Dedicated to Anna, our awesome van driver......

Anna relaxing after getting the van to our destination - catching up on her journal

Doesn't she look confident behind the wheel?

A nightly ritual for these 2 - John Vander Steen always joins them....

 

A tour needs a vehicle travelling with it that will bring our luggage from place to place, store extra bike tires and pumps and food for along the way.  A van needs a driver and Anna Berghout was asked if she would be willing to be the driver.  Bernie, her husband, wants to cycle and Anna wants to come along, so she said yes to Bill.  The van rented is not a small one - it holds 9 people - the back seat would be left with the rental agency to leave room for the luggage and bikes if needed.  It also has a standard transmission......good thing Anna learned to drive in a car with the standard transmission.
Bernie and Anna arrived a day early so they could pick up the Ford - Transit van and bring it to the airport for the others to off load their baggage before we set off.  Right from Schiphol, Anna has been driving.
Anna sure knows the size of her van - she can squeeze through the tightest spots - the rest of us close our eyes and hold our breath.....she is the most confident driver on the narrowest and busiest roads. No one wants to trade places with her.  Each night Anna, Bill and John sit down to discuss the route.  This can change at a moments notice so thankfully  the "Tom Tom" is in the van and it will instantly replan the route and we are on our way again.
Anna always gets where we need to be at the end of the cycling day.  If the van arrives earlier than the  cylists, Anna has gone in and organized all the keys, has figured out who sleeps in the shared rooms, where the bikes will be stored overnight and any other information the cyclists may need to know. The van always needs to be supplied with food and drinks for the cyclists and guess who gets to do the shopping for the supplies, you guessed it, Anna and whoever is riding in the van with her.  Thanks Anna for being such a great support to all!