Bergen op Zoom, last day in Holland

We are laying over today, a day ahead of schedule. Because of the holiday and the changes in the route, we took a taxi from our off route destination in Zierikzee to the real GR 5 at Sint Phillipsland. Then we hiked to Halsteren where the hotel was full. The manager was very nice and looked for a place for us while we had a beer in the bar and watched the goings on, which included young waitresses giggling and playing at their work and a 60th wedding anniversary party. A hotel was found just outside the old town of Bergin op Zoom. As it had been a hot hike, probably 23 degrees, we took a taxi to the Golden Tulip Park Hotel.

So, now we have traveled most of the way through the Netherlands in unusually beautiful weather. We have wlked 112 km, which which because of the change in the trails is about 4 km less than what we had planned. And we are a day ahead of our itinerary.

The walking from Renesse to Zierikzee was mostly along the dike looking out at the Hammen Bay. We are the only walkers among many cyclist, most of which are either family groups or people of our age or older, although we see an occasional group on a training ride. The approach to Zierikzee is along a canal with a line of sail boats headed to the town's haven (harbor). The entry is through the old town wall next to a windmill and then along the quay. The old town is typical 17th and 18th century along winding narrow cobbled streets. If they have gardens they are in the back of the houses, so the front windows are perfectly clean and are filled with sculpures, flowers, family heirlooms, paintings, in front of carefully decorated
living rooms. Our hotel and the restaurant on the town square, picked because it looked the most Dutch to us, were both owned by the same Chinese family, that has been in town for over 30 years.

The walk yesterday was along canals and through the countryside. The canals are full of ships, pleasure boats, and barges. The trails quiet and teeming with cyclists. We are learning not to pass by a cafe by without stopping. So we had lunch of mushroom omelet and eel sandwich along with our favorite Herzog Jan pilsner outdoors at the cafe (thinking of Tom and Cindy) in Nieu Vossemeere along the way.

Today we are washing clothes and resting. I am avoiding the washing pretty well by navigating around this TV based computer system (6 euros per day) that I have not been able to figure out for email yet and am hoping will actually post to the blog! Will go into the old city and see the sites this afternoon. All of the shops will be closed today because of Pentecost, but the weather is sunny and warm. A good day for strollig through the parks and labarynth of streets in the old town.