Seriously, I thought this was cool walking to dinner tonight. By a little eating area.
It's time to get home. Man, I have enjoyed it, but I haven't had two full weeks together at one time at home since October or something - come to think of it, it was September. It's one thing to try and keep mamma and the critters in kittles and bits and another when they bite you when you walk in the door. Got a flight back across the big pond Sunday. Flights are flying out of Europe again - WHEW! Speaking of flying through an ash cloud, there are only a couple of non Dutch language channels over here and one is the History Channel. Well, every evening when I get back to the room around 7, Airplane Disaster Investigation comes on - hmmmmm - I am becoming an expert and analyzing airline crashes. Well, tonight it is about BA-009 that had all 4 engines flame out because they flew through an ash cloud near Jakarta. Just what I wanted to see.
Oh, before I go any further, let me throw out my usual food shot!
Sunday, I had to work and the day was beautiful, so I figured I would sit out in front of the hotel in the town square, watch the people walk by, dig on some Black Sabbath and enjoy a cup of joe.
Then I had me one of them flapjacks that they are proud of over here - man, it was some good yeah. Ordered apple and it had thin slices of apple all through it - with another cup of joe....
Ok, so now it fits the bill for a Strider road trip food shot. Now, to make it Motorcycle related, this is the primary bike over here. They sure wear some cool leathers...... There are a couple of 2 lung cruisers, but most are super sports.
I did see a dual sport in the parking area of the hotel yesterday.
So, now it is motorcycle and Strider road trip food trip related.....hahahaha.
Now, the cool part. I told the Frederiek in the office that she could line up to have the little rental car picked up on Friday and I would take the train to Amsterdam on Friday and fly out Sunday morning. Later, I am having a smoke outside and the Business Segment Manager asked me, "Why don't you just drive and turn the car in at the airport?" Ummmmm, OK.
MAPQUEST HERE I COME!!!! They are going to let me drive to Amsterdam...oh yeah baby! So, I looks at a map and WAY COOL. About half way is Arnhem (well, with a little out of the way jount).....and few more miles is Nijmegen.
Arnhem - the end of Operation Market Garden - you know, A Bridge Too Far. A great scene after the 9th and 10th SS German Panzer Division has just thrown a beating to the British 2nd Parachute Battalion - 1st British Airborne Division led by Lt Colonel John Dutton Frost - the only group of the to actually make it to the Arnhem bridge and try to defend it...
(Also heard that the town square is very, very neat in Arnhem).
The REAL Colonel John "Johnny" Frost
Like I said, just a ways down the road is Nijmegen.....Day 4: Wednesday, September 20 - Boats ordered by the 82nd Airborne the day before failed to arrive until afternoon and a hasty daylight assault crossing was ordered. At about 15:00 the 3rd Battalion, 504th PIR accompanied by sappers from 615 Field Squadron and 11th Field Company Royal Engineers (who made five crossings) made the crossing in 26 canvas assault boats into well-defended positions. The American unit had no training on the British-made boats. A shortage of paddles required some troopers to paddle the craft with rifle butts. About half the boats survived the crossing under heavy fire, eleven survived the first two crossings. The surviving Paras then assaulted across 200 meters (218 yards) of open ground on the far bank and seized the north end of the bridge. German forces withdrew from both ends of the bridge which was then rushed by Guards tanks and the 2nd Battalion, 505th PIR, securing the bridge at 19:10, D+3. The costly attack was nicknamed "Little Omaha" in reference to Omaha Beach.
So, man, it should give me Satuday in Amsterdam. Something I have always wanted to see....The Anne Frank musuem. Should be able to bring a tear to my eye.
Well, all good things come to an end - like my duty here - back to Africa in a week and a half after I get home - HEY, I Still ain't gonna get two weeks at home...oh well, next time.
Safe winds ya'll......
Oh, to close - another cool wood sculpture on the way to eat tonight.
And standing on my balcony on Sunday.....
