Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands

I thought I got up early on this morning, then was puzzled that I didn't get to the bus very early.  Turns out that Anne and Jori had left later than usual, which fooled me into thinking I was early too! Caught the bus to the airport, then the bus from the airport to the gardens. Keukenhof gardens are incredible. Stunningly beautiful with all the spring flowers including the tulips, the gardens should be on everybody's bucket list!  I'm not going to write much - just let you drink in the colours and beauty...

After wandering around the gardens for a couple of hours, I decided to hire a bike to the flower fields as I \really wanted to see them.  I was really nervous for two reasons - Firstly, I hadn't ridden a bike for 30 years, and secondly my balance. Having no balance makes me somewhat dangerous on a bike, but I was determined not to let it get in my way.

On my ride, which was really wobbly, the first thing I noticed was the number of tour buses inside the gardens.  Where fields of flowers should have been, fields of tour buses were there instead.  I've never seen so many tour buses all in one place.

The flower fields were stunning as I thought they would be.  The hardest thing about biking was starting off - was very unbalanced and wobbly, but once I got going and into a rhythm I was find.  I had one mishap though - my camera blag fell out of the basket and whent down with a crunch.  Miraculously it still seems to be working fine!

I rode the bike for about an hour, then headed back home by bus.  I'm so glad I went, and today was my only chance due to the fact I was heading away again, and the gardens close the day before I come back.

Jori met me at the flat then we all went to meet Sue, Annes lovely friend from South Africa, and her parents.We met at this amazing restaurant in the middle of the water.