Katwijk and Voorscoten - Day 2

The ship made a morning call at 8, with an apology for our late arrival. We arrived at 10am in Ijmuiden - only 15 minutes late. It was a beautiful day and we were on deck for the entry into Ijmuiden. But.. we actually only got off the ship at 11AM - we were on the ramp and were the 3rd last vehicle off the ship. Very frustrating! However we had a very nice chat to the customs man who was delighted by our attempts at Dutch and our happy return to the Netherlands! 

We had a really lovely run down to Katwijk, where we found the (Oude) Rijn exiting to the sea. We had a lovely walk down to the beach and a cracking cup of Dutch coffee at Paal 14, one of the beach restaurants.

This plaque actually says The Meeting of the Rhine and the North Sea, celebrating the sea defences, quite substantial at Katwijk of course…

We also came across this memorial to all those that had died on the sea from Katwijk, from 1919 to 2005…

Onwards to Voorschoten and a nostalgic look at our house in Meerkoeteiland. Someone saw us looking at the house and waved from the kitchen window. We were invited in and had a quick look ( the current owner bought from the Nourses 5 years ago and is moving out on Thursday). 

Easy check in at La Casita in Voorstraat, it has been open for 8 years but was a wallpaper shop when we lived here.

We then hired bikes from G Besuyen and cycled round the lake with drinks at the cafe at the water sports centre. So fabulous to be back at the lake!

We then cycled on to Leiden for more nostalgia and a drink at La Scarlatti in the sun looking over the water to the building that used to be V&D.

We cycled back to Voorschoten via a route we hadn’t used before, returned the bikes and had a drink in the Lindenboom as a tribute to the girls.

Dinner at La Casita and then bed after a full and satisfying day. 

Daily drive 37 miles

Ferry 310 miles

Total trip 495 miles