Etappe(s) 1 & 2

Etappe(s) 1 & 2 : Pieterburen - Groningen Noord

Here we go.

Getting to Pieterburen was its own little adventure. It’s almost as far north as you can get in the Netherlands. There’s a bus from Winsum train station, but we knew we’d miss the last one of the day since we could only leave after work on a Friday. So, we drove up instead, aiming for an early start the next day since the forecast promised a warm one. While Mai, with her short hair, Spanish background, and sun tolerance, could most likely handle it, we preferred to play it safe.

We stayed the night at Hotel Waddengenot, a modest but perfectly positioned (dog-friendly) base for beginning the Pieterpad. Upon request they had prepared breakfast packages to be picked up the evening before, so we could hit the trail before the full breakfast service started. The rooms were fine, nothing fancy, just a simple place to rest before the road.

Morning came, and our journey began with idyllic little fields. We enjoyed watching the sun climb higher. Then... asphalt? Wait.. had we taken a wrong turn? No, the red and white flags were our trusty guides.

By the time we reached Winsum, coffee and cake at De Buurvrouw felt like a small celebration - a lovely little spot. Then more asphalt, and a long, seemingly endless canal path. The views were beautiful: endless fields and peaceful water. But after a while, the sun beat down, and shade became a rare find; the views felt less and less special.

For lunch, we stopped at Garnwerd, about 20 km in. Recharged, we pushed onward, a little saddened by the fact that we were sharing the path with bikers for most of the journey, which meant constantly looking over our shoulders.

While the first part of the Pieterpad wasn’t mind-blowing for us, we kept going and reached Groningen Noord station - the finish line for day one. With 32.8 km down, we were tired, happy, and satisfied.

The trip back to the car was straightforward: a local train to Winsum, then a bus running roughly every hour back to Pieterburen. Our timing was perfect, so only a few minutes’ wait. Back at the hotel, a glass of wine was well-earned.

Note: We decided to tackle etappes 1 and 2 in a single day. I’d only recommend this if you’re feeling fit and eager to get a strong start to the journey.

Meet Mai

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