Wyk aan Zee

Thank you, Piet and Lidy, for a lovely dinner and evening of conversation. It was really fun to meet you at last.

After a great stay at the Duin and Kruitberg we left the hotel at around 9 am and quickly found the route back. But it did not take long before we were baffled by having to cross rail road tracks that weren't there anymore. By the way, the map book dates from 2013. So not that old. We put our heads together and figured it out quite quickly. No more issues like that, mercifully, for the rest of the day.

Very soon, this morning, we had an enjoyable route through lovely forests and past stately old homes. Lots of variety so the time passed quickly. Soon we arrived at the ferry that took us across the (I have to get the book to look this up) Binnentoeleidings Kanaal. We were in the industrial heart of Holland. Near by was a paper factory but dominating everything is the huge steel plant. Somehow, the route managed to shield most of it from us by taking us through a green belt.

We really lucked out at lunch time with a cafe in a stately old house that is now museum and eatery. We sat outside on a terrace and had fresh, crusty bread "belegt" with old Dutch (of course) cheese. Very tasty!

While munching on that I looked at the map and noticed that we were passing close by the cemetery "Duinrust". We were in Beverwyk at this point. In fact, the cemetery is mentioned on the map. My brother Peter went there in April to visit our grandparents' grave, on my dad's side. So Jeff and I thought we would try to find this. With Peter's good instructions we quickly found it. I was surprised how it affected me. I felt a little ill. And I was born long after they died so I never knew them. Their daughter, my aunt, is buried with them. 

By this time we were not far from Wyk aan Zee, our home for two nights. I used to holiday here as a young girl. There are huge changes since then. To the left there is the steel plant (you can almost touch it) and out at sea are windmills and an oil rig. However, the place is still small and quaint with a beautiful beach.

Our hotel is the Hoge Duin and they are NOT kidding. It was a big climb to get to the entrance and then up three sets of stairs to the reception. Luckily we are fit, or will be. 

We have a lovely room overlooking the sea. There is a small balcony where our laundry is drying, discretely. I don't hang my undies over the railing, don't worry.

17 km today and 24,000 steps. Tomorrow we will explore Wyk aan Zee without walking too much!