Day 4: August 27,2012 DUINES and DIJKS 
Alkmaar to Den Helder  37.3 miles   
This picture is of a canal in Alkmaar.  Paul took an evening tour with a group from the boat.  It was a perfect end to our third day of the tour.

 However, today was superb.  It was easily a top ten type of day.  The temperature was comfortably cool and the skies were blue.  There was so much variety in the scenery that it was like being in many different places.  On the other side of this flock of sheep is a small canal.  This is one of the well marked and paved bike trails.  As we started out, we passed many people on their way to work.

 Then suddenly we entered a wooded area and started uphill!  At one point we reached an elevation of 133ft!  There was even a snow tube hill in the middle of this area.  Heather grew everywhere in these woods.

 And then we were in the dunes.  We couldn't believe that a mere hour ago we were pedaling past canals and now there were hills and no water to be seen.  The trail meandered trhough the dunes bringing us closer to the sea.

 As we approached the sea, there was access to the ocean which included parking for bicycles.  We took advantage of the opportunity to see the North Sea up close.  Near this "parking" area, we had our morning coffee and cake.  The apple cake is delicious.

 Fortified by the goodies, we walked down to the water and put our feet in.  We expected the water to feel like Cape Cod at its coldest, but it was Jersey shore in July.  Not bad at all.

 Eventually, we left the ocean and were back  on a paved path.  The wind had changed during the night an it was at our back.  We just sailed along enjoying the ride.

 Then we had the opportunity to return to the dunes and we took it.  These dunes were sandier and there were fewer trees.  The wind remained at our back and the pedaling was sweet.

 This sand trap is for all of our golfing friends and relatives.  We did pass one golf course this morning, but we didn't have our clubs!

This was one of the coolest-top ten-things we did today.  There is a paved bike path right along the ocean.  There is a dike to the land side of this path.  Between the the tail wind and the pavement, it was a ride to remember.