Last day here in the Dutch South and in some sort of irony the weather feels like summer for the first time but I'm not gonna be here long enough to enjoy it as I have my bike loaded ready to leave. My dear diabetic companion ill stay home of course and as far as I can tell he doesn't bother that much about my departure, despite the great times we shared:
As my days are coming closer to an end here in the Netherlands I'm thinking how different the weather is this year compared to the last one when I was here exactly at the same time. I mean, I didn't expect a Mediterranean summer either time but at least last year there was some sort of summer, despite the breaks of winter. This year is just a random mix of all seasons. Literally, as long as Dutch winter is excluded. As I'm typing these words it's 10:00 am but there's absolutely no sun at all and I am wearing my brand new leather pants indoors, not only without sweating but feeling like that's proper stuff for this weather.
How many times have I commented on the weather? One too many already right? Apologies from a spoiled Mediterranean, your truly. However, it's impressive to see how the mood of all beings on earth is dictated at a certain degree from the weather.
Nice days oblige you to "Carpe Diem" here at the European North since weather is far from friendly and predictable. So, on this promising morning I decide to ride from Heeze to Tilburg here in Netherlands aiming to visit Oisterwijk Park first and then the mega store of Louis in Tilburg to do some motorcycle related shopping.
As I am enjoying riding on a nice day through some lovely neighbourhoods, after some km on the highway I meet a heavy jam. Not sure how policed (or punished) is filtering the traffic on a bike I use all my patience and just wait behind the cars hoping it's not gonna last that long. However, it seems to last forever and I'm often just sitting idle. No bikers around me at all to see how locals behave in such conditions and I don't want to be the ass acting out of local habits. Despite me being much more travelled than the vast majority of bikers I still act this way and no regrets so far. It's as simple as respecting a house that hosts you. Two bikers appear later and as soon as they start filtering the insane traffic I follow them and at some point I overtake them as the situation feels like it would eat up my whole day. Wondering how come and what is this craziness all about I get my answer as I witness this scene:
Just like the same time last year at this place South of Eindhoven in Netherlands, I am taking care of 3 sweet ladies which generously provide me their fresher than fresh eggs on a daily basis. Ladies and gents, put your hands together please for Tina, Truitje and Roosje:
This picture is a little rough cause it's hard to find them all together. Usually it's the two younger brown ones together,
Mainly cause it gives you the chance to live the way you audibly want while if you live in noise that's it - you have no choice. Democratic as I am, I love peaceful neighbourhoods cause they give you choices contrary to the fascistic noisy ones. Now go explain this to the wanker with a loud bike...
Here at Heeze in Netherlands peace 'n quiet is far from rare so imagine how a Sunday morning feels like. Do you want me to walk you around these empty streets?
And that place is Heeze, South of Eindhoven. Those who follow me might remember that I was here last year same time, looking after the house of my (now good) friends and here I am for the same reason again (here's a link in case you're interested).
The star of the place is what I call "the mischievous King of Heeze" AKA Arie, the diabetic old cat:
"If you don't cycle while in Netherlands then you never will" (Orestis, 2022)
Lovely day for an activity like this so this time I explore the area South East of Heeze to see what is what. Soon I find myself leaving behind the local cute house and cycle in the woods where I find these lovely peaceful donkeys:
The route through the trees is amazing as these tall guys keep you under their shade through the whole trail.
At the end of it I find myself in this soothing open space:
Behind me you can see the trail that led me to this point:
It's such a nice route passing by those corn fields:
Obviously as you can see I don't have the proper bike for such stuff but that's definition of "1st world problem". Same goes for the following dilemma:
Left or right?
The tent you see in the following image is where one of the local groups prepares their own stuff for the upcoming "Brabantse dag":
(Read part 3 about it or google it. Google knows it all😉)
As a bonus I got a scenic sky overlooking the local beauty:
The area around the local sports club looked like a dessert after a nice lunch:
At the break of rain and free of garden/animal commitments I grab the chance to visit the local windmill. Yes, that guy pictured above.
From this angle it looks like a cartoon with open arms:
Or is my imagination rather stretched?
In any case that's a rather old thing, dating back in 1852, renovated in 1983. Today it mills flour for the local bakeries but also sells to individuals and if you're lucky to find the guys who run this at a non busy time they'll show you around.
No I do so but only from the outside as I am here at non working hours:
If it was open and running you'd see its blue flag in the above picture. How cool!
Entrance:
It's all Dutch to me:
A few more shots as I try to walk around it:
Apart from the windmill I must say that this neighbourhood is no exception to the cuteness of the whole settlement here.
Have a look:
Hard to miss Green in Netherlands, whether it's on trees or grass:
Even the way out of Heeze is so sweet:
The weather looks rather moody though:
Here's a distant shot of the windmill to have a sense of its size compared to the rest of the buildings around:
On my way I find the cutest gardening of all:
How cool is to wake up daily to that view?
Not so envious though myself as back home I have a generous garden that offers me daily stuff like this,
and as generous chickens providing me eggs for dishes like this:
What a lovely seen to wake up in the view of the above rose lying on the lawn. Not that the king of Heeze doesn't beautify the same lawn as well:
It's a sunny yet cold morning flirting with 10C but I can't resist the pool anymore so I decide to jump in the water. The result of this idea is obvious by looking at my nipples😅
As the day gets better a walk around looks like an even better idea.
Cuteness goes on:
I decide later that I deserve a nice lunch so I treat myself accordingly as a cook:
It's interesting to see how a different oven can make the same food made by the same hands taste so differently. Especially the skin. Loved it.
You should be asking me how come I haven't shared cycling details as I am already several days over Dutch soil.
Well, finally time to cycle:
I am starting from Heeze heading East all the way through the forest.
And I love it!
Is this how they do the bins in Netherlands? Cool!
Beef meeting on the way:
Cycling back through the forest again:
A superb house I saw on my way back:
Dead tree still standing among its younger comrades:
