Walking in the Dunes...

After hashing along the antitank fortifications that were part of the Atlantic Wall, I was excited to share this unique feature in the Wassenaar dunes with Terri and Carlin in our first walk together in months.

They were also both surprised that they’d never been to this part of the dunes considering how many times they’d been to the area over the years. 

I was pleased that I managed to find the same spots that we’d hashed through, including where we spotted dozens of cormorants perched in the trees across one of the many freshwater reservoirs scattered throughout the dunes. 

We eventually made it to Katwijk, where we stopped at a beach café for a hot drink and apple pie before taking the main path back across the dunes to the car.

 

Bartender in Action...

Ashlynn was thrilled when a restaurant owner in the nearby town of Voorburg hired her to help them open up a terrace extension.  

I visited her there twice.

The first time she made me an amazing frozen strawberry margarita...

…and the next time Jimmy, Bjarne, Jim and I had a round of beers. Sadly, after she helped get the business up and running, they let her go since they could pay 16 years old less. She also worked a few shifts as a bartender at the beach, but that also didn’t lead to any consistent employment.

After deciding that there was no reason to stick around, Bjarne treated Ashlynn to a staycation in The Hague at the aptly named Hotel Corona...

…before she left for Germany with him yet again. 

 

Boaty McBoat Hash in Leiden...

That Sunday in early July, Opee and Boar Whore hared a combined FILTH H3 and Amsterdam H3 Boaty McBoat Hash in Leiden with Opee laying the trail and Boar Whore skippering the floating beer stop. An enthusiastic 20 hashers met outside the Duke of Oz Pub to wait for Boar Whore to arrive so we could drop off our bags before setting off on another great trail by Opee. 

I was especially impressed with this Dutch Polders Tulips Beer flavored by organic tulip bulbs at the first beer stop.  

Our next beer stop was along the main canal in the middle of the city, complete with the ability to buy ice cream. 

If you look carefully, you can spot Opee in his orange shirt as he set off in hopes that we wouldn’t spot him across the canal. 

Pink Panther, Hard Drive and Start Me Up hitched a ride for the next leg of the trail. 

We ended in the park across from where we keep the boat. Opee had to do extra down-downs for matching with his two adopted sons. 

It was great that Lockdown Shag could finally do his first non-lockdown hash with us. 

Afterwards, we went to Oudt Leyden, our favorite pannekoekenhuis (pancake house). 

The girls were thrilled to be able to get vegan pancakes. It was strange to realize that this was our first and only time that the six of us ate together in a restaurant. 

 

Bikes Spotted in Amsterdam...

I spotted a wide variety of interesting bikes, including this one with metallic pompoms... 

…this one that had clearly seen better days...

….and this one with coordinating purple tires and flowers. 

Much more elaborately decorated with flowers are the bikes left around the city by the Flower Bike Man, who believes that bikes and flowers can save the world. 

I know that I definitely smile whenever I spot another one of his rescued bikes creations.  

I especially like Take Time, covered in clocks and computer parts. 

  

Stedelijk + Rijksmuseum Museum...

I went to two museums that day: the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, contemporary art museum where I took a few funky shots...

...and the Rijksmuseum, where I only took photos from the outside. 

 

Spotted in Amsterdam...

I spotted a bunch of unusual and interesting things, including this X-rated Wonder Woman utility box...

…buildings reflected in these funky lamps...

…a sculpted tile on a building that said Together Strong...

…some fancy lions on the tax collector’s building from 1638...

…some anti-racism signs...

…a cupid carrying an Amsterdam sign...

…a sculpted face next to a bunch of flowers in a Corona...

…this pretty bird...

…and this funky checkered door.

I especially liked this house with three windows full of sayings: Travel to Explore, Not to Escape...

…Don’t tell me what you did, show me where you’re going...

…and Slow down, time will come. Slow down, walk the stairs with me so one day we can take the elevator.