2024 Amsterdam Bike and Barge Trip - Lakeshore Ski and Sports Club

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2024 Amsterdam to Bruges Bike and Barge - Wednesday, September 18 - Thursday, September 26

2024 Bike and Barge

A wonderful time was had by our group of 19 attendees on the Bike and Barge trip from Amsterdam Netherlands to Bruges Belgium. We started with a night at the NH Amsterdam Caransa Hotel in the heart of the city, giving everyone a chance to wander the streets, take canal cruises, or visit museums before boarding the Liza Marleen barge on the 19th and settling in our quarters. Early the next morning we tried out our bikes and e-bikes, making changes here and there, fitting seats, getting comfortable. Then we were off on a very busy canal to our first landing and 27-mile bike ride through lovely country to Gouda, stopping at Schoonhaven for lunch and a tour of the river town, then getting a tour of Gouda with our wonderful trip guide Annita.

On Saturday we were off at 9:00 am biking from Gouda to Dordrecht, another 27-mile journey, with a fast ferry across the Lek River and working windmills at Kinderdijk.

We biked Sunday from Dordrecht to the historic town of Willemstad to Zierikzee, saw picturesque streets with splendid houses, town gates, and a large port once used by the East India Company in Zierikzee.

On Monday we were off to Wilhelminadorp, biking almost 39 miles along the dikes (climbing up, racing down) with tough headwinds.

Tuesday brought us to Ghent, Belgium. On the way had a few Brand beers at Biervliet, saw lots of sheep too! we only went 25 miles that day. We toured the city of Ghent the next day then took off for Bruges, our last stop after a tough 35 miles with some rain and winds.

A grand celebration was held on the Liza Marleen with champagne and a fine meal, lots of toasts to our Captain Frank, our chef Paula, our mate Marcel, and our wonderful tour guide Annita. It was a delightful fare thee well!

--Rebecca Gilman
Trip Leader