A Poppy Show
Netherlands (Friesland): Stage 09 Delfzijl to Winschoten 55 Km (Thu 20 July 2023)
Weather: 10⁰C min – 20⁰C max, fine after a shower of rain
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop” ~ Confucius
Breakfast at Rita’s B&B this morning was amazing. She is one of those super hosts who take great care to ensure her guests have a pleasant stay. She calls he place her palace, which indeed it is, adorned with mainly African artifacts from her native Nigeria. I would recommend the palace if you want an enjoyable and interesting stay in Delfzijl.
The rainbow 🌈 and dark clouds ☁️ in the sky when I set off this morning were ominous, but I didn’t allow the heavy shower of rain that soon followed dampen my enthusiasm.
As usual Kustroute (LF-K route) provided excellent care-free riding. For much of the journey I cruised along on a smooth path beside a levy bank, the only hazard being the flocks of sheep I had to navigate through. Care had to be taken to avoid the sheep droppings that covered the path in places, no doubt part of their campaign to deter cyclists!
To my delight I passed by an amazing field of red poppies, my favourite flower. This was the highlight of my day! 🙂
At the 40 km mark I came to a town called Bad Nieuweschans, which should be renamed Good Nieuweschans because I was able to get a good cappuccino at the coffee shop attached to the Co-Op.
Before I knew it I had arrived at Winschoten, a town in the province of Groningen in the northeastern part of the Netherlands. It is located near the German border and has a population of approximately 18,000 people. Winschoten has a rich history, with evidence of human settlements dating back to the prehistoric era. It was granted city rights in the 14th century and was an important centre of trade and commerce during the Middle Ages. Today, Winschoten is known for its historic buildings, charming city centre, and cultural events, including an annual flower parade and a music festival called Rozenfestival.
Wow – Rita’s B&B does look interesting! Glad you had a good stay there. Nice to see some tractors and cows mixed in with the sheep. The poppy field is AMAZING!
Bovine and ovine for a nice change. I stayed for ages just gazing at the sea of red poppies.