Day 2, Thursday May 6th,2010, Ommen – Lemelerveld
Distance:25½ km
Weather: sunny, cool
Camp site: Nature camp De Rietkraag, Lemelerveld
Route:
Ommen, the Sahara (!), over the Lemelerberg*, Lemele, Lemelerveld
( * Lemelerberg: Berg = mountain, in Holland usually only a hill!)
Last night we already chose the camp site for today: De Rietkraag in Lemelerveld. This was a considered choice, as the forecast for later this afternoon was rain. The site is not far and appears to have provision for bad weather. It is always a surprise as to what this means: a lean-to or a shed ... We’ll see!
This is what Erwin had been looking forward to: cycling (or rather: mountain biking) through the Sahara, a large sand drift near Ommen. We took his luggage off, just in case...
We cycle on towards the Lemelerberg. Then I ask him a rather silly question: “Do you want to go round the hill or over it?”
Over it, of course!
So we do. First lengthwise and then across it.
When we have negotiated the hill lengthwise (we both found it wasn’t as bad as we thought), we do it again, this time across, towards Lemele. But wow ... this way is much steeper. We both do our best and after a stiff climb we reach the top. Here, very handy, is an ice-cream man. We park our bikes and treat ourselves to an ice-cream. We’ve deserved it, haven’t we?
While sitting on the bench, we see lots of bicycle racers going past. That’s cool. But we think we’re really much cooler. We had many more kilos to haul up the mountain!
We reach the camp site around two o’clock. And it is much nicer than the previous one! The provision for bad weather turns out to be “De Beste Kamer” (= "The Front Room"), literally a room in the camp building. It has a kitchen, a wood stove, a table and chairs and a cupboard full of books and games. The owner told us she took over the idea from Scandinavian sites. Well, the rain may come now!
But perhaps better not right now, as we must first put the tent up and clear everything up. As far as the latter is concerned, I can learn something from Erwin, as I’m not nearly as neat as he is.
And then we go and explore.
Our spot on the campers’ field of Nature camp De Rietkraag with a sand pit and a pets' corner
One can use the rowing boat and canoe here. As it is still good weather, we decide to do that immediately. First the rowing boat. Although I showed Erwin the basics of holiday cycling, he can teach me to row! I am much less experienced. It takes time before I gather how to keep the boat going in a straight line. (Erwin is on the left and I’m on the right and we both have an oar). Erwin suggests we go under the bridge and onto the canal.
But then...
“Eh, Erwin, shall we go back?”
“Already? We’re just starting”.
“I know, but my arms won’t work anymore”.
A deep sigh ... (We’ve only rowed some 20 metres!).
“O.K. I know,” Erwin suggests, “We’ll go back and then I’ll go alone in the canoe”. I think that’s a good idea, of course.
We turn round and row back. That’s a lot easier as we have a following wind.
And now the canoe! That’s a lot better for both of us: me on the bank and Erwin on the water.
It’s still dry, but we decide to be on the safe side and go and cook in De Beste Kamer. Correction: Erwin is going to cook. The menu is: fried potatoes, a salad and sausages.
Now I know what I always miss, cycling on my own: a cook! And lo and behold! ... How about this culinary tour de force?
Luckily there are children here and after supper Erwin plays for a bit with a girl, camping here with her father. I sit in De Beste Kamer and plan the route we shall cycle tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the last day already! Actually, we’d both like another day but bad weather is forecast and it will be nice to be home again. We’ll go a roundabout route as we want to have cycled more than 100 kilometres!
