L'Avenir - cruising Europe's inland waterways

Step 1   Purchase Step 2   Open box in the hardware store car park (to amusement of other customers) Step 3   Attempt to assemble Step 4   Puzzle over Dutch instructions Step 4 Admire handiwork then set off to the supermarket to purchase celebratory case of Heineken

After paying the bill and saying goodbye at the marina we decided to break ourselves in gently and spend a few days cruising the quiet Rijnland canals through the Nieuwkoopse Plassen (lakes) and then on to Gouda. We needed to buy a special licence for this area but the 5 euro for 6 weeks seemed a bargain. A few hours later, as we were congratulating ourselves on squeezing, without damage, into the tiny lock leading down into the lakes, the keeper told us that we needed yet another permit at 8.50 for a week. However, it did cover mooring fees. More worryingly, for me, was his quick appraisal of the height of our boat and the pronouncement that we would also need a key to unlock the self operated bridge between the two lakes 'and that'll be 50 euros deposit please.' For the purposes of this blog the term self operated means Catriona operated. He did offer to take our photo though. The self congratulation didn't last long (it never does). As far as the first bridge in fa...

 L'Avenir's bottom has recieved an expensive makeover and we are at last back in the water. Pity no-one will be able to see it so look long at these photos and admire.  The Workers Makeover Complete I needed a bit of a lie down after we received the bill (VAT here is almost 20%) but after a couple of days of nervously watching exchange rates we breathed deeply, pressed the enter key and electronically wiped out a large chunk of the bank balance. Naturally sods law once again prevailed and the aussie dollar decided that was the moment to plunge. As I can no longer see the paint job, however, I'm fairly successfully suppressing the memory of the monetary pain.  Splashdown Otherwise things have definitely been on the up. The sun is at last shining and the arctic wind has dropped - slightly. We've caught up with friends we made last year and enjoyed a lovely day of food, drink and stories on their boat at Kaag Island. Thank you Nicky and Mike. Kagerplassen. R...

I don't know how many bulbs are grown each year in Holland but I can tell you that 7 million of them are planted by hand in the Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam. The gardens are open for only a few months each spring and bulb growers from all over Holland  showcase their flowers. Bulbs seem to me to be the ideal flower for this cultivated, tidy country. Each perfectly coloured and shaped bloom standing erect and lending itself to precise arrangement in an orderly landscape. For a horticulturally challenged person such as myself whose plant growing ablities could be overshadowed by the average garden gnome I fully expected to be impressed during our visit. To say it was stunning would be an understatement. Interesting Fact (apologies- it's the teacher in me). Tulipmania . In the 1600s tulips were a luxury item and status symbol.The bulbs began to be sold for ridiculously high prices making fortunes for the traders. Ordinary people sold their houses and businesses to take p...

Up she goes. The yard has done this with hundreds of boats but that doesn't make it any less nerve wracking. The hull is encrusted with mussels. Obviously the anti fouling ceased working long ago. Pressure hosing them off before replacing the anti fouling. Destination local restaurant?? We'll be out of the water for a few days. Sleeping on a boat on dry land is all wrong.....

We've been in Holland 5 days now. It's been cold, wet and windy and we've spent  most of the time getting the boat in order - some (not much) of the time I've been complaining. Why didn't we bring any jumpers?  Why didn't we come earlier so we could see the tulips? Why didn't we wait until June so it would be warmer? Please leave me alone, I just want to curl up in bed. Today the wind dropped so it was decided we would go out for a test run. A short trip from the marina at Leimuiden down the meer. Moored up for lunch and met Jenny and Simon on their Dutch barge 'Adriana'. And, you know, it was great.