The Most Dutch of Days

It's been hot here in the Netherlands - getting into the low 30s (the high 80s / low 90s).  It may not seem too hot to you, but in the Netherlands, it's humid and there is no air conditioning, which means that sometimes inside the house is hotter than outside.  And there is no relief, not even at night, when temperatures inside the house raise to 32 and won't go down for days.

On one of these hot days, we decided to get out of the city, actually looking for wind (in the form of a nice breeze from the North Sea) by taking out bikes and going on a bike ride that almost reached the North Sea.

Bram, with friends Ivona and Harish, as we just begin the trek.

As we head out, we realize that this will be the most Dutch of rides, as we head out along a narrow path along one of the major canals, typically used to bring cargo in from the sea.

A cargo ship.

Then turning north, heading along yet another canal.

Check out the sign... cows ahead.

Let's just say the sign did not disappoint.

Which later led to this awesome picture - can this get more Dutch?

Local wildlife.

Finally, we reach the location of our lunch - placed near another windmill!

View from the windmill, over a bridge that crosses the canal, that works via cantilever.

Bridge rising.

Bram ordered a "salad".  It was mostly meat.

Back on the bike ride, Harish and Bram talk while biking.

And I take pictures while biking!  Haha!

Trees along a road.

A field of anti-Bram.

We reach a cute, tiny town, that is having its market day.

Even the trees are happy here.

More wildlife, this time in action!

Turning back to Groningen.

We took this ride on the Forth of July.  And who else did we run into but the Statue of Liberty!  What?  That's crazy!  A statue of Liberty in the middle of the Dutch countryside!!!

And other less patriotic statues...