Germany 2009

We are in Germany at last!!!!

We left Delfzil on Tuesday morning at about 9 am. I was very apprehensive and it was very sad to say goodbye to Lois and Bob. Monday we went out for dinner to celebrate my coming birthday (the big 6o!!!) and to say goodbye. There weren’t many restaurants open and we had to settle on pizzas. They were crisp but very tasty.

The weather was very kind to us. It was a gorgeous sunny day with winds at about 9klm/hour. It was very easy sailing and quite uneventful until the police boat came past and stopped us. We were sailing  in the middle of the green and red channel markers. He told us to move closer to the right of the channel and took our details. Russel said that it was because I was driving and I felt safer away from the shallow waters. I must admit I did feel safer. The thing about this trip is the wind and the tides could be against us but it all worked for us as Russel had been aware of this and selected the appropriate time and day so sailing the  Dollards (Dutch) or the Dollarts as the Germans call it was fairly uneventful but challenging.

                                                              

Goodbye to Lois and Bob

House being towed across the Dollart

This was the only boat we saw going across apart from the police boat!!

We came into Emden via a huge loch – 40 meters wide and 220 meters long. We were unsure how to attach to the walls but as we were the only ones in the loch we weren’t that worried. Then the doors opened again and the house that we saw in the Dollart came in too. This house was made in Heereveen in Holland and towed to Emden where it is now on show in the marina.

The house in the big loch with us

We sailed into the middle of Emden town and saw heaps of places to stay so pulled up and plugged into the power and have been here for a few days.

 

We spent some time working on getting internet and have found a vodafone system which allows us to book either 15 minutes or 1 hour every time we log on and it is using a phone card system. So as long as we don’t receive heaps of very big emails which hasn’t been happening, we will be OK.

We have been keeping in touch with Amanda and Josh via the Skype. Before we left the Netherlands, David put Joshua on skype, we didn’t get a smile but he was very interested in trying to find out where the voices were coming from. He has grown so much and is now three months old. Only 6 more weeks and I will see him. Amanda sends us photos from time to time.

Today we spent some time exploring Emden. We went to the local museum which was in the old Stadhuis. One section showed all the weapons that they had in the 15 century. I have never seen so many large rifles in one place. It was fascinating.

Tomorrow we leave on our next adventure in Germany. So far we have found Germany to be great and the people very friendly. The youth are certainly different from those in the Netherlands. They remind me of the youth in Australia. I see a lot of strange hair – colour and style, rings in ears, noses etc. Last night some raged all night and cut the chains of the house which moved further down the canal and stopped against a sailing boat. I wonder if its because the Dutch youth spend lots of time sailing that they seem more adjusted.

We didn’t leave Emden- our internet didn’t work so we spent three hours in the Vodafone shop trying to get it to work. We will try it again tomorrow so let’s hope we have it working.

We decided to visit the bunker museum. This was built in the Second World War for protection. It was the one of the only buildings left standing in Emden in the town centre. It was all about Hitler and the Jews. What we could read it was interesting.

We then went for a ride to the Kesselscheluse (Kessel Loch). This was a circular loch with entrances on the four points of the compass. Very different from what we are use to.

Round loch

We stayed in Emden , but caught the bus to a place called Aurich which was 25 klms from Emden. We were told to visit the church, but once again when we arrived it was the wrong day and it was locked. However luck was with us – a young girl came to put something back into the church and Russel asked if we could have a look. The churches here are certainly different to most European churches. Not as elaborate and have there own style.

                              Russel in Aurich – this was a wall that was covered in
                                  plaster paris food.

Friday night we spent drinking on a Dutch boat. This couple had just returned from sailing to Denmark. He spoke a German and English and the more drinks he had the more confused he got to which language to use. Russel had to remind him that he must speak English to us. For dinner she gave us some smoked halibut on a roll. It was very yummy!!

We left Emden the next day to travel down the Ems SeitenKanal to Oldersum – there is nothing here!!!

                                                 

We are waiting for the tide to change so we can leave here and head for Leer, where we hope to find a restaurant to celebrate!! – I turned 60 today – is it really a celebration!!

Well Sunday came and went and now I am 60. Thanks to all those well wishes. I had a good day. We went through the loch at Oldersum easily and turned into the Ems River. We were going 17klm per hour. The most we had ever been was 11, so the tide was really helping.

    

                                                 Hopefully showing the fast flow

I was a little concerned with the fast flowing river, but more so about running a ground. As we turned off the river into the Leer Russel found it really hard to get through the rushing water but he put the power on and got through it. We had to wait two hours for the sea lock to open so we moored on a jetty where the harbour master helped us. He told us where to go once we got through the loch, so things went very smoothly. The loch got me though and we ended up taking a bit of paint off the sides of the boat.

Leer was a pretty little town. I didn’t realize it was going to be so big. The harbour master told us where to go for dinner so we had a really interesting meal to celebrate my birthday plus a few wines. I had onion soup followed by a pork medallion covered in tiny little prawns, champignons and hollandaise sauce. All very tasty!!!

We spent the next day exploring the town. Riding over the cobble stone roads can be fun. One certainly can feel every stone and ones’ body just shakes. We try and get onto the footpaths as much as possible. We went into a few more churches which were magnificent.

                                          One of the many statues in Leer

We left Tuesday at 2pm. That’s the time the sea loch is opened. I was really nervous about going back out the sea lock so I put my life jacket on.   It was the bit that where the canal joins the river that is most scary. We followed another boat and he started to go sideways when he hit so I was really scared then. Russel however gave it heaps of power and we went through easily. I was so relieved and when I looked at Russel I could see that he was too!!!

We followed heaps of barges and went through heaps of lochs without a problem I think I have mastered how to do these big lochs now.

Well that certainly was the wrong statement. The next loch was a total disaster!!!!  The following is how Russel’s describes it.

Germany is a bit more difficult to move around  - people don’t speak English as much as in the Netherlands nor is the place set up for English speaking  tourists as the Netherlands. Distances are a lot larger between towns also. We had a real problem yesterday – we drove 6 hours from a place called Dorpen to Oldenburg – a fairly boring canal the Kusten – we got to Oldenburg about 5pm – we had to go through a lock from the canal into the tidal Unter River. We went into the lock and Penny passed the bow line to a fellow from the commercial barge that had gone in before us – that is when it all started. Our boat went sideways in the lock  - I tried to correct it and drove the boat into the lock wall – smash(badly scratched and dented the bow) and then the operator closed the lock doors and discharged the lock – I haven’t seen a lock discharge so quickly – as we started to go down Penny realized she had tied off one of the ropes that she should have been letting out as we went down (down 3msuddenly the boat was being held up by that rope and the boat was tilting sideways – I rushed inside and got a knife rushed back on deck and cut the rope  - 12 tonne of boat dropped about 1m  - it was the  scariest thing I have been involved with – just goes to show how careful you have to be  - no errors. The German waterways are set up for commercial vessels and sports boats just have to fit in.

I am now very frightened going into lochs. We entered one yesterday to get into Elsfleth. It went up 4 meters, but it was a private loch going into a yacht club and the operator spoke good English and helped us tie up. It was a pleasant experience.

This is a picture of the loch we went in at Oldenburg.

A very scary Loch

The water in the loch gets big currents when the barge leaves. You have to hang onto the ropes very tightly. I am not sure I really want to go on, but I suppose the more lochs we have to do the better I will get at it.

We spent two days in Oldenburg where I found a Lonely Planet on Germany and what is better it is in English, so we can work out what is best to see in the bigger towns. In the smaller towns they do not have very much in English.

We then travelled to Elsfleth where we have decided to stay until Monday. They have a medieval festival on today and tomorrow. We wandered around this morning and had lunch. We had a large sausage in a bun and then Russel had matjes in a bun (looks like pickled herring) – he loved it. Then we ordered a piece of cake – it was huge – we shared. I now know why the German people are all overweight. It’s the sweet food they eat in large quantities. We certainly have noticed the difference in them compared to the Dutch. They are shorter and more over weight.

We left Elsfleth and headed to Bremen where we stayed nearly four days. We left about 2.30 in the afternoon as it was very hot and humid so we thought traveling would be more pleasant. It was so humid that I for the first time put on my bathers had a cold shower to cool down. We stopped in a little town called Aurich where the biggest electric storm finally hit and the rain came down and cooled us all down.

We left this morning before breakfast so we could get through the first loch early. We have since been through two more and are starting to learn how to best handle our ropes. We are in Wesser River which is no longer tidal. The river was tidal in Bremen and we were tied to a floating jetty on the side of the River very close to the old town.

Arcturus tied to floating jetty in Bremen

Bremen was fabulous. I really enjoyed the old city and we tried lots of local treats – long sausage in a very small bun covered in mustard was a local favourite. We did a city tour with a very passionate Bremen local and also a tour of the town hall. We caught the bus out to the botanical gardens to see the Rhododendrons and caught the train up to Bremer haven for the day.  

There are many statues in Bremen but the most famous is The Musician of Bremen in their famous pose. I search a local book shop and found the story in English so I can read it to Joshua when he gets a little older.

Whilst there we also attended a political meeting with the locals The Chancellor of Germany was speaking – there is an election soon.

We couldn’t get close enough to get a picture so took it of the big TV.

Bremen town centre

                                                                     A narrow street in Bremen.

One of many statues

 

Bremen at night

We had decided not to sail to Bremer Haven – a big mistake. There is so much to see. Many museums that you can’t see in one day. For those who are coming to Germany make sure you sail to Bremer Haven and stay at least three days.

We chose to see the Deutsches Auswanderer Haus. This exhibition showed the life of an Emigrant to America from the day they arrived on the wharf to the time they arrived in America at Ellis Island. Over 7 million people left Bremer Haven for America between 1830 to 1974. It was very realistic. We were given a boarding pass of an emigrant – Russel was Carl Laemmle who emigrated in 1884. He became one of  the famous Hollywood film producers. 

We boarded the boat and were able to look at the conditions that people traveled. All classes were shown.

 The picture below shows Russel arriving at Ellis Island and going through customs.

Today we are traveling down the Wesser River to Minden then onto Hanover.

We needed to go into this schleuse to get to Minden.

The schleuse at the top

We went to a yacht club that the Gilberts recommended about 4 klm out of Minden and there we found a couple of New Zealanders. We had two nights together attended the barby Saturday night where we filled up on the local spare ribs and then rode into Minden on the Sunday.

Germany is not as quiet as Holland on Sundays and we were able to go into a museum near the big schleuse (loch). This museum was on the waterways of Germany with working models. It was very interesting and for 1.5 euro we also got into watch the big loch working. Russel and I had come up this loch the day before with a tourist boat full of tourists taking photos of us

 

This is the model showing how the schleuse fils and emptys

We lalso watched the professionals also getting it wrong. When the schleuse was going down one of guys on the barge couldn’t get the rope off the bollard in the wall, so had to leave it and come and pick it up when the schleuse emptied. Next came a very big French hotel boat that took up the whole schleuse. He got his rope caught like I did and he needed help from another mate to leaver it off. It looked very dangerous.

The rope wouldn't come off so he had to leave it and attach another one as the schleuse went up.

It just fitted in!!!

                     
The large barges carry their own car. We watched this car coming off the boat. It was very interesting.

Germany is so different from Holland. It is a bigger country and one needs to travel long distances. We don’t usually like traveling for hours but it has to be here. We are on the Mittellandkanal now which is long and boring. I did the washing this morning as we were traveling along.

                                  

                                              A view from our helm of the Mittellandkanal

From Bremen to Minden we came through 8 locks and went up 46 metres all up and under 26 bridges.

We have now worked out a system for these schleuse. We sail in with all the fenders up as high as possible and Russel stops close to a ladder and there is a bollard in the wall that I can attach the centre rope to. I hold this until Russel comes and takes over. I then get a small rope and attach to the ladder and hold it tight when Russel as to take his rope off to put on the next bollard as we are going up. We keep repeating this until we get to the top. This morning we went through a 13 metre up schleuse.

                                      Waiting for Schleuse to open

                                 We are sailing into this loch. I will attach centre rope

                                           Russel holding centre rope waiting to go up.

                                                  Almost up the 13 metres

New Town Hall in Hannover. We caught a lift up to the top of the dome. The lift curved around the dome and actually tipped to the side as we were going up. Really scary!!!

                                                  Me in Hamelin with the Pied Piper

                                            Buildings in Celle

We left Hanover and traveled east on the Mittellandkanal for  about 7 hours until we pulled over at a gorgeous marina which reminded us of the early days of the Dawsville  cut development.

                                   We stayed here at Abbesbuttel for the night.

We left early the next morning and traveled about 4 klm and turned north off the Mittellandkanal onto the Elbeseitenkanal  and after  7.5 hours arrived at Uelzen where we stayed two nights because we went and had a look at the local railway station as suggested by the second harbourmaster. We had a meal at the yacht  club and met a few other travelers and spent another boozy night with a couple from Hamburg, who plied Russel with Vietnamese vodka. We were feeling a little delicate so stayed another night.

The entrance to the Railway station

Sunday we continued along the Elbeseitenkanal where after about three hours we arrived at the Luneburg twin ship lift. We were both  impressed with the marvel of engineering. We were called in with another barge. He didn’t leave us much room but we managed to slip our bow at his side and just snuck in. It was a bit scary when he left the lift because of his wash when he started his engines.

The lift took us down 32 metre in a bath tub.

 The railway station was unusual and impressive and very different, not what one would expect in Germany.

                                                 The Twin Ship  Lift

The wash as the barge was leaving

A few klm passed this lift we turned into the Elbe River and are now moored in the Yacht haven at Lauenburg. We went for a ride and found the most gorgeous old city. 

Whilst riding around we saw a sign which suggested boat storing so we went into Hitzler Werft which is a very large ship building works and they showed us the big hall where we could store our boat. So we can now rest. We have a home for our boat and its out of the water and in a big hall covered by a big tarp. They build ice breaking ships during the winter in the hall so we need to cover the boat from dust etc.

                                                     Arcturus new home!!!

So that day we headed to Hamburg to meet some German friends. We met this couple in Harlingen in The Netherlands and we had a drink with him and he showed us different things about Germany water ways.

We arrived in their yacht club which is about 20 klm out of Hamburg centre. They showed us the ropes and we sat and had coffee and a mandarin cheese cake Margrit had made. It was gorgeous and as they were leaving for Belgium the next day she gave us the rest of the cake.

                                      The beginings of a great friendship with Margrit and Dietmar

So we have been in Hamburg ever since and we love it. We ride down to the train station – about 3 klm and catch the train to central station. Our ticket covers all transport so we hop on and off trains and explore the city. We love Hamburg. It is the third largest city in Germany and there is work going on every where. It certainly doesn’t look like recession here.

Hamburg is a very large port. I glad we didn't leave the boat here. The wash from the ships and ferries would be very unfriendly.

The old warehouses of Hamburg

Hamburg town square

We couldn’t leave until 2.30 because of the tide so we went for a ride in the country side and came across a market and herb gardening place that was having a open day. We spent a little time roaming the glass houses. I have never seen so many tomato plants. All the vegetables were grown in glass and shade house, fully reticulated and heated.

We arrived in Laurenburg at about 7.30 and Herr Clem was waiting for us to arrive. He is going to look after our ship until next year. The railway is 100 metres from the hall and so is the Hotel we will stay at. It is a big company so we are not allowed to stay on the ship whist it is in the hall. We have booked the hotel for two days. We walk out of our room almost straight onto the station platform, so getting on the train at 8.05am won’t be such a struggle.

We left the next day and had a two day trip up the Elbe-Lubeck Kanal stopping in Molln overnight. The first day we had two up Schleuse (loch) and the next day we had 5 down schleuse. We are really getting good at it now.

A scene in Moln

Lubeck is a hanseatic city and is gorgeous. The Altstadt (old town) is very picturesque. We spent today riding around a walking tour. We went into many churches, which all had to be restored after WW11. There was so much damage done during 1942 to Lubeck by the British. In the Dom (cathedral) the bells were still on the floor where they fell after one bombing night. It was so sad to see.

                                                        The old gate in Lubeck.

The yatch club in Lubeck

Lubeck is famous for the Niederegger Marzipan. It has been made here since 1806. We had a look over the museum then sat in their café where Russel had a Marzipan cappuccino and marzipan cake and I had an ice cream parfait with marzipan. It was very yummy and 13 euros later we left.

We then visited the Theater Figueren Museum where we saw all sorts of puppets from many different countries. We spent an enjoyable hour there. The owner has a brother who has a shop in Scarborough. A small world.!!!

Next day we caught the train to Travemunde.This is the point where the Trave River flows into the Baltic Sea. We wanted to go and see it for ourselves, as we keep getting told to go to Scandinavian countries via Travemunde. It was calm but I still would feel uncomfortable going out into the Baltic Sea even if it is protected by islands. The East German border was 100 metres off the shores. The allies kept the beaches in West Germany. It is a picturesque seaside city

The beach at Travemunde

We went on the Passat – a historic sailing ship. We were told by the volunteers that it use to sail to Australia for wheat and grain.

After riding out along the coast, we went back to Lubeck and spent the night with a group of Germans and Americans at the local restaurant.  We had two glasses of red each which cost 18 euro. We could have bought 6 bottles of red at the local Supermarket for 18 euros. However we had fun and learnt lots about Germany. The haven master bought all the women a red rose, which was nice to take home.

Next day after coffee with the Americans we headed back to Lauenburg. The American couple has been traveling on a big sailing ship for the last 29 years. They are both now 77 and still enjoying it. I am not sure I will want to sail for that long, but at the moment we are really enjoying Germany.

It took two days to get back to Lauenburg and on the way we packed up the boat ready fro the winter. We arrived back in the wind and rain on Sunday at about 5.30pm to find out that Mr Clem was going away for a week and couldn’t put us in the hall before we leave. We were so disappointed. We must have looked because after awhile he changed his mind and put us in the hall that night. It took till about 9.30, but at least we were in the hall and could get the ship ready for the winter. We worked for the next two days really hard and left this morning for Heidelberg , where we will stay for three days, then two days in Frankfurt and home.

 

 

                                                                       Same shot as above but at night

This is where we left Arcturus for the winter

We trained to Heidleburg andspent to two days touring the castle and surround. it was well worth a visit.

Heidleburg from the castle

                                            Heidleburg castle

                                    

                                                  Russel in the castle

We trained to Frankfurt and flew home. Our 2009 trip is complete

Netherlands 2009

I left Amanda’s place at 1pm and 24 hours later I landed in Amsterdam.  I flew Malaysian Airlines and I can recommend this airline. The seats were great and the staff were very polite and attentive, and the food was great.

When I arrive I was to ring Russel to let him know when I would arrive in Meppel. I was catching the train there. My phone didn’t work – a prepaid Telstra. I had to find a public phone. I arrived in Meppel and thank goodness Russel was there to meet the train.

After unpacking we decided to sail to Steenwijk and spent the evening with John and Rinolda. We were able to park outside their house and use their electricity.

Rinolda went down to the local shop and got some fries and some local Dutch delicacies. One of them was a sausage cut down the middle and filled with onion. She also brought chopped onion and sate sauce that you put over your French fries. Very different from our Fish and Chips.

By 9pm Netherlands time I started to fade so off to bed I went.

Next day we sailed to Ossenzijl and stayed in the yacht club in which John and Rinolda have their new 14 metre boat. We stayed the night so we could catch up with them the next day so I could check out their new boat. It was very luxurious and gorgeous but very large.  It wouldn’t be able to sail France as it is too high for the bridges. It is their intention to sell their house and live on the boat.

Russel in front of John and Rinolda's new boat

 The day was about 32 degree C and it was very humid. Gosh it was hot. Even the Dutch were complaining. We decide to go for a 5 km ride to Kalenberg. This is a windy track following the canal. We have been here a couple of times now and always find it a beautiful and favourite part of Holland. By the time we arrived it was pouring with rain so we sat in the local restaurant and had a drink before we rode back to the boat. We had an electric storm that night, so we woke up the next morning to a reasonably cool and quite windy day.

We left the yatch club about 2pm and sailed to Sloten via a large inland lake called the Tjekermeer.  We sailed this lake in 2007 when we first bought our boat. Then it was raining and foggy and we couldn’t see a thing. This time is was clear but windy. So we are in Sloten for the night.

We are parked by the bridge and it is quite noisy but lots of interest. This is a cute little town. It is a fortified town. It is closed to cars and has the status of a protected townscape. We went for a quick ride before settling down on the front of our boat with a bottle of Alsace wine (French Region) and some local delicacies – Bitter ballen. Russel cooked them in his barby. I think they were supposed to be deep fried – but who cares they still were very tasty.

                                     

                                                  

Russel in Sloten

We left Sloten and sailed to Lemmer which is on the Ijsselmeer. We intended to sail the Ijsselmeer to Slavoren which is about a 3 hour journey, but the weather turned bad and we were a little frighten to try it. We were told the winds should be 2-3 beautfort. The winds were 5-6 when we woke up this morning so we gave it a miss and sailed back up the way we had come.

We stayed two nights in Lemmer . We woke up this morning to the weather really turned and it was pouring with rain. We still hadn’t worked out our internet, so we had to ride into town in the pouring rain. Out came the wet weather gear that Amanda had given us for Christmas. It worked a treat. One of the best things we brought over even though they are bright yellow. At least we can be seen coming.!!!!

                              Russel at the loch in Lemmer

In Lemmer we rode out to a pump house called Woudogemaal. It is world heritage listed site. It is world’s largest steam driven pumping station. It purpose is to support the drainage of Friesland in the time of flood emergency. It operates for about 400 hours a year.

                                           Me in the Woudagemaal with my wet gear!!!!

We the decided to leave Lemmer at about 3 pm. I undid all the ropes and we left the landing and then suddenly Russel’s says we need to go back as there is no water coming out of the tell tail. We went back and tied up and Russel checked it all out and got it going. The weather has now started to improve – that is stopped raining but still very windy. We sailed up until we needed to turn up the canal to Woudsend. We were sailing then suddenly stopped. Gosh it was quite frightening. We hit the shallows!! We went the wrong side of the marker and were in the shallow. It didn’t take us long to reverse out and turn around. We pulled up at the canal side of the Woudsend canal and are now perched here in no where land. It was very windy when we arrived but it has now calmed down and it quite pleasant.

Just outside Woudsend

Tomorrow we are heading to Workum.

We woke up to rain and wind!!! Gosh it’s an awful day. We were slow in moving this morning. We rang Amanda and saw her feeding little Josh on Skype. It was so clear and it was great to see Amanda and Joshua.

We left and headed back to the Princess Margriet canal and headed up for an hour then turned off to the Heeger Meer. This was really quite hairy. The wind was really bad. Our bikes fell down. Russel had tied our brooms etc down but the bikes were only lightly tied. I was frightened we would lose the bikes. However we managed to get through and we are now sitting on the boat in Workum.  It is raining so heavily that we are stuck on the boat so I thought I would finish this email and send it

Here is a photo of Russel in his wet weather gear, which we both really appreciate.

Penny in her wet gear on Arcturus

It rained heavily all day so we put on our bright yellow outfits and went for a ride around Workum. We certainly got some looks.!!!

Next day we decided to catch the train to Stavoren which is a coastal town on the Ijsselmeer. We took our bikes on the train so we had some wheels once we arrived in Stavoren. The weather was even worse on the coast. The winds were about 6 beaufort, yet their were people sailing in and out of the sluis which took them from the calm waters of the canal and the rough seas of the Ijsselmeer. We stood and watch a big barge come in because his load was too big and he wasn’t making headway.

Windy on the Ijsselmeer

Barge coming in from Ijsselmeer as it was too windy for it.

We arrived back at three so we decided to see some sites in Workum. We went to the Jopie  Huismand Museum. He was a scrap metal merchant who decided to paint his junk. They had the articles he painted and the painters. It was very interesting and well worth the visit. We then raced up to a big church which had a museum attached. There we met an Australian couple from Melbourne so they came around to our boat and over a bottle of red we swapped notes. They bought a boat for less than 10000 euro. I didn’t see anything worth as little as that. It was great to sit down and have a good laugh and chat. They left and we started talking to an English couple that was moored next to us. They sail from England across the channel each year. This was the first time I had been on a yacht. It was interesting, but very close living quarters.

We needed more gas so on the bike and ride into town

We woke to wind and rain again and after morning tea with the English couple we headed off to Bolsward. It rained all day but once again we put on our faithful wet weather gear and rode around. We headed to the local boutique brewery Us Heit Distillery for a tour. The lady was able to speak a little English so we learnt how they made their beer, and whisky and even bought some mustard that is made from the whisky.

We woke to a glorious day at long last so were able to ride around without looking like geeks. However its Saturday and not much is open. We wanted to see the Stadhuis (Council House) but sadly it was not opened. The Dutch seem to close down on weekend – even the local pool doesn’t open on weekends. Sunday is even worse. The towns are really dead.    We took the opportunity to do some washing while the sun shone as next day we woke to heavy rains and winds.

We headed off to Akkrum via Ijlst, Sneek (had lunch here as the bridges are close between 12 and one) and Terherne where we finally caught up with the Carr’s. This is the area we brought Arcturus so we know it well.

Crossing the Sneeker Meer was fun. Below is a picture of all the yachts having a great time.

Penny heading to the Sneeker Meer

I do all the work, Russel just drives!!!!

                                            

Sneek where we had lunch

                             

                          

We spent two days in Akkrum and then headed to Grou. The weather has been good for three days now. We have been able to get out for rides and even had a barby.

Today we left Grou and headed for Pikmeer which are a group of lakes near Grou. It was very windy all day, but we are tied up now in a little island alcove in the middle of Pikmeer. Its very pleasant. We spent the afternoon to a bit of cleaning on the boat in preparation for the Chatfield’s who are due on Sunday.

Relaxing on a mooring in the Lake

In the middle of the lake.SKUTSJE yachts were practicing for a competition in Grou on the 18^th July

Today is the 2nd August- I haven’t written a word since the 15 July, so I need to get my brain working and catch up with my diary.

We left the Pikmeer and headed passed Leeuwarden to Franeker. This was a very boring part of the canal but we finally arrived in Franeker at about 4pm and settled down at the side of a very noisy canal side road. The cars and motor bikes going up and down all night made me decide that when we come back we wouldn’t be staying there. The reason for going to Franeker was to see the Eise Eisinga planetarium, the world’s oldest functioning planetarium. Eisinga , a wool carder by trade, built the model of the solar system in the living room of his canal side house between 1774 and 1781. it still accurately depicts the movement of the planets in real time by a gear mechanism using hoops and disks with 10000 hand forged nails and teeth. It was fascinating but as it wasn’t open until Monday we decided to head for Harlingen the next day and return on Monday to see it.

 

We spent the next three days in Harlingen. This is one of my favourite places – a pretty little city on the Waddenzee. It is here that you can catch a ferry to the islands just off the coast. We in fact did this the year we brought Arcturus. We spent the days riding around – Lois and I had a shopping spree where I brought heaps of clothes for Joshua at 50 euro cents up to 1 euro 50 cents for some really great looking shirts, jeans and spray jackets. We had a good laugh trying to find the bargains.

We followed a walking tour on our bikes. Below are some of the sights.

A local restored home



 




Typical Dutch Building

Saturday was Bob’s birthday so we lashed out and went to a Chinese Restaurant for dinner. This was our first evening eating out and we all enjoyed the experience even thought it was a very cold night.

Sunday we were expecting the Chatfield’s to arrive so we spruced up the boat and waited for them to arrive. We waited most of the day.

Jean rang to say she would arrive on the train at about 1pm- then another phone call 2pm – they had got on the wrong train – then another phone call 3pm – another wrong train – they saw most of Holland by train – however they finally arrived and had to put up with a lot of teasing for the rest of their trip.

We left the next day for Franeker where we spent a night on the opposite side of the busy road. We did a big shop to stock the larder and then visited the Planetarium, and then Jean and I went on a shopping spree. It is great having some female company. We can hit the shops and try on heaps of clothes. The ends of summer sales are on at the moment and there are heaps of bargains.

Next day we headed for Leeuwarden and stayed in the middle of the city on the pretty green banks of the city park. It was really an ideal camping spot and close to the city.

Leeuwarden is the Friesland capital. We visited the local museum on the Wednesday as it was a free day for all. We spent a lot of the time listening to the English movie of the adventures of Mata Hari.

She was a world war 1 spy who had grown up in Leeuwarden. 

We followed Bob and Lois's Boat



This is the road that lifted so we could enter Leeuwarden

Next day we headed to Dokkum and arrived too late to get a really good spot. We were parked just out of the town ship where we stayed for a couple of days, but our power was starting to get low so early one morning as soon as the bridge opened we headed into town to get the last spot available. Bob decided not to follow. Every morning there are heaps of boats that leave and heaps they stay. There were about 4 bridges to get through Dokkum and one guy that opens the lot. He opens and closes one, then gets on his bike and cycles to the next and so on. It takes ages to get through Dokkum and the boats are all waiting between the bridges. It mayhem.!!!

Next day we hopped on a ferry called Silverwind and spent the day going out through the Lauwersmeer to the Waddenzee and onto the island called Schiermonkoog. We had lunch on the boat – typical Dutch treats which we all enjoyed. It was a long day and we were pleased to get home.

The weekend arrived and there was a festival on in Dokkum and all the tourists sites were free, so we decided to stay two more nights in Dokkum, which turned out to be great fun. We all fell in love with Dokkum!!!

Festival Dancing in Dokkum     

                                                        

                                                   Boats selling local produce



         Dokkum- it was vry busy due to the festival



Laurie showing the Dokkum canal

the boats were lined up on both sides of the canal.

On Sunday we left Dokkum and spent the night tied to a stieger (small Jetty) in the middle of the Lauweersmeer, then sailed to Groningen where we stayed until the 2^nd August.

The Gilberts arrived in Groningen and we all got together for drinks on the front of our boat.

                                       Very crowded on Arcturus but fun was had by all

We visited the rose garden in Gronigen. It was gorgeous.

                     The roses were gorgeous!!

The gardens were surrounded by hedges

The Chatfield’s left us on the Tuesday and the Gilberts on Thursday and then there were four.

Sunday we have left Groningen and have sailed to Delfzil which is on the coast and is the last place we will be in the Netherlands. Depending on the weather we will leave the Netherlands and sail out through the dollards to Germany.

I am a little frightened but once I am back into the canals of Germany I should be fine. The Gilberts gave us heaps of information  and maps so lets hope our Germany adventures has been as great as the Netherlands.

Carr's sailing into Delfzil