8:55 am
On the Witmarsumervaart 'klunen' at Witmarsum. Still a leading group of 12 skaters.
On to Harlingen. Then there is 85 kilometers left. Hulzenbosch leads. Right below Harlingen, under a bridge, around some obstruction.
9:19 am
Arrival at checkpoint Harlingen.
1 Hulzenbosch, 2 Y Kramer, 3 Angenent, 4 Stam, 5 R Ruitenberg, 6 Henry Ruitenberg, 7
Bakker 8 van Meggelen 9 Verduin, 10 Hagen, 11 P Kleine, 12 v Benthem.
There haven't been any attempts to break away from the group so far. People are skating
'calmly', often switching places with others.
A short stretch of the Harinxmakanaal has rough ice since ships traversed this water only recently. There is little snow on the ice, it is quite clean. Last year around this time there was a lot of sand blown onto the ice, this year there is no problem with that.
9:25 am
Second group arrives at the checkpoint, almost 7 minutes behind the leaders.
9:28 am
On the way to Franeker. Wonderful. An almost deserted
landscape, snow, bleu-white skies, partly cloudy.
The ice looks relatively nice but somewhat bumpy. Yep Kramer leads. It's amazing he skates
this well, even brushing your teeth or pulling on skates can hurt with bruised ribs.
9:30 am
Short stretch of Kluning at the Sexbierumervaart. De distance between Harlingen and Franeker is 12 kilometers, over ice. In Franeker the total distance covered is 130 kilometers. R. Ruitenberg takes a fall, but quickly recovers.
9:34 am
Henry Ruitenberg and Stam take a fall, both are back up and skating soon after. Big cracks in the ice are easily spotted, the big ones are more treacherous.
9:48 am
Checkpoint in Franeker, where the whole town is celebrating
near the famous 'Elevencitiesbridge'. Music bands playing on the ice, partying crowds.
Order at this checkpoint:
1 Bakker, 2 Kramer, 3 H Ruitenberg, 4 van Meggelen, 5 Verduin, 6 Stram, 7 Hulzebosch, 8 R
Ruitenberg, 9 P Kleine , 10 angenent, 11, Henk van Benthem 12, Hagen
Hagen follows a significant distance behind the others.
9:51 am
Speed drops on the way to Bartlehiem. Not surprisingly, since the skaters got the cold wind directly ahead of them. Skating is still done sensibly and the members of the lead group take turns taking the point. The second group has fallen over 8 1/2 minutes behind the leaders. Hagen has left the lead group. 11 skaters continue on.
10:13 am
Nearby Wier. Sometimes speed drops sharply. The kilometers
add up.. At times loads of spectators lining the course.
© Digital Region Friesland 1997