The Boat Bike Tours Podcast
Join us on an enlightening journey as host Mark Schalekamp interviews Gijsbert Valstar, who’s been a tour leader for Boat Bike Tours since 2015, but has worked with cycling tours his whole adult life. In this debut episode, Gijsbert – in his very honest and blunt way – describes just how the tours combine cycling and boating. A sampling: “A tailwind for a foreign tourist is a storm, and we [the Dutch] think it’s a breeze.” His love for cycling and his enjoyment of leading these tours shines through in his reluctance to give away too much information about secret places he shows his guests.
Don’t miss Episode 1 – it’s a delightful start to an entertaining series that will kindle (or rekindle) your wanderlust. Click play now on Spotify and join the conversation!
TIME STAMPS:
00:00-00:29 Cold Open
00:29-02:19 Introductions
02:19-03:48 The start of Boat Bike Tours
03:48-06:24 Navigating France
06:24-10:14 What a typical day looks like
10:14-12:29 Expectation of Holland
12:29-13:42 Training for Boat Bike Tours
13:42-16:35 What keeps Gijsbert going
16:35-21:30 Hidden gems
21:30-24:35 There are no rules in Amsterdam
24:35-27:13 What makes Boat Bike Tours special
27:13-28:14 Thank you
Want to know more?
► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OcBnJKh0qtjNtDZ2lC1yx
► Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuh_-u-rpLTylo_48Xq823w
► Website: https://www.boatbiketours.com/podcast/episode-1-meet-tour-guide-gijsbert-valstar/
► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boatbiketours/
► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boatbiketours/
6 Comments
I have been considering Boat Bike Tours for a while and I enjoyed hearing from one of the guides. I just hope we get the tailwinds!
Love the idea of an active holiday❤
We’re signed up for our first tour in April. I love getting more info on what to expect. His comment about experiencing the smells was not something I’d thought about. I’m looking forward to it. Much more immersive than just driving by in a car or bus.
So excited as we signed up for our first one for April 2025!!
It's alway a good question to ask yourself "why not?". Disclaimer I'm also a tourguide.. but it's the best to just ride along through local landscapes..chat with locals..learn a bit about the country but also just plain fun with all your fellow riders from all over the world
We loved our tour of Croatia a year ago. Edi and Marco, tour guides, are outstanding guides!