Day 1 - Sponsored by Tanja and Tessel Jarigsma


The 2010 tour de water is finally here and started this morning as planned at eight in the morning from the city of Lisse, known for it's tulip gardens and nearby Keukenhof. It was a special departure for me, with three generations in tow. My 88 year old dad leading the pack, me sandwiched in the middle and my niece Tanja following close behind. We tracked along a country road and before long rain was pouring down our faces. A blessing from the sky perhaps, since it is after all a Tour-de-Water. "Water is leven. Vertel het verder!" Water is life. Pass it on!

This first cycling day traveled north, across the Noth Sea canal locks through the beautiful city of Alkmaar, famous for it's cheese market, and onward to Broek op Lange Dijk our final destination for the night. In this quaint village in the middle of Noord Holland we were hosted by Jos and Maria, friends I found on the warmshowers website. Their hospitality was over and beyond expectations. Besides a hot shower, a healthy organic meal complete with wine and herbal tea, they took us on a late evening boat ride through the Oosterheem zorgtuinderij where Jos was enthrusted with the cultivation of organic vegatables on several islands, only reachable by boat. These wetlands are a waterfowl and bird watching paradise.

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