Day 29, September 21

Day 29, September 21, 2012, Hedel to Utrecht, 41 miles, total mileage 911.7

Happy Autumn.  Another cool enough to need our gloves kind of day.  Once again we opted for the Fietsroutenetwerk.  Cycling from one knooppunt to another meant a scenic, meandering ride.

 Today turned out to be one for the domestic and wildlife.  Or course we saw the sheep, various breeds of cattle both dairy and dinner, goats, chickens and a few pigs.  This pair of black swans were quite unexpected.  While we were looking at them, they were inspecting us!

While traveling from one knooppunt to another, there are signs on the side of the path.  Unfortunately, by the end of the summer, many of the lower signs are covered by foliage.  It just adds to the adventure!

 These tree lined lanes never cease to bring us joy.  It is such a pleasure to ride down them.  Even when the air was full of the scent (odor) of commercially grown mushrooms, it was still a delight to be there.

On our ride we passed the Fort bij de Nieuw Steeg.  This school group left the fort shortly after we did.  There were teachers in the front and back of the group.  Everyone just pedaled back to school.  Can't imagine this happening at home.

 Yesterday we saw a stork's nest.  Today we got to see some white storks.  This field full of livestock was also full of birds.  Seeing the storks was very unexpected.

As Paul stepped back to take a picture of the storks, he looked down.  Good thing because this fellow was in the grass at his feet.

 Just can't get enough of these traffic-free lanes.  There were small canals of water on each side of the lane.  Then the fields seem to go on forever.  It is great riding.

Along the side of one of the canals, we spied this huge rabbit.  At first we thought it was an abandoned stuffed animal and then its nose moved.  Surprise!

Once again we had to take the ferry across the Lek River.  A quick ride and we were on the last leg of our day's ride.  We traveled along various canals-the kinds big enough to hold cargo barges-until we arrived in outskirts of Utrecht.  We are settled into our hotel and tomorrow we will visit the city.