Even though the weather wasn’t perfect yesterday we did get to ride on Kinderdijk and see the windmills built in the 1740s. It was very neat.
“Home Automation, 1740s Style”
We also rode through some stunning farm land, stopped at a dairy farm for lunch, and even bought some strawberries from an automat at an orchard.
My hip hurts a little today. I did it no favors by running back to the ship when it started raining on my post-dinner walk.
Today is the last riding day of the tour. Were this a driving trip I’d be returning home a few days early, but since I don’t want to pay airline change fees I will stick it out until Tuesday. I’m ready to return to my routines, knowing that they will be interrupted again almost immediately after I return to the US.
Destination: Amsterdam
I’ve learned some valuable lessons on this trip. Apparently I can no longer slather sunscreen on my arms when I ride in heat because it blocks the pores and causes me to get heat rash. I’ll be trying more lightweight arm sleeves next year.
I’ve also learned that I am not like most of the others on this trip and this environment is very hard for an introvert. Actually I knew this previously, but I guess I thought the riding would break down some of my social hurdles but it hasn’t.
And finally I learned that I packed too many shirts and not enough underwear. The dream of washing clothes in sinks never materialized.
Though I’ve no one but myself to blame, I’m feeling a little like a hog ready for slaughter.
Wordle: three, my starter was WEIRD
Connections: one mistake, X > Purple > Blue > Yellow > Green
Politics finally reared its ugly head in a conversation. Guess whose political ideas are vastly different from the well-to-do southerners on this cruise?
I moved away…
Wordle in 2! (That’s deuce duces in a row.)
Having only cruised a big ship (once), I can imagine how a small ship might be a challenge for un introverts. You do have your base of friends to rely on, so there is always that. As Debbie and I both know, we have limits to the amount of time we wish to spend on others’ company, and it’s no reflection on them, it’s just us realizing we have a limit. You certainly must as well.
The battle of the weed eater continues. Started and ran fine until it didn’t. Almost as if it gets hot and shuts itself off. Not sure I’ll solve this issue.
Shame about Wout van Aert crashing out- he was leading both sprint and climbing. A very rare combination. Ben O’Connor holds the leaders jersey, probably for the last day, by 5 seconds.
In the office to swap out that bad firewall.
-FP
Double deuce? *applause*
Having friends here is great, but they are much better at mingling than I am.
Work WITH that. Listen. Ask questions. Small steps.
As an introvert I would also have a hard time with it, but I also have zero problems staying in my room anytime I wasn’t riding. As I’ve been researching my river cruise for my 50th birthday it is really important that the boat is large enough so that we can be anonymous. Although, for those following along at home, I am now leaning towards a Mediterranean cruise instead of a river cruise because apparently for the last two years climate change has caused the rivers to be too low for boats and I’m seeing report after report of people having to get off the cruise and being bussed to their next destination. No thanks.
Last week I changed my return flight from Mexico in December and the changed flight was less than the original so I got $100 credit. But I don’t think I would mind a few extra days in Europe!
I’m probably staying, 2025 will be a domestic year for me.
The riding is over! We are in Amsterdam. Most of us spend the night on board, and leave tomorrow.
Yay! And what’s the plan for dinner? TONS of delicious places in Amsterdam.
Dinner was onboard. Tomorrow after breakfast we are on our own.