Man, what a day! I swear, Schaijk really knows how to throw a curveball. So, I’m a mountain guide, right? But today, I found myself in this little Dutch town, and lemme tell ya, it was a wild ride.
First off, I roll into Schaijk, and it’s like, where’s the mountain? I mean, c’mon! I’m used to peaks and valleys, not flatlands and windmills. But hey, I’m open-minded. I park my van on the Kerkstraat, thinking I’d grab a coffee at this cute little café called De Koffieboon. Sounds fancy, right?
So, I walk in, and it’s packed! Like, who knew Schaijk had this many coffee lovers? I’m standing there, waiting, and this dude in front of me orders a “double shot, half-caf, soy latte with extra foam.” I’m like, bro, it’s coffee, not a science experiment! But whatever, I’m chillin’.
Finally, I get my black coffee—thank goodness! I take a sip, and it’s like heaven. I’m feeling good, ready to explore. I head down the Hoofdstraat, and it’s all shops and people. I see this old windmill, and I’m like, “Whoa, that’s kinda cool.” I snap a pic for the ‘gram, ya know?
But then, outta nowhere, it starts pouring! I mean, like, monsoon-level rain. I’m soaked in seconds. I duck into this random shop on the corner of Molenstraat. Turns out, it’s a thrift store. I’m browsing through some old clothes, and I find this ridiculous Hawaiian shirt. I can’t resist. I buy it, thinking, “This’ll be a hit on my next mountain trip.” Spoiler alert: it won’t.
So, I’m walking around in my new shirt, looking like a tourist gone wrong. I hit up the local park, which is actually pretty nice. There’s this pond, and I see some ducks. I’m like, “Aww, cute!” But then, one of the ducks starts chasing me! I’m running around, flapping my arms like a maniac. People are staring, and I’m just laughing. Like, who knew ducks could be so aggressive?
After that, I’m feeling a bit peckish. I spot a food truck on the side of the road. It’s called “Schaijk Snacks.” I order a frikandel, and let me tell ya, it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I’m munching away, and this old lady comes up to me. She’s like, “You’re not from around here, are ya?” I’m like, “Nope, just a mountain guy lost in flatland.” We both crack up.
But then, I get a text from my buddy. He’s supposed to meet me, but he’s stuck in traffic. I’m like, “Dude, it’s a small town! How can you be stuck?” I’m getting annoyed, but whatever. I decide to check out the local church, St. Willibrordus. It’s beautiful! I’m standing there, admiring the architecture, when I hear this loud bang. Turns out, it’s just some kids playing with fireworks. I’m like, “Really? In the middle of the day?”
Finally, my buddy shows up, and he’s all flustered. He’s like, “Dude, I thought I’d never find you!” I’m like, “I’m the only guy in a Hawaiian shirt in Schaijk!” We laugh it off and decide to hit up a local bar.
We end the night at Café De Zwaan, and it’s packed. Everyone’s having a blast. We order some beers, and I’m feeling good again. I start telling stories about my mountain adventures, and people are actually listening! I’m like, “Wow, I should do this more often.”
As the night winds down, I’m reflecting on the day. I came to Schaijk expecting nothing, and I left with a ton of memories. I mean, who knew a flat little town could be so full of surprises? I’m still not sure about the ducks, though. They’re still haunting my dreams.
Anyway, I’m out. Schaijk, you’ve been a trip!