Fully packed the bike stands at the road. It's not even 7:00. I lead my parents to the main road where our ways split again. From there on I take the way I used to take every sunday to get to the meeting point of the Huneliggers sunday trip. In the evening before I asked Peter from Assen if he wants to join me for a few kilometres. So now I cycle to the meeting point, along the Groene Dijk. The weather is not the best, grey with some drizzle. Therefore and surely because it's a weekday, too, only a few cyclists are on my way, most of them at a slightly lower cruising speed. Shortly before the meeting point with Peter I notice an upright cyclist in my mirror who comes closer and closer. When he has almost reached me I recognise him. It's David who I learnt to know two days before during the Huneliggers sunday trip. In the same moment Peter appears in front of me and suddenly there's a meeting of three recumbent cyclists. Nice coincidence.Together with Peter I continue along the N371 which follows a channel all the way to Meppel. A few kilometers before Meppel we have a break. Until there we still have the grey sky, drizzle in various intensities and headwind. I see, this region doesn't want to let me go.
Peter decides to return home after the break. Me too, although the difference is that for the time of these vacations I consider the road as home. I keep on enlarging the distance to the town that I learnt to value and love during the past half year. Through Meppel and along the railway line to Zwolle.
A trip from Groningen to Zwolle was one of my first longer distances I cycled on my Flevobike when I came to the Netherlands. I had to manage some paperwork there and decided to take the bicycle instead of the train. It's approximately 100km to there. At that time I returned to Groningen again on the same day and had made a day trip of more than 200km.
This time I continue southwards. In order to not have to follow the main road I try to find the Apeldoorns Kanaal, a channel that starts in Hattem, runs through Apeldoorn which gives it the name, to Dieren. It was finished in 1868 for supporting the economical development of Apeldoorn and should give an alternative to the route via the river IJssel. Nowadays you don't see any ship on this channel anymore. But as one of the information boards next to the cycle path said: It's still nice. And this is absolutely right. With its reeds swayed by the (head-)wind and the still grey sky it gives the right mood for falling into thoughts while monotonously cycling. At this point I've already cycled through and in the Dutch provinces Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel and Gelderland. When I reach Apeldoorn I feel hungry. Therefore I try to get into the centre of the town to get me some food. The centre is totally different from the town centre of Groningen. It's not as wide, worse for cycling and the average age might be the same but composed by more older and younger people. But errr... I wanted to get me some food. I decide for some "patat", potato chips thus.
Afterwards I try to get out of the town. Navigating in a city without the help of the sun is more difficult than one could imagine. So I do some extra kilometres in the peripherals of Apeldoorn until I manage to find the channel again. Some kilometres south of Apeldoorn I find a camping site next to the Apeldoorns Kanaal near the village Hall. It is quiet, clean and offers much space. Even a roof for the bike can be found. But it's post season, it would be nice to meet other (cycling) people at the camping. But no, it's only a place to stay for the night.