Toady's ride was no frills - the weather was forecast to turn from dry to drizzle to light rain to steady rain, so the faster I could get to Zwolle the better. My Hotel checkin opened at 2pm and I was there at 2:05 !
Groenlo centre is very small with a couple of churches and about 8 bar / restaurants, it's very neat and pretty so I took a few pictures before heading off. After only 6 miles at Beltrum I passed a Tortoise and the a ring of hares statue by a church so another quick photo opportunity, By 10 miles the light drizzle started and gradually set in for the rest of the ride. I cycled through quintessentailly dutch towns which all had great off road cycle paths between them - Borculo, Lochem, Bathmen, Heeten, Rallte and Heino before following the canal into Zwolle.
And yes there really is a town called Bathmen !
The trees were autumnal and the paths were strewn with slippery leaves so care was needed when cornering.
With 9 miles to go the highlight of my day when cycling alongside a dyke a Kingfisher flew out and flew in front of me for about 10 yards with that fantastic electric blue flash.
As I approached Zwolle the canal filled up with Boat Houses and I had to take a photo of 1 in particular, it was old and looked like a Mississippi paddle steamer with a big paddle wheel on the side, but on the top there was what I can only describe as a Chinese Pagoda - Louisianna meets Shanghai !
The centre of Zwolle is nice with multiple canals converging and surrounding the centre on all sides - there were town walls and multiple barges, I paused momentarily before doing the last 88 yards to my hotel where I arroved only moderately wet and cold. So hopefully I will start to shake off thos cold soon.