Vakantieplannen

Vandaag gaan de Europese binnengrenzen grotendeels weer open. Naast de rust in de omgeving en drie maanden quality-time met het gezin door de lockdown, haalt het opheffen van reisbeperkingen de beklemming van de opgelegde maatregelen voor een groot gedeelte weg.

De dreiging van corona/covid-19 zal nog een tijd onder ons zijn, maar het is fijn wat meer bewegingsvrijheid te hebben om te gaan en te staan waar je wilt. Op gepaste afstand, vanzelfsprekend.

Volgens de kenners wordt het een lange, hete en droge zomer.

De zonnebrillen liggen klaar. Ik heb er drie: een sportuitvoering voor op de fiets, eentje voor huis-tuin-en keukengebruik en eentje voor in de auto.

Citroen GS Rallye 1975

Pen and Watercolour

260 x 360 mm

Terschelling Classic 300 grs

Best Campsite Ever

Pen & Watercolour

260 x 360 mm

Terschelling Classic 300 grs

Beating The Average Speed

Now it looks like Spring has finally arrived, I've started my usual weekly bike-training. I've only done three rides now about 50 km each and last sunday I finally cycled an average speed which gives me a bit of confidence about the shape I will be in this coming Summer.
Each year the starting of a new season is a bit of a mystery to me on what level my condition stand. I don't cycle indoors during Winter, so I have a bit of a set back in Spring to other cyclists who train on their spinning bikes during the cold months. I just try to ride as much as I can outdoors during Winter. Gives me more stamina and joy, especially when I can follow cyclist about half of my age from which I know they've trained all Winter in the gym on a spinning course.

Wherever I Lay My Hat...

As cycling commuter it's important to have good clothing riding to and from your workingplace. There's a particular item I find most important: the hat. It prevents from sunburn during summer, a cold head in spring and fall and it keeps your glasses dry while cycling through the rain. Cotton hats are the best: not to warm in summer and not to cold in winter. Although I have another hat for extremely cold days, even with earprotection, I prefer cotton. The one I drew here is with me now for almost two years and although my wife says it needs to be replaced, I can't say goodbye: it almost became a part of me.

Illustration Friday - Water

Reflections in the water - pen and ink and watercolor

Illustration Friday Strong

During the past summer we've spend a lot of time in our garden. There we can sit on our bench or, which I prefer, our relaxing garden chairs. They're quite strong. We're let them standing outside during the summermonths and although we are using them now for about seven years, the fabric still looks good. The only thing we have to renew every other year are the rubber bands. Strangely enough the bands useally break when we're having visitors. A bit abarrassing, I'm not pointing any finger, but let's just say that the chairs are used to our load...
Ink and watercolor on a summer's day in the garden.