Bergen by bike

Biking isn’t the same to me as running, and I do miss my long runs outside. But when in Holland, bike. And I’m glad I finally got back on mine, literally. On a perfect autumn day, there is just something about free-wheeling along the tree lined lanes, wind in your hair, sunglasses on. Biking to and from school each day is so quick, just ten minutes. Five minutes on two wheels to the town. In Holland, where biking is more like a form of transport, its easy and safe.

When mum visited me two weekends ago, she rented a bike so we could go together. We were blessed with Indian-summer weather; low 20s in October. After breakfast watching robins flutter in the bushes of the garden and listening to birds singing, we headed off. On Saturday we biked through the woods; autumn sunshine filtering through the trees, golden leaves drifting to the floor around us. We stopped at the deer park, an adorable menagerie of deer, goats and ostrich. Not sure why its here, but its a cute addition to the town, and full of benches in the shade. We had a lot to sit and chat and catch up about after all…

On Sunday we pedalled toward Alkmaar, a route I’ve driven a few times, but very different when you bike. This was the typical Dutch landscape- sheep grazing, horses frolicking, and of course, lots of cows and an obligatory windmill. We stopped this time at a quiet spot surrounded by countryside, and watched Sunday cyclists and joggers pass, whilst chatting (some more).

Both days we sat outside in the garden for long, relaxing lunches in the sun, hardly believing this was the middle of October in North Holland. In the afternoon we would bike to the center of town, sit in an outdoor cafe, watch the world go by… very Dutch. And then chat some more, dinner outside till it was dark but still mild and little bats chased us inside- the good life, for sure.

Even if it hadn’t been such amazing weather, biking here is still the best way to get about. I love getting to and from school on two-wheels every day; there’s nothing quite like peddling off at the end of a long day, no traffic, down the leafy lanes. And having a paint box-bright red bike that everyone wants doesn’t hurt either…

The first two months in Bergen are up, and my first half term teaching! It sure flew by, almost as fast as me leaving school on a Friday on my bike… Enjoy the rest of the weekend xx