A Beautiful Day for Boating...

On Monday afternoon, we all went boating. 

Always love it when the sky is blue and the waters are still. 

Check out this funky old car!

It’s nice to see groups of Leiden University students setting up their own tables for group meals along the sides of the canals.

Always happy when we manage to get a family shot.

The backpackers left the following day for Exeter, where Veronica would stay for a few weeks.
 

Meanwhile in Holland...

Kati was happy to greet Veronica, Brett and Paul when they arrived in V-town, the night before Jimmy and I left for Belgium.

While we were en route to Belgian Nash Hash, Veronica brought the boys to the Friday market for fresh stroopwafels.

The following day they borrowed a bike from our neighbors to cycle to Kom in De Kas (Open Greenhouse Day), where they saw aubergines being grown...

…ate bell pepper-flavored ice cream...

…and visited a greenhouse full of orchids. 

Saturday night Veronica and Paul, who is also a vegan, cooked a feast for a few other friends.

On Sunday, they went to Rotterdam to visit The Podium, the big pink temporary rooftop terrace on top of the architecture museum...

…and then Veronica and Brett went to Pink Pop, the largest free music festival hosted in The Hague.

Leaving Belgium...

Opee and I went separate ways from the castle. He caught the party bus back to Brussels, where he enjoyed a beer with Waaaah and Slippery before catching the train home. 

I hitched a ride with Boar Whore and Tasty in their new electric car along with most of Opee’s DJ kit. We had to stop along the way for a charge, which was the perfect chance to use the loo and buy a popsicle. I couldn’t resist taking photos of the fancy artwork. 

The fox was especially crazy to see on a toilet stall. 
 

BNH Hangover Hash...

Sunday’s Hangover Hash started at the castle. This time I did the runner’s trail. 

Opee hitched a short ride on the van carrying the beer stop. 

We passed a lot of fields...

…and a cemetery. The circle was lots of fun, with some extra drama when one of the cars started leaking fuel and needing to be towed away. 
 

More Saturday at BNH...

The scenery was great...

...and sometimes comical.

I wish I knew more about this cool sculpture called La Queue du Dragon (Tail of the Dragon), which we walked past...

…and then saw from down below.

On our trek back to the castle, we passed cows...

…quaint cottages covered in ivy and flowers...

…reflections of the beautiful blue sky...

…and a manor house with blue doors.

Speaking of blue, I thought Boar Whore had the best costume for the Disney theme for Saturday’s party. Dinner was a BBQ served outside.

Completely failed to get photos of me and Opee, but Slippery and Tasty also had great costumes. Opee DJed into the wee hours, but was disappointed in the small size of the crowd since most folks preferred to hang out in the courtyard rather than dance upstairs. 
 

BNH’s Saturday Trail...

Things got off to a slow start on Saturday after the hares found out that there was a bike race along a large chunk of the ballbreaker trail so they had to punt and combine the trails. Opee was disappointed, but enjoyed the long run. I had already decided that I was going to walk, so wore my hiking boots.

We got plenty of culture on this trail, starting with this unique artwork entitled Four Season of Vivaldi.

Only a few of us took the time to pop into this little church...

…which was very charming inside.