The Armstrongs reach the Netherlands

By By Chris Whitaker / staff writer
June 6, 2002
Andy Armstrong and his grandson Eric treated themselves to an afternoon of rest Wednesday after making their way by bike to the Netherlands.
After waking at their hotel in Lier, Belgium, at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Andy and Eric ate a continental breakfast before hitting the road. A thunderstorm passed through the night before.
Before leaving, Andy and Eric placed their cameras and other valuables in plastic bags to protect them from water. Andy said they traveled mostly on flat terrain along a major road.
When they passed through a Belgium town, they saw a big school.
Andy said two girls from the school told him they go to class from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the week, except for Wednesday they leave at noon.
For lunch, Andy and Eric ate at a snack trailer.
He said he had a Filipino egg roll, adding that he had eaten his last fried food on the trip. Eric had a hamburger and chicken shish kebab.
Although roads in the Netherlands were more bicycle-friendly, Andy said, the street signs were similar to those in Belgium. He said they have seen a lot of porcupines and rabbits on their trip.
Andy said he and Eric decided to stop for the day about 2:30 p.m.