Not my last tour, is it?

In the past few weeks a lot of water has come down. Leaves too. That is a nasty combination for every biker. The past few days there was quite a strong wind and it obviously did its work, as not many leaves are left on the roads. If on sundaymorning the sun comes out invitingly, I will be the last one to turn this invitation down...

Direction south...
Because it is still windy, the pier is not appealing to me today. It will be quite cold out there and so I decide to drive into the direction of Appelscha. Maybe have a cup of coffee in the restaurant. When I arrive in Appelscha at half past one, there is not a bike in sight and so I don't take the trouble to stop and proceed my journey. I move on in the southern direction and find myself in Smilde. That is southern enough, I think and so I follow the Smildervaart into the direction of Hoogersmilde. At the roundabout I choose to take the Highway to drive up north again and find more familiar roads.

Making choises...
In Smilde I had stopped to make a few pictures. Now I drive on the A381 with a speed of 60 mph. In the distance I see a blue sign with a "P" and see that the parking is abandoned. On the parking there are still leaves left on some trees. That will give nice pictures, with the sun shining on them. A good opportunity to make some more pictures. After making a few pics, a car disturbes me. I put the camera back in my pannier, start the engine and move on. At the traffic-lights near Appelscha and Oosterwolde I move straight on. I take the next exit to Makkinga. Drive through the village and right before Nijeberkoop I turn right.

Can't remember...
In wich order the villages lie in this area, I can't exactly remember, but as long as I keep the sun to my left or behind me, I'm driving into the right direction. That way I zigzag through the province of Friesland. I go past Tijnje and Jubbega. Then I can't figure out what's the next village. I haven't payed attention to the signs and my map is neatly stored away in the tankbag, which I left at home. Then I recognise the watertower of Lippenhuizen. By Gorredijk, Terwispel and Boornbergum I eventually arrive in the "haven" of Drachten. From there on I take the A-roads to come home again. After all I'm glad I chose to drive south today, because at three o'clock the sun is so low that it would bother me. Now that I drive north on my homeward journey, it doesn't affect me.
I sure do hope, that this wasn't my last trip for this year. Can't bare the thought to do without the wind around my helmet for too long.

Betty Smit.
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