Tarquin's cycling pages

29 July 2008 - Ameland Loop

WhereAmeland Loop
(Netherlands)
Date29 July 2008
Duration3 hours 45 minutes
Distance15.5 miles (~25 km)
WeatherOvercast with severe thunderstorms later
Trail conditionsTarmac and dirt track, dry at first
RiderAgeBike(s)
Anonymous Unknown Gazelle Orange
Anonymous (2) Unknown Gazelle Primeur
Anonymous (3) Unknown Gazelle Orange
Emily Watson 15 Gazelle Orange
Josie Wilton-Jones 6 Loekie Urban
Mark 'Tarquin' Wilton-Jones 28 Gazelle Primeur

Trip report

Description by Mark 'Tarquin' Wilton-Jones

This was a functional bike ride, to visit local sights. A lot of time was spent at each place, giving a total end-to-end time of 7 hours.

See pictureSee pictureThe ride begins at the bike rental, a short walk from the ferry, on the Frisian island of Ameland. We turn right onto the coastal dike, and follow the path beside farmland.

See pictureSee pictureReaching the dunes, we turn left, and continue into a town. After the town, we have to use the road for a while, before turning right towards a campsite. At the campsite, we turn right.

See pictureSee pictureThis takes us to the beach, where we stay for a while before turning left. This is the start of the dune dirt track path, and actually goes uphill for like 5 metres at a time. We follow this for the first section. After reaching some buildings, we swing left into the urbanised area.

See pictureSee pictureWe reach Buren, and follow some freaky path that I couldn't possibly remember again along town roads turning in random directions. After passing the Nes windmill, we reach another campsite, and turn left onto the continuation of the dune track. This part manages to go uphill twice as much, and downhill too. For a Dutch bike rider, this would be severe exertion. For a mountain biker it is a "huh?".

See pictureSee pictureIn sight of the lighthouse at the end of Ameland 8 KM away, we see the dark clouds, and with some concern for the smallest rider, we decide to call it quits, and aim back. We take a left, and follow a path that actually aims downhill. At one point, it even managed a single drop of 5 whole metres. Staggering.

See pictureSee pictureOn reaching a road, we turn left, and the rain begins. Raindrops get bigger and heavier with a strong side wind, and soon it is a fullblown thunderstorm, with lightning repeatedly flashing around, and hitting the mast ahead. Back at Ness, utterly soaked on one side, we have dinner, then head back to the ferry.

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