Delft – Gouda - Delft

Today was a first – we went out for the day in the van and returned to the same campsite as last night. It wasn't so tricky as it might have been if we had been by ourselves – because we could stash somethings in Helen & Andrew's tent, plus our pitch was well and truly bagged because of it also!

So, slightly hung over, we had bacon sandwiches for breakfast - cooked (in the rain) by Andrew. Good work that man.

Then, we drove to Gouda – famous for cheese, and apparently (according to the Rough Guide) a jolly lovely place. It was nice – although everything was closed (it's Sunday after all) and we didn't really see anything to do with cheese, which we thought was a bit odd. Still, it had all the usual stuff - nice town all, attractive market square, windmill, canals, etc... and we spent a couple of pleasant hours wandering about, admiring the sceneries........all very Dutch that's for sure.

We resisted the lure of the cafes in the square and went back to van for some cheese sandwiches and crispies.

After Gouda we went on to Oudewater, another very lovely looking town – similar sort of thing, canals, houses, windmills, etc – but we were mainly there to see the Witches Weighing house!

Back in the 16^th Century Witches were 'found out' by several different methods (by fire and drowning are probably the ones we know best) and one of those was by weight. If a person (not always ladies you know) was weighed and was suspiciously light, then that was a sure sign that they could fly on a broomstick and was therefore a witch.

In Oudewater the weighmaster wasn't up for any of this nonsense (they were usually bribed to decree that accused individuals weighed just a few pounds) and that weighhouse still survives.

There is an exhibition upstairs in the house – which is a bit lame, but reasonably interesting, however, the main attraction comes after that – being weighed on the original balances that they used to use back in the 16^th century. That was fun. We all had a go, and the lady running the show told us some interesting facts as we went along.

Turns out I'm not a witch (no particular reason, I'm just not), Jon wasn't because he weighed 77kg and that – apparently – is a lucky number, Andrew also wasn't a witch because at 88kg he was too heavy to fly, but Helen – weighing in at 66 kg (part of the sign of the devil) is definitely a witch!! :) It was all good fun, we got certificates to say we weren't (or were in Helen's case) witches, and we were glad we had made the trip.

After that we had coffee and apple cake (I really fancied pancakes all day as I have seen loads of pancake houses – but typically once I mentioned it, we haven't seen anywhere selling them!) out in the square, and then set off back to Delft and the campsite.

H&A were clearly a bit sleepy :)

Nice to get back to the campsite - nice to return somewhere and not have to arse about setting up so much – and especially when you know that the site is nice, as this one was.

Once back Helen & Jon went off to the swimming pool (too cold for me) with Andrew going to observe, and I got ready to go out for a run. Just as I was about to leave the rain came down really hard, and there was a mini thunderstorm. Helen & Jon just stayed in the pool – apparently the water was quite warm, but the rain was really cold and the whole experience was a bit surreal – being in the pool while it was raining so hard, Andrew came back soaked through thinking he should have just gone in the pool after all!

I waited till the storm passed – only 10 minutes or so – and the blue skies were back and went out for a 45 minute run around the area. Something about the Netherlands that you quickly realise is that if you want to get anywhere – follow the cycle paths. I think I might have said that already. Tonight's run was a really good example though. I was trying to get around this lake near the campsite – if I followed the footpath signs I usually ended up coming up to a dead-end, running through puddles, suffering from broken ankles, etc. On the cycle paths, silky smooth tarmac, perfect route around the lake, not a puddle in sight! Incredible.

When I got back from my run (the apple cake was weighing heavy) the others were all back and dried and warm and dinner was on it's way. Andrew took to the stove and made a very marvellous spaghetti bolognaise. Just perfect.

Not so perfect – Helen managed to smash one of the light fittings in the van. There are only 2 lights and one of the clear lenses was smashed when we bought the van, now they both are. How did it happen? Well there were LOTS of mosquitos knocking around in the van (the problem with camping somewhere with so much water I guess) and Helen went to kill one that was on the light and just smashed the plastic! Doh. Still, accidents do happen right (am thinking of numerous things I have broken or split or something on this holiday!).

Anyway, after that excitement we set the table up (our new 4^th 'chair' is the porta-potti, with the lid down obviously – it's a perfect height and surprisingly comfortable :) ) and played some rummy – well, me, Jon & Andrew did – Helen was reading the blog!! She must have read about 25 days worth all in one go! It is odd having someone read something you have written while you sit there though – don't like that so much.

Andrew won at cards. I lost. Bah.