Weekly Specials at AO for 11-24-08 through 11-30-08

Howdy Folks and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
The WEEKLY SPECIALS for Appalachian Outfitters on Orchard Park Drive are:

Take 25% Off Patagonia Reversible Snap/Zip Jackets!

Take 40% Off Special Edition Apex Bionic Jackets by The North Face!

Buy any 2 pair of Darn Tough socks and get 1 FREE pair!

Take 40% Off "Flight Series" Softshells by The North Face!

Please note: Discounts valid on in-stock items only; no special orders.

We look forward to seeing you soon, and are THANKFUL for 14 years of your support!

WEEKLY SPECIALS for 11-17-08 through 11-23-08

Sorry we're a bit late on updating the weekly specials. . .

Okay, here are the "Weekly Specials" for Appalachian Outfitters on Orchard Park Drive:

TAKE 40% OFF ANY TRAIL RUNNING SHOE IN STOCK. . .&. . .

TAKE 30% OFF ANY SANDALS IN STOCK. . .&. . .

BUY ANY PAIR OF SHOES AND GET 40% OFF ANY SOCKS (Limit of 6 pair per person). . .&. . .

BUY ANY PAIR OF SHOES OR BOOTS & TAKE 20% OFF ANY PAIR OF AFTER-MARKET INSOLES (we stock Down-Unders and Arch Molds). . .AND FINALLY. . .

TAKE 25% OFF THE FOLLOWING SHOES:
-Teva Ossagon (men's & women's)
-Dunham Oakdale Sport (men's)
-Any shoes by "The North Face" (men's & women's)
-All KEEN shoes/sandals in stock!

We look forward to serving you soon!

WEEKLY SPECIALS at APPALACHIAN OUTFITTERS!!

Okay Folks,
This week's "WEEKLY SPECIALS" are:

SAVE 15% OFF ANY SOFTSHELL JACKET IN THE STORE! (Appalachian Outfitters 96 Orchard Park Drive location)

SAVE 15% OFF ANY SHORT-SLEEVED T-SHIRT IN THE STORE! (Appalachian Outfitters West End--Your Life is good Genuine Neighborhood Shoppe)

SPECIALS BEGIN ON 11-06-08 and GO THROUGH 11-12-08 AND ARE VALID ONLY FOR IN-STOCK ITEMS. . .LET THE CRAZINESS BEGIN!

Also, we've got several "gift with purchase" items:
--Buy any jacket or pullover in stock & receive either a FREE key-biner or zip-o-gage
--Buy any Mountain HardWear jacket & receive a FREE custom "Mountain HardWear" CamelBak BPA-free water bottle (we're the only store in the world that sells a "Mountain HardWear water bottle!!)

Gear Review: Granite Gear DryBlock Stuffsacks

For all of you who followed our trip via this blog will certainly have read that the Dutch weather was wet & windy. All of our gear worked very well, but one product in particular turned out to be worth its weight in gold: Granite Gear DryBlock rolldown stuffsacks! These are pictures of these awesome stuffsacks in action (it is the blue thing strapped to the top of my bike rack on a particularly harsh weather day). Diana and I both used these stuffsacks as external drybags and internal organizers; they performed beyond our expectations! We have a variety of sizes to choose from as well as an ultra-light version or a more rugged version (the ultralights are probably best-suited for use inside a pack, while the beefier version will work perfectly with your backpack both externally and internally). More reviews to come. . .

Three Cheers for a GREAT STAFF!

Diana and I cannot believe that we've been home for over a month. . .who would have thought going on vacation would have resulted in so much work upon our return! I guess that is the life of the small business owner. Actually our staff performed flawlessly while we were away and we sincerely thank them for all of their efforts; we quite literally could not have taken such a trip had they not been ready, willing, and able to step-up & manage things! It is wonderful to have such a talented and devoted staff. . .what can we say: WE LOVE YOU GUYS!

"truly difficult cycling conditions"

We rode out of Sneek on Thursday and pedalled across the aufsliutsdijk (30+kms on a dike).  The weather was absolutely perfect and sunny with light winds...that is until we turned south toward Hoorn.  A strong wind blowing directly in our faces brought driving rain and truly difficult cycling conditions.  A local cyclist saw us & asked us where we were going; when I said "Hoorn?", he paused and said, "Hoorn?...Sheet!...No, dis ees Medimblik".  We were wet & cold & we just wanted a roof over our heads, so we said, "Okay, Medimblik is good!". The local VVV (tourist information) booked a room at a local guest house & we went straight there.
  The next morning we began our ride toward Hoorn under dark skies, and the weather quickly deteriorated into driving rain with fierce headwinds.  After becoming thoroughly soaked and  frustrated by more rain, we turned the bikes toward Alkmaar to cash some Amex travellers cheques.  From Alkmaar, we headed toward Haarlem, but were forced off the bikes by more driving rain and dropping temperatures; we found shelter in a family-run hotel in Castricum.  We ate fried hamburgers and French fries for dinner (hey, we're on vacation after all).  The next morning we pedaled away from the hotel under ominous skies that began spitting rain within 15 minutes of our departure, and headed for Haarlem.  Diana found a fabulous B&B just out of town & we had a relaxing (read "warm & dry") evening there.  Today was spent seeing the sites of Haarlem, taking pictures, and drinkingcoffee & tea on the Grote Market in Haarlem-- it has been wonderful.
More pictures will be posted upon our return.

It's Hard to Believe that it has been a whole week!

Pictures from our journey so far. We are in Sneets at a library which is about to close. We thought we'd share a few photos from the trip so far. We're having a wonderful time in the rain and the sunshine. It's a beautiful country with friendly, helpful people. We'll make more entries soon. So far all of our gear is working perfectly. Even on cold and rainy days we've been comfortable. Because of limited internet access, we will greatly enhance this blog and the photo album when we return. Thanks for following along...

This is how the bikes look before assembly

Assembly

Outside the apartment in Amsterdam.

Traveling out in the country. Sometimes it rained!




NavigatingCranking over the bicycle ferry to cross a canal.




At the Kruller-Muller Museum.

Leaving our hotel in Ede. It started raining 5 minutes after this.

Heading out for dinner in Epe. More rain.

A typical sign post showing the numerous bike paths. These are handy when things get confusing.

Riding in the sunshine yesterday!

In Heerenveen on Tuesday. Walking along the canal.