Day 6, August 29, 2012 31.5 miles biking from Medemblik to Enkhuizen

This is the promised picture from yesterday.  We pedaled our way down this paved expanse that helps protect the dike from the Noordzee.
This morning at 6:30 Am the boat left Oudeschild and sailed for Medemblik on the shores of the IJsselmeer.  The trip involved passing through a lock which prevents the salt water from mixing with the sweet water (we call it freshwater). So we crossed the Barrier Dike and by 9:15 we were docked and ready to roll.

 At last the language barrier caught up with us and proved the saying that appearances can be deceiving.  We went to a bakery for a goodie.  Paul picked out two yummy looking goodies.  Alas, they were savory instead of sweet.  The goodies were quite delicious but not what we expected!

The air was heady with two predominant scents during the early part of our ride.  There was "dairy air" of both sheep and cows and then there was the cabbage.  It's harvesting time for the cabbage and these two trucks held heads of cabbage the size of basketballs!

 When we reached the village of Twisk, we saw the old train station.  Paul headed over to take some pictures and see what they had.  The stationmaster lives there and of course a conversation ensued.  The kind gentleman opened the station and showed Paul all their artifacts from a railroad that was completed in 1895.  He would have blown the whistle (that white pole in the foreground) but everyone would think that the train was coming.

 This is just a picture to let you know how delightful the scenery is on this trip.  The canal is beside the bike trail and there is greenness everywhere.

 We went off "trail"  and went to Pronkjewal Theetuin-a tea garden-outside of Oostwoud.  We had a lovely cup of tea and some appeltaart.  This was the best tart yet.  It was a sweet stop on a fun ride.

 Finally it was time to stop for a late lunch and at last we found the dike along the IJsselmeer.  We stopped at a beach and Paul wandered in.  The water was not very deep and there were kids playing out 200 yards on water up to their waists!

The top of the dike along the IJsselmeer was our road for the last ten miles of our ride.  Unfortunately the wind was in our face,but we still enjoyed the day.  Tonight a walking tour of Enkhuizen will end our day.