Yes, I am in the Netherlands

Windmills, windmills everywhere!  Yes, those blades are turning today and creating free energy.  I love sustainability.  I'm a green dog, you know!

And on the Back Side

This wheel on the back of the windmill is for turning the blades to catch the wind as it changes direction.   It's like the wheel on a ship that turns the rudder which turns the boat.  

The Lowlands

This sweet, stone cottage along the canal is typical of many of the homes that line the waterways near the ocean in Holland. This country is right at sea level so the land is covered with canals. Did you notice the climbing roses! Take a whiff.

A Closer Look

Dutch houses are very solid, the roofs are very steep, and the walls are thick.  It gets pretty cold here in the winter.  Read the story, HANS BRINKER AND THE SILVER SKATES, and you will know just how freezing it gets in the Netherlands.

Uh, Oh!

Do you see how close the road is to the canal?  Yikes!  What happens when it rains?

Got Fish?

When you live on the sea, you eat a lot of fish.  This fishmonger didn't talk me into eating any on his herring.  I just shook my head and wrinkled my nose and very politely said, "No, thank you, I'm partial to dog biscuits."

Go Green, Ride Your Bike!

I am going to encourage my friends back in Hawaii to ride their bikes more and take lessons from the Dutch.  I want everyone's carbon footprint to lessen.  What's good for me and my heart is good for the planet.

Grrrrrrr

This is the coat of arms for the City of Leiden in the Netherlands.  Can you find anymore about it?  I searched and searched, but I can't read Dutch.

Dum, Dum, Da, Dum

I almost got swept away on this wonderfully-decorated bike, but then I remembered, those wedding bells weren't ringing for me!  Bye, bye Leiden.

How Do You Say, "Welcome" in Dutch?

This is a surf village in the Netherlands in the beachtown of Scheveningen.  It's open to surfers from all over Europe.  Welcome.

Here We Go....We Are Here!

This is the layout of the surf camp.  Let's explore further. 

Come along....And it's okay if you only speak English.

Looks Pretty Comfy!

So, if you arrive at the F.A.S.T. surf camp and need to rent a bed, here it is.  This site is city property turned summer destination for wave riders. 

Or You Could Rent a Surf Shack

There were many living situations at F.A.S.T. surf camp.  Many wave riders drove their vans down to Scheveningen, near The Hague, as this village and former fishing center, has the best surf on the coast of the Netherlands.

Close Quarters

Doesn't this look like fun!  It's pretty tight, but all I talked to were enjoying their stay and happy with the way the surf camp was being run.

The Campsite Includes a Restaurant

Up on the hill, oppposite the beach, was a warm and welcoming cafe in the surf village.  I had hot tea, and you really needed to be drinking something hot because even though it was summer, there was a chill in the air.

Yes, Very Inviting

What I love most about traveling around the world is making new friends and the F.A.S.T. surf campsite was a perfect spot for that.  Sipping hot tea in the warm afternoon sun with fellow surfers was heavenly.  Those who ride waves in their own country and around the world are so excited when I tell them I'm from Sunset Beach.

...And for Some Exercise in the Sand

Yes, a huge volleyball court for all the visiting boardriders and windsurfers at the F.A.S.T. surf camp.

Project Leader

This is Johnny who created the F.A.S.T surf camp on city property.  The land, next to the best surf spot in the Netherlands, wasn't being used so he proposed a temporary site for camping.  The government agreed and presto changeo!   How cool. 

Friends Are Everything

I am treated so well by friends and strangers when I travel.  Maybe it's my good looks or maybe it's my soft fur, but, most likely, it's my friendly attitude.  Simon and his two dogs led me to this campsite so I could learn more about their surfing village.  Now, that's a good friend.

As I've Said Before, Catch a Wave and You're.....

This wave is an art piece created from beach litter. 
Protect the sea, the ocean, and the river wherever you travel. 
Take good care of the Earth and take a bag to the shore and pick up what shouldn't be there and dispose of it at home.