2024-08-13 52 6

Location

In the gardens of De Havixhorst hotel, on the grass surrounding the SCHRIJDENDE DANSERES sculpture.

Participants

coyotebush

Plans

I'll be traveling to the Netherlands, and it looks like I could detour to Meppel then cycle to the hotel. I emailed the address in the garden website footer asking to confirm it will be open to visit.

Expedition

Decision point in Arnhem finally reached. I'm tired and haven't seen a reply to the email, but the weather here is bearable and it looks like I can still make it by closing time. -- Coyotebush (talk) @51.9848,5.8989 14:29, 13 August 2024 (GMT+02:00)

Boarded a train at Zwolle, sat a while, then "defect" announced and had to switch to another -- Coyotebush (talk) @52.5048,6.0910 15:59, 13 August 2024 (GMT+02:00)

Eventually reached Meppel with around an hour until the next train I wanted to take. I refilled my water bottle at the station and also tried to use the toilet, but it required a credit card and didn't accept my US cards. I crossed back under the station then got my first experience with Dutch cycling infrastructure - it was a flat ride apart from a highway overpass.

Arriving at the hotel, I exchanged greetings with another arriving cyclist, perhaps an employee. Parked my bike with others then walked through the gate and over the moat, seeing only a few diners and a waiter in the courtyard. The path around the side to the sculpture garden was quiet, so I quickly found the right sculpture, wandered onto the grass for a closer look and better coordinates, then exited again.

On the way back to the train station I was able to take it easier, thankfully so considering the heat and my related lack of sleep.