Francois_Dumas Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 ... some famous man must have said this at some point in history..... or so the legend goes. This week the weather forecasters announced us the remains of Rita and Phillipe.... and sure enough, today it is windy and raining. So I figured I'd better charge the old RT battery and get it running before it is too late. But where to go? I think I've shown you just about everythi9ng around here.... ah! But wait ! Did I show you 'our castle' !? I used to be a real castle freak.. when I was a kid I would draw castles and knights, battles and ruins..... Holland had some 2000 (known) castles.... we now areleft with a fair amount of castle ruins... But.. there are also quite a few castles left.. and restored in their old glory ! Due to the sinking soil this is a very expensive 'hobby'.... walls keep cracking open and some real engineering feats have been achieved to save some of the heritage. Let's get riding.... I'll take you along from Hoorn to Medemblik, along the way passing through some villages that are as old as the castle at the end of the trip... early 1200's !! Churches always make for good photos I stopped in the village of Midwoud (which means 'middle forest'; there is but one forrest in all of this part of the country, and it was planted after the 2nd WW.... but way back in time there must have been forrests here. Many of the little villages around are called 'something-forrest). Another historic place... this is Twisk. The picture is not so special, I was looking for samples of houses for Steve Hebert The brick roads are funny, aren't they? (Especially when it rains and with wet leaves on them ... ). Between Twisk and Medemblik.... this is what most of the northern part of the province looks like. Still some cabbage on the fields, but most everything is gone by now... The old Zuiderzee dike and road, almost in Medemblik now..... This was one of the pumping stations (built in 1869) that would get the water out and gain us some land...... Now a steam engine museum ! And here... is the castle..... Or rather, what's left of it and restored. This is about 1/4 of the actual castle... I'll add some weblinks with history and pictures... hopefully I'll find one in English too. Radboud Castle lies next to the harbour entrance..... and in the little harbor was this 'thing' !!! Wow ! Is it a schooner? (I am no expert). She was called 'Summertime'.... fittingly now that the summer is leaving us once more.... Notice also the little old houses... all restored... A 'sort' of history.. BMW exists for some time..... with ancient history.... In case of doubt..... yup, it was there.... <grin> Some impressions of the immediate surroundings. The lake is the IJsselmeer, which you see in many of my photos. It is the former Zuiderzee.... when the castle was built and 'in action' this was basically a 'bay' of the North Sea. A view on the castle. To the right is the main hall (knights would gather there), on the left is the place one of the 4 corner towers stood, the castle wall would run along the moat to the right. Three corner towers and connecting walls are gone, the main entrance tower is gone too..... ] When I was shooting pictures the sun and clouds were kind to me.... they helped me show where the name of my company comes from: It was pretty windy as usual (I even used my earplugs for once !!!), so a great day for sailing. I was a bit envious of these people who came back from a great day on the water no doubt One of the ugliest town halls that I know of.... the one in Medemblik at the end of Main Street. I couldn't leave you without a picture of one of our mills, now could I? This one was used for grinding, not for pumping. Medemblik seen from the 'outside'..... I am standing on a dike that wasn't there in the old days, enclosing one of the newer polders. That's the town hall again..... yechch! A parting shot of the RT and the southern part of town, looking into the polder southwest. I hope you liked my little tour.... here are some of the 'castle links' I found for you. http://www.castles.nl/rad/rad.html http://home.planet.nl/~dijkh287/kastelen/ukpag/meduk1.htm http://www.mfannee38.freeler.nl/kasteel_radboud/nl_kasteel_radboud.html http://home.planet.nl/~dijkh287/kastelen_nh/index-1.htm Some in English, some just for piccies.... Kind regards, Francois Link to comment
Steve1962 Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Francois, Nice pics as per usual . What time of day were you out taking these .......... all the roads are empty ...or are they always like that ?? Steve Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted September 30, 2005 Author Share Posted September 30, 2005 Between 14:00 and 15:30.... but up there the roads usually are pretty empty indeed..... fortunately Link to comment
ClearwaterBMW Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 incredible i ride all day long from my west coast of florida home, hoping to run into scenes such as these... but, strangely enough i don't think it'll ever happen... unless i run into a field of 'shrooms along the way thanks, as always, for providing these wonderful dreamy tales. greg Link to comment
madness522 Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Francois, if I have never complimented you on your pics let me do it here. They are simply beautiful. I'm surprised you have time to ride at all with all the beautiful things around you to take pics of. Keep up the great work! Link to comment
Mike O Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 As usual, Francois...Well done. Bernadette and I are found of old churches (and like castles) have rich history and wonderful architectures. I do have a couple of questions though. I can't get a sense for the distance among the various pictures (and castles). And who pays for the maintenance of these castles? Thanks again Regards, Mike O Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted September 30, 2005 Author Share Posted September 30, 2005 Thanks everybody for your very encouraging comments ! Really appreciated. I guess I often ride more 'for taking pictures' than for the 'ride'... or drive, or walk, for that matter. Mike, I've added some pictures for you Maintaining the castles (and semi-castles) is paid for the most part by private 'funds' or private individuals/families. There is a state subsidy in many cases, because these are monuments. So part of the cost is carried by us tax payers. I think it is worth it The first map shows The Netherlands and the arrow points at 'my place'. The second has the route, from south to north and back. Arrows where I took pictures (2 villages/landscape, castle and finally the dike and parking). Link to comment
Whip Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Francois Thanks....A great way to start the day...... Larry Link to comment
dhb Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Francois, Wonderful ride report and pix--great weather too. Don't you think the facade of the "ugly" town hall building looks like the one finger AdventureRider salute? I think it's kind of cute and completely out of character for the bucolic Dutch countryside. OTOH maybe I need more sleep. Great eye and keep 'em coming. Dave Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted September 30, 2005 Author Share Posted September 30, 2005 LOL ! I guess that's another way of looking at it. I still think it's ugly ! <grin>. I looked it up.... the townhall was built in 1940, finished during the war. Knowing that Medemblik is the OLDEST town in the region (but had LOTS of bad luck in its existence) I think it deserved a better town hall..... something like the buildings I've found in other towns nearby.... Link to comment
Reddog900 Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Francois, As usual, a wonderful story accompanied by Great Pics!! Thanks for sharing!! Link to comment
ian408 Posted October 1, 2005 Share Posted October 1, 2005 Francois, Very nice. "Summertime" looks like she might make the rounds of the tall ships. A beauty! Ian Link to comment
ESokoloff Posted October 1, 2005 Share Posted October 1, 2005 Don't you think the facade of the "ugly" town hall building looks like the one finger AdventureRider salute? OTOH maybe I need more sleep. Great eye and keep 'em coming. Dave What Dave said.... er about the great eye & keeping them coming Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted October 1, 2005 Author Share Posted October 1, 2005 Thanks Eric.. for a minute there I was afraid you were going to like that 'ugly' building..... heheh ! Link to comment
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