After reading the many reviews by our group, I felt compelled to also write a few notes. Basically, I really enjoyed the trip and my only complaint was the missing air conditioning as advertised in our brochure. Our barge, the Lena Maria was a beautiful, clean and inviting home for our almost two weeks. The cabins were especially nice with lots of storage and a very modern bathroom with clear glass doors on the very adequately sized shower. My husband and I enjoyed all the meals, and I particularly loved the salad bars which had many selections. Our guide, Ari, had a few missteps on the route, but only remember one and I believed it was due to construction. Our first day's ride in the morning was the worst due to heavy rain, headwinds and uphill on the dike leading to our lunch stop. After that, the only downside for me was two days of heat. So, weather did contribute if you were not dressed appropriately. And we were warned in prep materials to bring rain gear. Would recommend that RS eliminate the ride into Amsterdam and provide a bus to pick up all prior to getting into city traffic and pedestrians.

Unfortunately, this is the first Roadscholar trip for which I have negative comments.
When Road Scholar subcontracts a 'job' their name is still attached to the project and they are responsible for the activity. I believe there was a definite breach of contract...
No AIR CONDITIONING, nor fans were available at any time. Clearly, the information stated both AC and heat--which was intermittent at best!
Because a 'leader' is a friend of IBT doesn't make them competent. We were lost many times, had to back track, etc. At times the leader was so far ahead of the group as to be out of sight for quite a while. He had little awareness of what was happening with the group-- people falling off bikes, running into poles.... I got the feeling he didn't really want to be part of the group.
Additionally, I paid for a single room only to find out other singles didn't pay the supplement. How do you explain that!? What was to be the trip of a life time-WASN"T!

I signed us up for our first Elderhostel/Road Scholar trip liking the idea of being on a boat, not having to pack and unpack every day, cycling for my cycling husband and history and culture for me. The itinerary for Bike and Barge Holland and Belgium #10530 encircled the area of Nord Brabant where my husband's father had been born before immigrating to America. It looked like a good way to get in touch with his heritage. It proved to be the perfect combination. The neat-as-a-pin Lena Maria was just right for the 19 of us. The crew was welcoming and answered endless questions patiently. The meals were generous, soups delicious, and the only left overs I noticed were the lasagna and the home made pastries we begged them to serve again. If anything the dinners were on the substantial side; the salads most welcome. Most lectures on the barge and in towns were excellent; the first one appropriately on road signs and rules. The "Corner System" and knowing there was a sweep with a phone allowed me to be comfortable even if I lost sight of the person ahead. Dutch cycling paths are fabulous; a network you wouldn't believe. We covered over 200 miles with a minimum of wrong turns, thanks to the local drivers who always accompanied us with a car and extra bicycle. Safety and keeping distance between riders was stressed. Our leader coped caringly with the need to send home a participant unable to keep up, and cheerfully with days of rain and wind, including a storm of the decade causing us to cut short our day and meet the barge at an unscheduled place. Bicycle tires were all checked after gravel roads. The participants were an interesting mix of couples and singles from all over the country, ages from the thirties to late seventies. We certainly enjoyed this trip and The Netherlands and look forward to another Road Scholar trip. Where are you going next, Lena Marie? Cynthia Marechal

My partner and I also participated at the same time as Russell and would like to add the following:
I have biked the Danube and Denmark and highly recommend both, in addition to four biking programs here in the States. As the Danube and Denmark were also rated activity level 5, I prepped my partner as if we were doing one of those, fortunatly adding hills to the training. The Dutch say there is always wind, and we had wind, sometimes at our back but more often in our face. In addition to inclines over canals, rivers, etc., there were two slight grade hills of several miles in length into the wind that she made but several others had to walk part of. Add to this many miles of muddy gravel paths, this program should have an activity level of 6 to better prepare participants and enchance the enjoyment of all. Also there were two village tours that were terrible, nothing there. The first thing pointed out on one was a closed Esso station! With some changes this could be a very good program as the scenary is beautiful, most villages and cities are quaint, interesting and enjoyable.
As it stands on a scale of 1-10, I would rate this program a 3.

After not hearing from Road Scholar about my dismal Program Evaluation on program #10530 starting date 6/17/11, I felt obligated to do this review. I have been on over 25 programs in the past five years including four bike programs, and this is my first public review. I loved the Bike-Barge in France #13159 on 5/16/08, and that made this program all the more disappointing.

First, in my opinion, the IBT (International Bicycle Tour) guide was incompetent. In order not to get lost, he had to follow the support car. When not following the support car, he had to ask people on the street for directions and made several wrong turns each day. On day 10, he turned the wrong way leaving the barge! One evening, he generously offered to take us to his favorite bar for a beer after dinner. You're right, he got lost.

Second, in my opinion, there was a lack of safety concerns. For the passengers in cabins one through four, the secondary emergency exit is unmarked. For all passengers, the emergency exists were not pointed out or their use explained. It appeared that the guide did not carry a first aid kit. Since we stayed lost, we frequently crossed and crossed again the same busy streets needlessly.

Last, in my opinion, the food was poor to bad. The first week, I was not very observant, but after that, I made a conscious effort and never saw the deckhand/cook wash her hands between her duties on deck and food preparation. On day 9, we had a burned ground beef patty. It would be an insult to call it a hamburger. It was like they ran out of food at the end. On day 13, dinner was a salad buffet with no entree, but addmittedly, an extensive buffet. We had the leftovers of the buffet the next night and the remaining leftovers the third night. Breakfast on day 14 was the leftover desserts (pastries) from the night before.

I have a longer list but I'm sure you get the point that I DID NOT enjoy this program.

Russell Abbott
Jacksonville, FL.