Beavers on the Rhine

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

Nine Beavers are about to bravely step beyond the American borders and travel to Europe to spread the Beaver form of fun. While this is not a sanctioned rally, it is a Beaver group traveling together to have Beaver fun. Peter and I (Connie Bradish) will be leaving early on August 17 to partake of the splendors of Amsterdam before the official start of the European River Cruise on August 22. We will have WIFI in our B & B and on the ship. When ever possible I plan to post to this thread to keep all of you informed as to what we have been doing. We hope to have pictures to share with you as well as information about our trip. Keep looking for updates.

Peter and I would also like to invite you to come with us on an informal Beaver rally in 2011. Beavers in Scandinavia, Depart USA May 30, return June 28. Information at http://www.rvtoureurope.com  

Dieter and Gabriele Weigelt (FMCA members) run these wonderful RV tours of Europe. We are going and would like other Beavers to come with us so we can all share the fun. It is so much more fun to have friends along with you on a trip. So please consider coming with us in 2011.

              Big Time Beaver Hugs, Connie B.

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

One Beaver couple is now in Amsterdam. The Leonards took us to the airport on August 17. We flew to Atlanta then to Amsterdam. We arrived in Amsterdam on August 18 at about 8:30 am their time. We found how to get a 4 day train/tram/bus tickets at the airport and then boarded the train for Amsterdam Central. In one of the enclosed pictures Peter is standing outside Amsterdam Central with our luggage. We rode an electric tram to the stop near our B & B, Parkzijde, then walked 3 short blocks to the B & B. This is part of a gentleman's townhouse built in 1892. We have tall ceilings, AC, WiFi, a small refrig, bathroom and shower, TV, use of a microwave and small oven, all the comforts of home. We took a walk to the local market, had lunch, bought fruits, cooked fish and shrimp, bread, sliced meat, mayo, a knife and a bottle of wine. We will have a nice dinner this evening, go to bed early and be ready for tomorrow. We plan to have our morning walk in Oosterpark which is just across the road. Then breakfast at the B & B.

Notice the side walk in front of our B & B has a sidewalk and a bicycle path as part the sidewalk. You really have to watch where you walk around here. Lots of folks riding bicycles on the bikepaths, people crossing the road haphazardly and trams and buses running everywhere. Weather cloudy but no rain so far. Temps in the 70s.

Beavers on the Rhine has begun.

See enclosed photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/20108AmsterdamArrival#

[Chuck Bayman]

Thanks Connie & Peter for the memories. Marcie and I were there 4 years ago and traveled thruout the Netherlands and Belgium. I know you will really enjoy yourself. Looking forward to more pictures.

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

 19th of August dawned somewhat cloudy and cool. Peter, Connie and the BEAV headed out for our morning walk in Oosterpark. How neat. Folks were out and about enjoying exercise, the cool of the morning and walking for fun. We returned to our B & B for breakfast of cheese, meat, rolls, tea, yogurt, boiled egg.
 See photos
 http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/201019AmsterdamMorning#

 Then we three were off to the Rijks Museum. Lots of Rembrandts and early Delft earthenware. The Beav and Peter worked on our schedule and we paid for 24 hours on the Hop On and Hop Off canal boats. They (Beav and Peter) scheduled us on the orange line just in time to be part of the Sail 2010. This is an event that happens every 5 years. The boats/ships especially tall ships come up the river here. We came out into the river while the ships were all coming into the harbor. The Beav was thrilled and as you can see from his pictures he had fun on the canal boat and seeing Sail 2010. Notice the small sailing vessel fouled on the larger sailing ship. Beav was brave and weathered every scary encounter.
 See photos
 http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010819AmsterdamAfternoon#
 
 Beav and his compatriots are having a great time!!!  Watch for future postings of the Beav having fun!!!!

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

August 20th and still in Amsterdam. Peter and Connie got up and took their usual morning walk in the park. Beav stayed at the B & B and and slept in. The walk in the park was rather noisy this morning as there were many light green parrots in the trees. Also someone had left some cold french fries out for the local birds. Peter towards the end of the walk found a park bench to relax and hang out with the other guys rather than walking.

After another wonderful breakfast we three went out for a little shopping and another canal boat ride (blue line) to finish our 24 hours ticket for the canal boats. The Beav was getting thirsty in the early afternoon and who should he spy but Tom and Lynn C. at The Old Bell. We got together and had a pint or two. The Beav was all for jumping right in to cool down but we restrained him. He also wanted some of Lynn and Tom's toasties. But the Beav is on a diet. So he only had a small bite to eat and drink.

We parted later in the afternoon all rosy and happy.We went back to our B & B and Peter and the Beav had a little nap before dinner. It's great to see some more folks in our Beaver get together (this is not a sanctioned rally) arriving to enjoy the delights of Amsterdam. More folks will be arriving soon. But it was good to see Tom and Lynn C. (early birds too) having a great time in Amsterdam.

See Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010820Amsterdam#

[Joel Ashley]

Oh, the shame!  Everyone knows beer interferes with a Beaver's ability to safely build lodges and dams.  I hope he wasn't driving that day.

Oh, well... I guess he is on vacation.

But then, to - OMG - allow your pet Beaver up on the dining table!  Gasp  ??).  And then to compound it by letting him eat from your plate!!

The travesty of it all!

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

 August 21, 2010 morning

 The Beav was up this morning and ready for breakfast at 8:30 am. He wanted to show you what we had: various kind of specialty rolls, sliced cheese, sliced meat, melon, more cheese and tomatoes, yogurt, OJ and tea. The Beav cleaned his plate and drank his tea. A small burp ended the meal.

 Peter and the Beav stayed at the B & B this morning and washed and dried a load of dirty clothes (1 and 1/2 hrs wash and 57 minutes dry) while Connie went shopping for some last minute items for the river cruise. On the walking shopping trip Connie saw lots of housing areas. The last few pictures are of local housing around Oosterpark and on the canal north of Oosterpark. While Amsterdam is a large city, this area feels like a small town. The people shop in small specialty shops and at the local open air market (Dapper Market). Every one so far has been kind and helpful. Most of the people here speak some level of English which goes a long way to helping us enjoy the city. The Beav, of course, is multi-lingual and speaks to everyone.

See Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010821AmsterdamMorning#

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

August 21, 2010 Evening.

 At 5 pm everyone gathered in the lobby of the Amsterdam Hilton. Everyone else is staying there except Peter and Connie and the Beav. A number of people flew into Amsterdam today except for Tom and Lynn and Peter, Connie and the Beav. We are all here now. This was the first gathering of the group. Our first social so to speak!!!!

 Even though some of us were tired, never say die. We all (Jerry, Sue, Tom, Lynn, Dave, Linda, Bob, Peter, Connie and the Beav) went out to Tapas (a restaurant just north of the Hilton). We sat outside and had beer or wine and heavy appetizers. Even the Beav had some wine and bread!!! We each ordered an appetizer and then we passed the plates around (calamari, lamb skewers, salad, egg plant, anchovies, sausage, and mayo spread, toasted bread with spread). Yummy!!!!!!!! Sounds like a pot luck social to me.

 Tomorrow we will be moving to Rotterdam to board the Viking Legend. We were supposed to board here in Amsterdam but the Sail 2010 is taking up all the dock space. A new adventure every day!!!!!!!!!

 see Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010821AmsterdamEvening#

[Joel Ashley]

First beer, now wine.
Someone call the Oregon BSD (Beaver Services Division)!

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

 Just a quick note first. We are all on the ship and presently we are cruising from Kinderdijk to Cologne. Internet service is spotty. Had trouble loading pictures even when connected. So look for new information as I am able to connect.

 August 22, 2010
 Moving day from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. Most of the group stayed in Amsterdam for the day and then caught the bus in late afternoon at the Hilton to travel to the dock at Rotterdam. Peter, Connie and the Beav took a different route. We took the train to Rotterdam. We then took the metro to the nearest station to the ship and then found the address given to us for the ship. Alas, incorrect address. After many travails which included a water taxi ride from one side of the river under the bridge where the formula road race was being run, we arrived at the other side of the river where the ship was really docked. Glad we are RVers and flexible.
 Everyone else arrived later, signed in and unpacked. Welcome talk and then dinner. Everyone pretty tired so off to bed.

August 23, 2010
 7am the ship left the dock to go to Kinderidjk. The engines were amazingly quiet. The ship is long, narrow and not too tall. But there seems to be plenty of room for everyone. After breakfast, we had a talk on windmills and then we visited a functional windmill in Kinderdijk. While they no longer move water off the land, some are kept as homes or museums. They now move water from the land using electric motors and large metal screws. We had rain and wind. But never fear, Beavers pressed on, enjoyed the walk and windmill tour any way. Back to the ship for lunch. This afternoon we had a talk on cheese and jenever (a strong juniper liquor) and samples, of course.
 We are now motoring between Kinderdijk and Cologne.

Pictures to follow when I get a stronger faster connection.

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

Having trouble uploading photos. Will do that when ever possible.
 
August 22, 2010 Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010822Rotterdam#

August 23, 2010 Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010823KinderdijkToCologne#

August 24, 2010
 Cologne and we had a walking tour of the downtown. Our guide took us to see the Cathedral inside and out. We also saw the local museum and the many Roman artifacts. After lunch it was pub crawling time led by Tom Crowley. We had several Kolsch beers at several pubs, saw the shopping area and then returned to the ship for the daily briefing and dinner. Awwhh, the food, fabulous!!!!

August 25, 2010
 Marksburg Castle tour this morning. This castle has been continually used for a thousand years. During the afternoon we traveled through a narrowed part of the Rhine River with small mountains and many castles along the way. Weather gorgeous.We all went up to the sun deck and enjoyed the fantastic views. Dinner was the Chef's dinner. All the chefs on the Viking lines competed. Our chef won. The lamb was to die for. This is going to be more than a 5 pound rally!!!!

[Joel Ashley]

Did you see the photo where they're putting the screws to the Beav?  Shameful.

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

Photos
 August 24, 2010
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010824RhineTrip#

August 25,2010
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010825RhineTripMorning#

August 25, 2010
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010825RhineTripAfternoon#

August 25, 2010 some photos from the Crowley's of Marksburg Castle and the area
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010825CrowleyPhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCJCBsPiTir6Z1QE#

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

 August 26, 2010 Miltenburg
 Breakfast as usual, then a glass blowing demo using "the East German Method." The artist was a 7th generation glass blower. His grandfather went around the wall through the forest before the wall really got going and reestablished the family business in West Germany. Quite an artist.
 After lunch we docked in Miltenburg and then went for a walking tour of this undamaged by WW II town. Narrow streets and half timbered houses defined the city.
 At dinner we played a game of spoons.

See Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010826Miltenburg#

 August 27, 2010 Wurzburg
 A rainy morning but it couldn't dampen our spirits. Got on the buses to Wurzburg to tour the Emperor/Bishops palace. Then some continued on (Bob, Jerry, Sue and Linda)  to Rothenburg while the rest of us went to the Cathedral and returned to the ship for lunch. Peter and I spent the afternoon on the ship because finally we had some fairly good internet service. So you get it all at once. Amazing how you get spoiled by good internet, TV, cell phone connections. I have missed my e-mails and my blogs I usually read daily. So it was a fun afternoon to catch up on all that stuff. Also, it rained on and off so we were happy just to use the internet and watch the traffic on the river go by.
 We are all well so far and having a wonderful time!!!!!!!!

See Photos
 http://picasaweb.google.com/bradish.c/2010827Wurzburg#

[Peter and Connie Bradish]

Please see corrected post for Aug 26 and 27. New photos added and corrected photos added for Miltenberg.   Connie B.