There will be no biking today which provides an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate after your international flight. Motorcoach time approximately 1.5 hours (50 miles / 80 kilometers).
Your program leader will be waiting for you and soon you board a coach for de Zaanse Schans, a village with windmills, and a wooden shoe museum. We will learn the history of windmills when floods were frequent (we are standing on land considerably lower than the North Sea only a few miles away) and the present use of the windmills (grinding flour, pigments used in paints, mustard seeds and log cutting).
Enjoy an authentic taste of the Netherlands at a village restaurant located in an 18th-century grain barn. The restaurant specializes in Dutch-style pancakes, savory or sweet treats, which can measure almost a foot in diameter, and often eaten as a main course.
We continue by motorcoach to Schoorl. Upon arriving at the hotel, check in and get your room assignment. The Group Leader will be on hand to provide assistance as needed. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. A support vehicle will accompany the group while biking each day in the event of emergency situations. We have set aside some free time in the schedule for your personal independent exploration. The Group Leader will often be available during scheduled free time for informal excursions, activities, or meals that have been excluded from the program cost. You are welcome to join if you like, with any associated costs on your own. Upon arrival in Schoorl, bicycles will be fitted to the participant and skill testing will take place. Please be aware that indicated motorcoach times as well as biking distances are approximate and that program activities and schedules could change due to local circumstances such as weather, traffic conditions, etc. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Join a welcome dinner in the hotel dining room, featuring a plated three-course dinner of your choice from a select menu plus water; other beverages available for purchase. Dinner each night will follow this description.
At leisure. The evening is free to continue becoming acquainted with your fellow participants or relax at the hotel. Get a good night's sleep for the full day tomorrow.