> Rob Ainsley's World Bath Tour 1999-2000
All the Baths in the World (by bike)
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Diary: Delft, Netherlands

Saturday 8 May 1999
Why Delft? It's not an official or even unofficial twin, but is loosely associated with Bath as a fellow member of the two-dozen strong collection of cities in the Urban Forum for Sustainable Development. Which meant a good excuse to visit this delightful canalside town and to drop in on Donald Boyd, whose job we never quite pinpointed, but it was something ecological. More important, he organised a day of mayhem to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Wereld Winkel (World Shop) a chain selling eco-products and fair-trade goods, everything from coffee to model bicycles.

Sorry it's so big. Rob pedalling a trishaw, slowly
And Donald had corralled us in on the act. Rob had the chance to pedal an Indonesian trishaw - see above. (Thanks to the Wereld Winkel lot for the photo.) There was a procession of cycle taxis with Rob pedalling the Delft councillor for sustainable development. We clattered round Delft's lovely cobbled canalside lanes, through the markets and hordes of shoppers - not quite the tour of the town I'd had in mind, but great fun, if a trifle tough on the knees. The Wereld Winkel lot were great company, and we went out for a meal in the evening with them and a couple of local cycle campaigners. Good fun, great craic - or should that be kraak? - and many many thanks to Donald for organising it all.

It was particularly enjoyable for us because Indonesia is a guilt-free colony for the British. India, Pakistan, the Caribbean, Africa, Ireland - the British have been there and, while not all bad, have certainly lots of things to answer for. Not my ancestors' doing of course - they were too busy stealing sheep and watering down milk in rural parts of England - but still enough to make you feel rather sheepish. (If my great-great-grandfather hadn't stolen it, that is.)

But Indonesia! Nothing to do with me, pal. Take it up with Joop van der Stroop of Delft, and leave me to enjoy my rijstaffel, coffee and cigars. (I don't smoke.) Top day - thanks again everyone.