said it would retailate. Whether all this is a big theme in the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt is not so clear, but a victory there for the extreme-right, pro-Russia populists would still indicate that at least in that part of the country people either don't care about Europe's involvement in the war with Russia, or actually believe we should just work things out with Moscow, Ukrainians be damned.  In the war, the slugfest continues, but it can't do so forever. The Ukrainian president faces all kinds of internal challenges; it's not clear if the same goes for his colleague in Moscow. Ukraine is doing pretty well with its strategically aimed strikes at Russia, but how can it hold out in the face of Moscow's escalating drone and missile strikes? European leaders continue to pledge support, whatever it takes for as long as it takes; they may soon realize that more is required. How they sell that to their still mostly disinterested populations is anybody's guess. Perhaps that the growing Russian provocations against NATO countries will help make the case, but just as likely these will strengthen the opportunists arguing these are all problems of our own making. The city full of locals and tourists. Bushuis, and back out. A brief see-through to the water at the Diemerdammersluis, but what you see now is the new part of IJburg. Then the trail runs below the dike, although there's a brief rise, with another limited view, just before the start of its latest addition. Zuidpolderweg and Keverdijk. Heintjesrak- en Broekerpolder majestic from the bike path after Uitermeer. Back in Nederhorst den Berg, everything the way it always is.

August 19, 2026

Thursday (and KU arrival day, 1988). Left at 9:51. Nikor, because a chance of a shower. Mostly cloudy, many different, still mostly white clouds everywhere, also room for the sun. Moderate winds out of the west. Damp pavement here and there, but otherwise dry. Gele brug to 't Zand and Alendorp, Rivierpad. Suburbs still looking dry, in spite of the recent showers. Breudijk to Gerverscop, where it was green and quiet. Rodendijk and Wagendijk. The views. Alongside the latter also a newly erupted stretch of poppies and other wildflowers. Schutterskade, then left toward Zuideinde. There, Eendracht sighting (Onno). The views north from the Groote Heicop; cows down below in the land behind the canal. Breukelen and Gunterstein, then Scheendijk and Strook. All fairly quiet as more gray clouds appeared in the west. Bethuneweg, Herenweg, Oud Zuilen, and Møs. AD with two stories on Ukraine. The arrest of a second suspect in the 2022 Nordstream explosion. Germany is prosecuting, while continuing its support for Kyiv. Also a report on a new corruption case (and dismissal) close to the Ukrainian president, this when the open challenge to the president by the former defense minister (his call for elections) still resonates. And, in other news, last night the bigger Russian attack on Kyiv we could have seen coming. Ukraine has hit another Russian oil depot and refinery, Russia is now importing fuel, and reportedly Russians are withdrawing their money from the banks, in fears of government confiscation. Domestically on both sides, things are deteriorating, and meanwhile Rumania has had to strike and destroy a marine drone armed with explosives which was headed for one of its oil fields, currently under construction. And Moscow has warned London of unspecified consequences for Ukraine's use of one of its drones. Every month, NATO countries are pulled in a little further, without much awareness of this among the public. Since Ukraine's needs are only growing, and both sides are escalating, it is high time that European leaders go beyond the EU Commission president's warnings to Russia about its escalation; it is high time that the public gets told directly that there's a war going on and we're in it. Two drivers ignored the do-not-enter sign during the half hour at Møs (one more as I rolled home), and during that time the first shower also arrived. 

August 16, 2026

 Sunday. Left at 9:30. Blacksmith. A new test for the knee. Mild, sunny, but the sky full of stretched out white clouds. Light winds from what appeared to be the northeast. Berenkuil to de Bilt and around Zeist. Under the trees, the pavement still damp sporadically from yesterday's rains. Otherwise, little evidence of that rain, although without it, it would probably have been a lot more dusty in the woods. Sunday riders out in force. Past Woudenberg and Griftdijk, Haarweg. The by now usual picture of stunted corn near the more fully-grown kind, cut fields partially yellow, trees and bushes apparently in survival mode. Not too much motorized traffic on the Amerongseberg. Back up in Leersum, toward and past Ginkelduin. Pretty quiet also, until the Haarweg running alongside the closed freeway, where there was notably more car traffic than usual. Hoogstraat, Ruiterberg, Zeisterweg to the top. No power, but the knee seemed to be holding up. Back around Zeist to de Bilt and Møs. Yesterday's AD, where they don't really cover the world. In other news, reports on various Russian strikes on Ukrainian targets, and Ukrainian strikes on sites in Russia. In greater Ukraine, Russia seems to hit mostly civilian infrastructure, but in the Donbas (Kramatorsk and Slovajansk) the bombing supports military aims, which seem to be coming into view, given that there, too, Ukraine mostly lacks defensive means against Russian air assaults. For its part, Ukraine seems to be hitting all kinds of sites essential for Russia's war, which may explain why the current Russian attacks aren't as large as feared. Today perhaps the largest drone attack on the Moscow region of the entire war, while the Kremlin faces growing difficulty in recruiting enough men for military service (in lots of cases the equivalent of a well-paid premature death). There is growing speculation over a new, national mobilization, which surely will cause a new mass-flight, which for its part could also further weaken Russia's war economy. If Ukraine's strategy is supposed to pressure Russian elites finally to take a stand against the president, his people, and his war agenda, it's perhaps better that NATO continues to respond in a low-key way to Russian drone incursions, as last night over Rumania. A firmer response--against Kaliningrad, for example--could have the effect of rallying Russia's elites around the Kremlin; it would confirm the Russian president's line of being faced with an aggressive, hostile alliance. Hostile, let's hope so; aggressive not so much. In the thirty-odd minutes on the bench, two or three drivers ignoring the do-not enter sign at the Kievitstraat.

August 12, 2026

Wednesday. Left a little after ten. Blacksmith. Warm, not yet hot. Blue skies with blown-apart contrails and other white smudges. Moderate winds out of the east. Singel (neighborly chat) to Koningsweg and Wayen. At the Langeweg, one patch of stunted corn, followed by one where the crop looked normal. ARK with some fast-moving barges. One farm outside of Houten where they still find it necessary to run the sprinklers on the grass alongside their driveway. Schalkwijk bridge, then dead-ending into some roadwork on the kanaaldijk. The town of Schalkwijk. One modern windmill visible in the distance next to the church. The time is long past to worry about those kinds of things. Lange Uitweg to Lekdijk. A guy using a high-pressure hose to clean between the bricks at the end of his driveway. People seeking direct sun in the recreational area behind Tull en 't Waal. Lots of activity on the canal in front of the Beatrixsluizen. Barges and pleasure boats in line, other barges pushing off to join. It must still be possible to navigate west on the Lek. Jutphaas back to ARK and Gele brug. More river cruise ships moored than normal, probably because these really can't use their normal routes, such as the Rhine river. Into the city and Møs. Drought and solar eclipse news in the paper (AD), along with the story about the American president's double plane switch after the recent NATO summit in Turkey. There are many angles to this story, but one perhaps not discussed explicitly enough is Tehran's determination to take the fight to the enemy. This is not unprovoked by any means, but perhaps more significantly, it suggests that the regime's interest in a peaceful outcome to the war is low, just like its concern for the well-being of its population. A U.S. response to a successful attack on the president's plane is too horrible to contemplate, and yet, elements of the Iranian regime apparently worked hard to make such a strike possible. During the half-hour or so on the Kievitstraat side, three or four drivers violated the do-not-enter sign without so much as batting an eye. 

August 10, 2026

Monday. Left a few minutes before ten. Blacksmith. Sunny; not warm, not cool; moderate breezes out of the northwest. Clouds in the distance, especially to the north. City getting back to work, though still quiet. Around the Jaarbeurs to Oog in Al, across the ARK to Groenedijk. Burgemeester Middelweerdbaan and Landschapsbaan, eventually Zandpad. Then Heldamweg to Dorpeldijk, left toward Harmelen, right onto Tiendweg, Breudijk to Kortjaksepad. Hollandse Kade majestic in every direction--Kanis, Woerden, Kockengen--with everything still green. Just one walker and two cyclists on the way to Spengen. Not a soul on the road there. Some traffic on the Geerkade and Portengense Zuwe. Portengen itself almost nothing. Even less human existence along the Grote Heicop, and the superficial view to the north was wide and unspoiled. Tailwind along the ARK, all the way to the Demkabrug with its ridiculous ramp on the city side. Straatweg the rest of the way, with broken glass on almost every block. At Møs a rather thin AD, with little serious news beyond new troubling reports on the drought, here, and next door, in Germany. One new Wildberries story: how, thanks to a licensed Carrefour distributor in Armenia, it can offer all kinds European-made brands. The brands themselves usually have stopped doing business in Russia a long time ago, but, as this and earlier reports point out, they could go the extra mile and withdraw the licenses in question also. None of the dreaded reports yet on massive Russian ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine. Elsewhere a possible explanation in reports on new North Korean support for Russia, both troops and missiles. It suggests that even though Russia is reported to build ballistic missiles at a fast pace, stocks may not be sufficient to try to overwhelm Ukraine and its people. Kyiv, meanwhile, has scored another hit on a oil and gas refinery complex deep inside Russia. The more damage to the Kremlin's war economy, the better the chance the president's position gets undermined. In the half-hour on the shady side at Møs, much evidence of the return to town of students (appearing anxious, and for some reason generally dressed in white).

August 9, 2026

Sunday. Left at 10:10. Blacksmith. Warm, sunny, with some thin, stretched-out white clouds to the south. Very little wind. City very quiet, and so were Groenekan--by way of Hooge Kampse Plas--and Maartensdijk. Cyclists in Lage Vuursche, still not fully open. The air was dusty on the roadway due to the gravel riders alongside it. Soestdijk and the Eng. Some corn looking well, another patch where it seemed stunted. To Soester Hoogt, where near the top the turn has been adjusted, probably to slow down descenders from the other side before they reach the roadway. Around Soesterberg to Schaerweijde; around Zeist toward De Bilt and Møs. Yesterday's paper reporting additional information on Ukraine's strikes on Russia's Wildberries warehouses: not only does the on-line retailer have a separate section with military hardware in support of the war, they also owe a lot of money to a big Russian bank that itself is in trouble. If Wildberries can't meet its financial obligations, that bank may get into trouble, causing a wider financial crisis which for its part would make it harder for the Kremlin to finance its war. What we have (had) now is what you could call "total war": strategies going well beyond the military battlefield and targeting the opposing society's ability to sustain the war effort. Russia has attacked Ukraine's civilian infrastructure since it failed to accomplish a quick break-through in 2023, but Ukraine in the past year or two increasingly has taken the war to Russian society too. Also, where the Kremlin has tried to shield ordinary Russians from a full mobilization, so Ukraine's Western friends have mostly tried to tell themselves that they're not really in this war, in spite of many pledges, and evidence, of support. The Russian president may soon have to face the music at home for pretending there isn't a war going on, but Western governments should already feel very uneasy about the slow pace with which they have tried to increase their production of missiles, anti-ballistic missile systems, and other military hardware. Western leaders are already in trouble for the way they have pretended to their constituents that Ukraine's war in the end isn't really ours, because it is. The unease could soon turn into regret, even shame, and it would all be earned. On the shady side at Møs, a person found it necessary to conduct an on-screen, speaker-phone conversation for fifteen or so minutes. Why not, since we were the only two people there? As that very important conversation continued, the last bit of the paper, AD, on the sunny side of the building (four cars ignoring the do-not-enter sign in fifteen minutes). Letters to the editor on the special subject of the heat this year. It may not have been a representative sample, but maybe it was: what's the problem with nice, warm weather? So much better than rain and gray skies. In a month or so, we'll be back enduring those conditions. There's climate change and such, but I'll be gone by the time that becomes a real problem. And so on. Presumably, these letter writers occasionally look at their paper and what it reports on some of the other effects of all this pleasant weather. But maybe not. It's much easier to ignore news you can't use--until that news stops ignoring you.

August 8, 2026

Saturday. Left a little before 10:30. Blacksmith. Clear skies, a white smudge here and there. Warm. Light, apparently shifting winds. The usual Saturday traffic in town. Vecht westside; pleasure boat traffic, out-to-lunch fatbiker. Op Buuren, and a little impatient coming off the Oostwaarderbrug. Then Zuilense brug and Maarssenbroek. Haarrijnse plas and Rijneveldsche Boschpad. Past Gieltjesdorp toward the nature trail to Laag Nieuwkoop. Grass has been cut everywhere, in places perhaps earlier than normal, for example the west end of Gerverscop. Bike path to Woerden, then Cattenbroek, very peacful. Enough time to notice the partly-hidden, huge barns of the dairy producers. Achthoven to IJsseldijk and Meerlobrug. From the Nedereindseweg a farmer visible with his tractor, running a pump to spray water over his land. The water was black. Racers making the turn to Nedereindse Berg. Merwedekanaal back into town. Out-to-lunch fatbiker. Everything normal, except for the drought.