I've passed into the Netherlands

That makes it sound like I died so let's just say I'm in Holland. Specifically Arnhem. If you've ever seen the WWII movie "A Bridge to Far" then you know the story of Monty's failed operation Market Garden. If you haven't seen it you should. 

Here is the bridge (rebuilt I'm sure) where the last part of the operation failed in a heroic way. 

Xanten, aside from the festival, is a remarkable town. Hundreds of years ago it was a walled city, originally settled by the Romans. There is a Roman archeological museum there that i wasn't able to visit. 

There are also parts of the original wall that surrounded the village that survived WWII, but not much. Germany suffered mightily for its aggression. What is amazing is how much was rebuilt to look original. It's really impossible for my untrained eye to tell what is original and what is rebuilt. The fact that there were craftsmen still able to do this kind of work is amazing. 

I'm spending the night at the Stayokay hostel. It's further from the route than I thought but it's a pretty nice place. I have a roommate from Moldova. May have more roommates before the day is over. It's a 4 bed dorm. But I did get here early enough to get a bottom bunk! 

I picked up a little rain today, but not much more than a extended sprinkle. Not even enough to put on rain gear. 

eBikes are so popular here that the bicycle garage had plug-ins for charging. 

Don't know what these ladies were talking about but the conversation had been going on a long time. Poor kid. 

Leaving Xanten by one of the old gates. 

It's Sunday and the bells were ringing. 

The exterior gate. The moat was between the 2 gates in this picture. It's all filled in now. 

The wind was turning the blades on this windmill. Wish I could post a video. 

Another view

Along the way I saw a couple stork nests. At first I thought there was a single stork up there. 

But from a different angle I could see a young one also. 

Later I saw a nest with more activity. Sorry about the clarity but these were extreme zooms with a phone. 

In one town I met up with these Polish tourists. Although only one of them knew very much English (I still don't know any Polish) we had a pleasant conversation and lunch. They gave me a good Polish beer and shared sausage, cheese, and fruit. All i had to offer was a can of Pringles. They took a pass on that. Good times! 

I told you about the nuclear power plant that was turned into an amusement park. Here it is. You can even see the swings rising above the tower. There's also a hotel and other rides. I wonder if they have a Homer Simpson figure in the control center? 

Nice looking bridge. 

Thatched roof. 

I made it to my sixth and final country of the ride! 

The route included two different ferry rides. Again, the bicycles outnumbered the cars. 

On board ferry #1. 

Although we tend to spell the name of the river as the Rhine, it is known in the countries it flows though by similar but different names. 

Rhein (German) 

Rhin (French) 

Rijn (Dutch) 

Because the Rhine (I'll continue using that spelling) breaks into different channels in its delta in the Netherlands, it gets even more names. The main channel is the Waal.

Wildlife sanctuary. Naw, just a statue. 

Ferry #2. Smaller ferry, shorter ride, less expensive. 

Remembering operation Market Garden. On this side of the Rhine, Market Garden was celebrated as a valiant effort to liberate the country. When it failed the Germans moved back in and it was months before the allies reached Arnhem again. 

And here is my hostel for the night. 

Wishing you all a good night!