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Update: One pair of Zandstra skeelers contains TWENTY bearings, each one of them provided with two protection pads. Whilst the storm and the rain knocks the house, I sit within trying to clean all these twenty unwilling, blocked bearings. Old paper to protect the sink unit, small cup with white spirit on it, tooth brust together with silicon-spray. I'll be very busy for the rest of this Sunday.
I started skating to become more independent from the nature ice! How long ago already has been that latest skate tour on ice ? But, how unfortunately! Wheelskaters too turn out to be dependent from Erwin Krol's weather forecasts. Since September we as members of the "core team" try out to wheel one trip together. But that's still not possible owing to the rain. Slowly the Dutch polders, ever been conquered onto the water, seem to sink back to the sea-bottom again. And then there is suddenly that memorable saturday morning. After the horse-riding lesson with my son I see, see the Sun!!! True enough disappearing again in a gray cloudy sky, but it was really there. Not one of the manege horses who could keep me: There will be a skate ride ! Here and now!
The sun still makes efforts to break through the equal gray sky, when I put on my rolling footwear at the Oude Maas near Barendrecht. Right up to the only remnant of the demolished Barendrecht vertical lift bridge. That splendid steel riveted colossus. From the past I remember the long waiting times, when it stood open again, and the RTM-tramway should have to cross it first. From here you can go left for a tour to Zwijndrecht, or to the right in the Rhoon direction. If you wish to make a reasonable tour, then you should choose for Rhoon, the longer of both trips. For the moment the weather turns out to be more trustworthy then the road surface. The trees leave a lot of biological fall-out at the pathway. A thick sediment of pulp droven leaves doesn't make skating in autumn a qualified satisfaction for everybody. A large opening has been cut in the woods for the new Heinenoordtunnel construction activities. The road surface turns to be better immediately. What a splendid way of skating is this! Smooth orgasphalt everywhere!. At more open intervals the road is even dry.
I cross this splendid small piece of nature scenery in my long strokes cadans, with the Botlek refineries at the horizon. Sometimes the path goes on the outer side of the dike, past the holm and the thatch. Then the route crosses back to the land side again. Wondering sheep push their head through the barbed-wire to get a better view onto the rolling intruder. Before I realise myself I have been passed by Poortugaal village. It is still dry. The sun has stopped it's efforts, to break through the gray clouds.
Just when I recognise the Spijkenisse vertical bridge in the distance, turning to be about the end of the route, I feel one droplet. I pretend to have felt nothing and keep rolling. Still optimistic. A second droplet falls. And a third one!
Back to Poortugaal the rain has anaesthetized all of my limbs. The water from heaven must have leaked until my underwear. Or, what's much worse, probably until my sensible skate bearings too .... But I fight on, whithin an endless, ever continuing cadans. Back to that attracting parking place, where this adventure started. With equal speed I roll on together with the Russian carrier "Karina", navigating on the Oude Maas, at my right hand. Yet solely one tiny small distance to toil.
Skeelers dislike rain even more then people, I should have known. So many times I have been warned for this by so many. After returning home all ten wheels turn out to be sticked as firm as a rock. The penalty for having such a thoughtless skate adventure. Route map...
Route description and info....
Data based on the gps tour.
The trip along the Oude Maas takes you through a series of recreational areas. You can ride nearly everywhere over smooth, motorcar-free asphalt, with only a few crossings with other traffic. You only meet bikers and walkers.
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