This Week in Wijnjewoude: Week 39 Bread with Ointment

Week 39 Bread with Ointment

Walking

A few misses this week.....

Around the farm

The oversized squash in front is my only success with pumpkins this year. It was the only one that survived because it was on slightly higher ground,,,,,, I gave it to the Syrians.....(I suspect that the pumpkin they bought up the road was grown for decorative purposes only).

With an old friend visiting and a few days away on the boat, there is not much to report. The temperature has to stay below 7 degrees for the grass to stop growing......... (it is still growing).

I did manage to make an extra bit of fencing from "leftovers".

Terschelling - another "Bucket List" item (for Janny's Mum)

Janny, Rennie (Mum) and a couple of Jannys' sisters went away for the weekend to one of the Frisian Islands - Terschelling. The ferry boat from Harlingen takes two hours and they took a couple of electric bikes with them for getting around on the island itself.

I took the Syrians into Drachten for shopping (looks like being a regular Friday "thing"). I explained that Janny was away and that I would be looking after things (including Hendrik) until they came back. You wouldn't believe it, but at 1700 hrs they brought us dinner! Chicken, rice and salad....

Now, Janny's parents normally only have "one hot meal a day" - at lunchtime - but Hendrik enjoyed his chicken and rice very much.

I was reminded of Robin's travelling philosophy that 99.5% of all people are basically "good" - he too has found mostly warmth and hospitality in his worldly travels.

A couple of days away on Motortjalk Australia (aka "The African Queen)

Excellent weather for this time of the year.....

Day 1

With enough food and beer, Robin and I headed off - once again to Boornzwaag. The restaurant was closed so there was no harbour master to collect our haven money.... and we had free wifi!

We swapped war stories as if there hadn't been a 12 year gap in between. Robin is a good cook so we ate well..... and slept well.

Day 2 about 36 kms in 6 hours

Next day we headed off into new territory for me, planning for Sloten after traversing a section of the Prinses Margriet Canal - a major commercial shipping canal. We saw a few large tankers and container ships - you have to keep your eyes open fore and aft (in case they sneak up on you). (I think there were three fatal accidents last year - with boats being "run over").

Not the only mishap for the trip, I managed to touch bottom when cutting a corner instead of following the channel markers. At least I was able to figure out what I should have done.

We stopped for "lunch" at a nice pub in Sloten - after first deciding that we wouldn't really fit under a 1.45 metre bridge! A lovely walk - first mate had apple strudel AND ice-cream!

He also had the distinction of placing 1 euro in the swinging clog (payment for opening the bridge).

Sloten - bridges too low for us

We motored (what else?) further to cross the Tjeukermeer and back up to Boornzwaag for the night - again free! About 6 hours travel for the day.

The haven at Boornzwaag has a webcam

http://www.webcam-harlingen.nl/webcam-friesemeren/pages/cameras/boornzwaag--langweer.php

which Janny used it to take a photo of us sitting at the end of the jetty. (Sittin' On The Dock of The Bay?).

Wednesday found us heading home early, as we didn't have to wait for the bridge operators who start at 0900 hrs.

The second mishap occurred when I missed a turn off - probably too busy talking - and we found ourselves in unfamiliar (to me) territory! There was a very low bridge, or so it seemed, which I hadn't seen before - I even went to measure it - and then found it on the chart - it was 2.5 metres and so we had plenty of room - above! The chart showed only 1 metre depth - I allow 90cms so it was going to be close. We could barely turn around so we pushed on at a slow rate - very much African Queen stuff. We ended up in Goingarijp and scuttled through a 4 metre wide lock back into one of the lakes. All good fun and makes for a memorable trip....(now).

Blue = route taken Red = Normal route

The wind was starting to pick up as we neared Heerenveen - always a problem - and led to another mishap or at least some difficulties. Took me three goes to get moored properly - once the wind takes hold there's a lot of high revving in reverse and bow - thrusting and cursing - but I took a deep breath went out to turn around ...... and just glided in as easy you like. Luckily, not too many spectators. They have a saying in Dutch that "the best skipper is always standing on the dock".

It was so good for me to get out on the boat and I thoroughly enjoyed the time catching up with Robin. It was he who taught me how to catch Barramundi in the Northern Territory - with Janny being on the lookout for crocodiles - always makes a good story and one we'll never forget.

Bread with Ointment

We finished the day by going to our local restaurant De Stripe. Robin was given the English Menu which had "Bread with Ointment". It was supposed to be bread with different toppings or spreads. They use a word "smeren" which means and sounds like smear - for butter and so on - so I guess the translation turned out to be ointment. Anyway, we had a laugh and will tell the owner next time.

Time to say "goodbye".... hopefully "until the next time".....

Robin got underway at about 0800 hrs and was heading over the afsluitdijk and then south east to Maastricht - he made it to a campsite in Belgium for the night - although he first thought it might have been France due to the French language!