The holiday is drawing to a close, but t's not over yet and we still have places to visit and people to see.

Today we head over to Beusichem, close to Utrecht, to see Frieke and her partner.

The final day we make a slow dash south, back to The Hook via a pottery town on the way.

Leaving Haarlem, we head off via the Amsterdam Ring Road, towards Utrecht.

The roundabout ahead highlights the difference with Dutch highways to British ones . . .

Ahead is a zebra crossing (priority to people), a bike crossing (priority to bikes) and a roundabout (priority to traffic coming from the left !)

We made it okay, we've had a week to practice, so now we take the motorway east.

This is the motorway tunnel under one of the wider rivers along the way.

We've reached Beusichem but we now have to find Frieke and Floriaan's house.

It seems like it is market day in the village but there's no ancient tented market stalls

Just two or three rather 'up market' mobile shops selling nuts, pulses and delicatessen-style food.

A rather fine mobile cheese shop on the opposite side supporting, or maybe working in competition,

to the comprehensive shop in the market square.

Floriaan has retired as oriental silk and fabric dealer and has now retired to the country.

This is the house he originally bought.

He found the house over-large and also his daughter was in need of accommodation,

so he built a rather nice shed and moved into the garden.

During his overseas visits he developed a fine collection of Buddha, Russian Dolls and a host of other memorabilia.

We had a lovely lunch in the garden and closed by thanking Frieke for the use of her Haarlem town flat for our holiday.

- - - o o o - - -

In the evening we returned to Zaandam to spend the more time with Loes's brother Eddie and to say goodbye till next time.

I think we've covered most people apart from Loes's sister Joosje and her husband Walter

who live in Germany, too far way away to visit this holiday.

- - - o o o - - -

The following day it was time for us to head home, but we might just visit one last famous place on the way.

Delft has a new multi-storey car park and it was as pristine as a hospital ward.

I'm so pleased that I had washed the Lake District mud off the car before we started the holiday !

It was just a short walk across the bridge and into town.

Old bicycles never die, they just get turned into a flower displays.

The main square at Delft with the Town Hall at the top of the square.

Back to the main square with the Town Hall, the Stadhuis Delft this end and the Nieuwe (New) Church at the other.

There's been a wedding and the guests wave the bride and groom away after the ceremony.

The artist Vermeer  is one of the town's other famous sons.

	- - - o o o - - -     " The Girl with the Pearl Earring" is one of his more famous paintings   and it has been incorporated into the Hotel and Brasserie sign board.   Inside the cafe they have duplicated the famous picture as a rather fine mural on the wall.     - - - o o o - - -

The classical style of clothing of that time

is reflected in the quality of the costumes on offer in the local fancy dress and photography shop.

The ladies are not forgotten with a fine array of garments for their photo opportunity.

Sadly we couldn't stop for lunch . . . as we have places to go but no more friends or family to see.

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After an easy transit through passport control, we find ourselves back on the Stenna Line Ferry.

While we wait we watch lorry after lorry drive up and be loaded onto the ferries.

The other boat is yet to start loading.

With a dramatic 'U' turn our boat swings round in the width of the river

and heads out towards the North Sea.

On the way out we travelled overnight, but our return trip is a 7 hour day crossing.

Mid channel and we cross the busy shipping lanes as we head for Harwich.

The next landmark, after a flat calm crossing, was the container port of Felixtowe.

In Harwich Harbour two spare light-ships are moored up as they are not in use at this time.

- - - o o o - - -

After a reunion with Dylan and Dougal we enjoyed an overnight stay with Cathy back at Pin Mill.

In the morning we had time for a walk and noticed the workmen repairing the signboard for the Butt and Oyster.

The tide is fairly low and we walk the dogs out onto 'The Hard' where a low tide dry dock allows boats to be cleaned and repaired.

Mark has his two clean dogs on a lead but I notice Dylan and Dougal behind, enjoying the water.

One last image from the walk before we head home after a lovely holiday.

Perhaps this photo would make a classic oil painting too . . . perhaps not 'Monet' this time, more 'Ruysdael' we feel.   ;o)