HOEK OF HOLLAND BEACH,

about 13 km from my home, is easily reached on a path behind the dunes.
On Saturday-morning there are, with a bright blue sky, many cyclists at the narrow path. They ride race-bikes, are clothed in race-suits and you see mainly groups together, 4, 6 or 10 persons, men mostly, women less. They go fast, of course faster than I go, not looking left or right to choose a subject for photographing. The leader shouts instructions, "fietser", "rechtsaf", "paal op de weg", to avoid accidents. They race for relaxation, after a week of stress and little body-exercise. Some people say there should be made racing-paths for them like there are horse-paths for horses.
On the beach of Hoek van Holland I met a couple with 3 bearded-collies.
Two sisters, they tell me, and a grandon of one of the sisters, after I told them that we had Moby, a bearded-collie, who died some years ago, 13 and half year old. They like to talk about their dogs, what caracter they have, one of the forefathers a world-champion, photos of the dogs going round the world, in albums everywhere. Of course I can take photos and they put the 3 dogs in a row, and tell them to sit still. This makes me happy.
The blip, however, is a different one. The little beach-houses, not yet occupied, in a neat row. At the background the industrial area of the Maasvlakte, at the other side of the "Nieuwe Waterweg". The canal from Rotterdam to the North Sea.