Maps!

Several awesome things about today: First, after a 15-mile morning ride, we happened upon a shady spot in a campground on a lake and spent the afternoon staying cool.

Temperatures peaked at 103 degrees.

Second, Dave and Ruby scooted into town for supplies around 3 pm and came back with a set of maps and a booklet (in German, but oh well) for the Maas Route. This is so fantastic I could squeal. It means we can follow the bike paths all the way to the sea. No more riding along highways because we don’t know the area. No more depending only on GPS ladies to pick out a route.

The Dutch have a very sophisticated method of numbering their many bike paths, and now we have the tools (theoretically, anyway) to decode the system.

The kids had fun playing in the sand this afternoon and just chilling and being off the bikes. The water in the lake (former quarry) felt heavenly.

Let’s hope the breeze picks up so we can sleep. Tomorrow’s ride will be about 20 miles (Roermond to Venlo). We plan to leave early and get all our riding done before lunch.

— Liv