September 23, 2008

In the most Northeastern area of Holland are some sand islands, created by the ocean currents of the North Sea. The farthest island to the East is Schiermonnikoog (a real mouthful to say!!!!), a nature preserve which is a National Park. The island can only be reached by ferry in a circuitous route through the sandbars between the mainland and the island.
It was rainy and windy (and Marcia says it was cold!) that day. That did not stop us (Ilona and her parents, Wim and Rika, Marcia and Mike) from taking a bicycle tour of the island.
These bicycles also include an electric motor in the rear wheel hub. The Lithium-Ion Batteries are in the frame.

Along the north shore of the island is the broadest beach in Europe. It almost looks, here, like a wintery, snowy day in Northern Iowa (Marcia even suggests the Arctic Circle.). We are walking toward the North Sea, about 100 yards from where this picture is taken. The wind whips the sand into small and large dunes.

This is a picture of the power of the wind and waves from the North Sea.

Although windy and rainy, it was an enjoyable adventure. We got wet, we dried, we laughed a lot.
We finished the day at one of the restuarants (pizza anyone?) in the small village on the island.