Posted by Les Faber in In my most recent post I talked about the much touted bicycle event that was to take place today here in Ottawa: Go Green, Go Dutch, Go Bike. Nasty (I mean NASTY!) weather could not deter some of Ottawa’s most die hard (eco-friendly) cyclists. Among them were myself, my wife Helen and our special guest, Helen’s Dad Douwe – an almost eighty year old cyclist from the old country.
Douwe & Helen
By the time we arrived at the appointed meeting spot, we had already seen small bits of hail. The temperature was barely above freezing. And the cyclists kept on coming!
10 bucks for a tee shirt promoting the event. What more could one ask for?
In essence the event was to promote cycling, health, sustainability, and the long-standing relationship between Canada & Holland (aka the Netherlands). MC was Dutch Ambassador Geerts. And of course the promotion of Ottawa’s first ever cycling mushroom!
Clive Doucet & Ambassador Geerts of the Netherlands
Ottawa's First Cycling Mushroom
Here’s a quick video of the group cycling from The Pretoria Bridge & Queen Elizabeth Drive to near the old Frank Claire Stadium.
Go Green, Go Dutch, Go Bike – Ottawa from Les on Vimeo.
Add of course some more pics!
Helen, Les, and Douwe, sir, where to start?!
You look(ed) magnificent! Such fitting weather for a Dutch event
, and you all weathered it in style! So great to see you ride together and putting on those smiles! I chuckled as well, seeing you just in pretty normal attire, not needing any capes and such 
Of course the pics warmed my Dutch heart, not just because of the presence of your Oma and Opa!
Thanks for putting up that video so quickly, Les! Nice to catch that before going to bed
.
I’m sure you’re now enjoying that graanjenever by the open fire
Liefs,
Marc
Thanks buddy! Of note: The Dutch Ambassador and his charming wife both arrived “sans helmet”. As usual, nice people come from all walks of life if they are from the Netherlands. I felt like a Dutch emissary – extolling the virtues of your homeland. Helen’s Dad is a real firecracker. 80 years old (on June 12th) and holding his own!
That’s good to know, although I promised myself to not be bothered about the H-bomb
.
You’d make a great ambassador, Les
June 12? That makes sense, those jolly-and-hard-to-crack Gemini!
(I’m June 7 and my dad June 11 :-p)
Looked like a lot of fun even with the poor weather!
It was fun Ryan….. Gotta admit that the hail had me a bit discouraged – not for long though.
You are a hardy bunch, you Fabers!
We hope to meet Helen’s Dad sometime!
Cheers
Greg + Tracy
We all had a ball doing it with all that hail pelting us from the artic. I almost fell of my bike laughing when a ultra hardy rider in shorts, passed us with hail bouncing off his kneecaps ! The ambiance was great and I can hardly wait to do it again next year.
Thanks “Cyclemania” for your fine report !
Happy Birthday, Douwe! Tachtig jaar is niet zoveel als je het snel zegt
Best,
Marc
You (my friend) have class!
Go green go dutch go Freeze..that was ONE COLD DAY!
Karine