8. Bolsward
Snow-covered tracks
Listen Kees Bovée: “Keeping a close eye on our fuel gauge, we now, more often than in the morning, took a cup of warm chocolate milk or warm lemonade with lots of dextrose which I had in my sewn on pockets. Our bodies seemed to be wrung dry from all the perspiring. The delay never lasted more than 1 or 2 minutes. As soon as we stood still, our muscles got stiff with the cold, so that only after ten minutes of skating our temperature was back to normal again. Thirst kept tormenting me, so I regularly put a handful of snow in my mouth. With icicles on our heads and our chests white with frozen breath, we tried to get through the loose ice.” George Schweigmann: “In earlier tours, when I arrived in Bolsward, it was a tradition that my father went there by bus. I used to say then: “Father, if my schedule is correct, I will be in Bolsward at twelve o’clock. If I manage that, I’ll make it”. So he was waiting in Bolsward on the ice, and there I was, at ten past twelve! Had a little chat. Quickly drank a mug of warm milk, and went on again. See, that way family can be of help. As long as they don’t come and skate with you.” Photos: WW: taking that photo completely blinded me, with disastrous consequences: I couln’t see anything anymore. All the skaters flew past me. I was knocked down in the snow and first couldn’t find the track anymore Tour skaters from Bolsward on their way to Schettens