On Easter Sunday Koen and I went on a bike ride and ended up in Oirschot, a town about 10 km as the crow flies from Boxtel (the red dots on the map above show our approximate route).

We rode south from Boxtel, and it was a lovely spring day (bit like a warm Aussie winter's day really). On the way, we stopped to talk to some chooks at a free-range chook farm.

Koen accidentally sneezed and sent the whole farmyard scuttling in fright, so we decided to end our visit and keep riding.

We were heading for a wetland area. I tried to take a picture of some swans that I saw there, but they were too far away, so all you can see is some white dots in the distance. :-(

After riding around the roads near the wetlands, dark rainclouds began to gather when I stopped to take a pic.

I wish this picture was clearer. In real life, there were bird watchers all along the edges of the wetland with binoculars and telescopes. The only major wetland birds I managed to see were swans, ducks and seagulls though.

Koen did a ferret dance to emphasise that I should put the camera away so that we could ride south away from the coming rain. :-)

As we rode south towards the town of Spoordonk (pronounced Spore-donk), we passed along lots of roads like the one in the pic below.

The sides of these roads are all signposted with bike route signs to direct the cycling Dutch on their countryside trips.

Finally we came to the small rural town of Spoordonk. Here is a picture of a farmers cottage on the outskirts of the town. Note the thatched roof!

Riding out of Spoordonk, we saw some Shetland ponies in a farmer's field. These little ponies are EVERYWHERE in Holland. I think the farmers use them to keep the grass down in their fields.

After 10 minutes more riding, we reached Oirschot (pronounced Orshot). We hadn't intended to go there originally, but at the wetlands we decided that since we were already halfway there, we may as well make the trip.

Koen's mother had said that she thinks the market square in Oirschot is one of the most beautiful in the region, and she wasn't wrong!

This Catholic church in the market square was built in the 15th centrury!

Koen and I wandered around a little, and Koen found another church. It didn't look as grand as the one in the market square, but when Koen translated the plaque at the door, it turns out that this church was an old roman building of worship (now a Protestant church), and it was built...wait for it...in about 900AD!!!

The market square in Oirschot is flanked by cafes, and today (being Easter Sunday) the cafes were packed out.

Koen and I managed to find a small cafe a little way up a street away from the square, where it was quiet. We had a drink there out by the pavement.

After that we decided to ride home. I would have taken more pics, but unfortunately we rode into the rain storm and I had to keep my digital camera protected.

Maybe next time we go I'll get some more photos.