Ruth’s Diary

We got a very early start at about quarter of eight as we had a long ride ahead of us. We went through some towns with strange sounding names – Woww – Elsie & Dot started on ahead & I started shortly after, but didn’t catch up. As usual I took the longest road. Outside of Breda I ran into George, Harold & Tom. George went on ahead, Tom dropped behind which left Harold & me together. We stopped on the road to get something to drink & then met up with the others at Dourdrecht (?). They had already bot lunch & had it prepared so we ate. When we were about finished the rest came up – Florence, “Phoebe” Lincoln, & Tom. Florence had run into Tom in the morning & had bent a pedal so she was slowed up. From Dordrecht we rode into Rotterdam – left our packs & took just enough clothing for a couple of days. Before we left we stopped at the Am. Express for mail & for Dutch money & then rode on through The Hague to Scheveningen (?). This is a famous sea resort but we did not arrive in time for a swim – only in time to get washed & go to eat. We ate in a restaurant, the first time since Germany. We had a very good meal for 80 Dutch cents, about .40 in our money – soup, potatoes, string beans, & very good steak. After dinner we walked to the beach & our first glimpse of the Atlantic in a month & a half – & how much we have seen in that time. Harold & I walked on the beach – he had never seen a beach before & the waves he thot was surf. He was thrilled to pieces to pick up shells on the beach. There were many jelly fish on the beach, huge ones & saw a queer thing that Harold thought was a squid. On our way back to the hostel we stopped & bot some ice cream & sat beside the road to eat it – much to everyone’s amusement or perhaps amazement.